Sri Lanka: Request for Purchase Under the Rapid Financing Instrument-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Sri Lanka
IMF Staff Country Reports, December 19, 2025
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- Sri Lanka: Request for Purchase Under the Rapid Financing Instrument-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Sri Lanka
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Bibliographic details
- Published: December 19, 2025
- Series: IMF Staff Country Reports
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9798229033411.002
Summary
- Sri Lanka was hit by catastrophic Cyclone Ditwah on November 28.
- The cyclone claimed more than 600 lives as of December 6.
- Severe flooding and landslides displaced over 100,000 people.
- The disaster caused extensive destruction of houses, roads, bridges, rail lines, buildings including schools and hospitals, and agricultural land nationwide.
- The natural disaster creates urgent humanitarian and reconstruction needs, leading to acute balance-of-payments (BOP) pressures.
- The cyclone occurred as Sri Lanka is emerging from a deep economic crisis and the IMF-supported reform program under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) begins to bear fruit.
Impact and Key Statistics
- Date of event: November 28 (Cyclone Ditwah).
- Fatalities: more than 600 lives as of December 6.
- Displaced persons: over 100,000 people.
- Scope of destruction: houses, roads, bridges, rail lines, buildings including schools and hospitals, and agricultural land nationwide.
- Resulting pressures: urgent humanitarian and reconstruction needs; acute balance-of-payments (BOP) pressures.
Context within IMF Engagement
- The cyclone hit while Sri Lanka is emerging from a deep economic crisis.
- The IMF-supported reform program under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) is beginning to bear fruit.
- Publication type: IMF Staff Country Report (Country Report No. 2025/339).
Subjects and Keywords
- Subjects: Debt sustainability, Environment, Expenditure, External debt, Imports, International trade, Natural disasters, Public debt
- Keywords: Asia and Pacific, Debt sustainability, emergency financial support, Global, IMF staff, Imf team, Imports, Natural disasters, reconstruction needs, Southeast Asia, transparency policy
International Monetary Fund. Asia and Pacific Dept "Sri Lanka: Request for Purchase Under the Rapid Financing Instrument-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Sri Lanka", IMF Staff Country Reports 2025, 339 (2025).
Content in this bundle
- Executive Summary — Cyclone Ditwah impact and RFI request