Sri Lanka, Nov. 10 -- ri Lanka's Net International Investment Position (NIIP) remains one of the deepest in Asia nearly USD 68 billion in the red, or about -70% of GDP. This figure reflects decades of accumulated foreign borrowing, weak export earnings, and limited FDI inflows. It is the real balance-sheet story behind our external vulnerability. On paper, this reflects strong IMF-backed fiscal discipline. But beneath the surface, these same IMF preconditions are choking the economy's external balance sheet and limiting recovery.

The 2026 Budget shows fiscal maturity and adherence to IMF targets but doesn't help our external balance sheet debt situation, despite these glossy measures:

A primary surplus of 2.5% of GDP,

Revenue rising to...