Sri Lanka, March 4 -- IMF Deputy Mission Chief for Sri Lanka, Katsiaryna Svirydzenka, stressed that the most crucial aspect of state-owned enterprise (SOE) restructuring is ensuring prudent management to prevent losses or debts that would ultimately have to be repaid by taxpayers. She noted that SOEs can be effectively managed while remaining state-owned or through partial or complete divestment.

"We are reassured by the authorities' commitment to ensure that these enterprises do not become a burden for the budget or for government debt," Svirydzenka stated.

IMF Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka, Peter Breuer, emphasized that sticking with reforms is the best way out for Sri Lanka to assure its sustainability. And he said that "it's im...