Sri Lanka says IMF not asking for removal of central bank gov

Sri Lankan President’s Media Division on Thursday denied reports that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation had asked the president to remove Central Bank Governor, Ajith Nivard Cabraal from his post.

Addressing the nation earlier on Wednesday evening, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that he had decided to work with the IMF to overcome Sri Lanka’s economic woes.

Following the speech, local media reported that one of the IMF conditions to work with Sri Lanka was the removal of the central bank governor, who had repeatedly said that the government would not go to the IMF.

The president’s Media Division in response denied these reports and insisted that the IMF delegation had not asked for his removal.

The president and the government have full confidence in the central bank governor and there is no reason whatsoever to seek his resignation, the President’s Media Division said.