US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland said on today (01) that the United States wants to see an IMF agreement for Sri Lanka as soon as possible.

Speaking to media in Colombo, she said that the United States and the Paris Club are doing their part to see an IMF agreement for Sri Lanka come through, however, added that what China has offered in terms of debt restructuring and relief is not enough.

“We need to see credible and specific assurances that they will meet the IMF standard of debt relief,” she added.US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland met with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo for talks on the ongoing US support for Sri Lanka.She noted that the United States is for a quick conclusion of the negotiations with the IMF, and expects all of Sri Lanka’s major creditors to work with the IMF.

“We expect that China will provide credible and specific assurances regarding its readiness to join the rest of us in meeting the IMF standards regarding debt restructuring. So, we are seeing the rest of Sri Lanka’s creditors come forward with those assurances, and now all eyes are on China to do the same,” she noted.

Ms. Nuland has also said it is important for Sri Lanka to go ahead with the March elections and the people of Sri Lanka must be allowed to have a voice in their future.“It is vital time for Sri Lanka to strengthen its democracy, its governance, and its reconciliation. This includes proceeding with local elections this March, giving people across the country a voice in their future,” she said.