A high level government delegation that is to visit Washington shortly is to request a loan of around USD 04 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as a concession to Sri Lanka’s balance of payments.

The IMF took steps to provide a concessionary loan of USD 2.5 billion to Sri Lanka in 2009.

Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake says that the incumbent has won international praise and that it has the capabilities of obtaining loans with interests as low as 0.5 per cent from the IMF and the World Bank.

Meanwhile, new government has decided to restructure the high interest loans obtained by Sri Lanka.

Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake and Sri Lanka Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran are to join the high level delegation visiting Washington for discussions with the IMF and the World Bank.