
Sri Lanka's debt restructuring process has been a long and challenging journey. The country's total debt stands at around $53 billion, with a significant portion of it being foreign debt.
The debt restructuring efforts were initiated in 2022, with the government seeking the assistance of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to restructure its debt. The IMF has been working closely with the Sri Lankan government to develop a comprehensive debt restructuring plan.
The plan aims to reduce the country's debt burden by restructuring its debt with creditors, including commercial banks and sovereign wealth funds. This will help Sri Lanka to free up resources for essential public services and stimulate economic growth.
The IMF has also recommended that Sri Lanka implement fiscal consolidation measures to reduce its budget deficit and improve its fiscal sustainability.
Debt Restructuring in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has reached a debt restructuring deal with countries including India, France, Japan, and China, marking a key step in the country's economic recovery after defaulting on debt repayment in 2022.
The agreement will enable Sri Lanka to defer all bilateral loan installment payments until 2028 and repay all loans on concessional terms, with an extended period until 2043.
Sri Lanka's foreign debt repayment was a staggering $6 billion per year by 2022, amounting to 9.2% of its gross domestic product.
The new agreements will pave the way to resume foreign-funded projects such as highways, light railway, and airport development, and initiate new projects too.
Sri Lanka's debt restructuring deal is expected to reopen the doors to bilateral transactions and the resumption of foreign projects stalled when the island nation defaulted.
Sri Lanka's Debt Restructuring Plan
Sri Lanka's debt restructuring plan has been a long time coming, but it's finally here. The country has reached a deal with its bilateral creditors, including China and France, to restructure its debt.
Sri Lanka will be able to defer all bilateral loan instalment payments until 2028. This is a huge relief for the country, which had been struggling to make debt payments.

The agreements will cover $10 billion, and Sri Lanka will be able to repay all the loans on concessional terms, with an extended period until 2043. This is a significant concession, and it will help Sri Lanka to manage its debt more effectively.
Sri Lanka's debt payments were unsustainable, with the country having to repay about $6 billion in foreign debt every year, amounting to about 9.2% of gross domestic product. The new agreement will enable Sri Lanka to maintain debt payments at less than 4.5% of GDP between 2027 and 2032.
This is a crucial step in Sri Lanka's economic recovery, and it will allow the country to resume foreign-funded projects that were stalled due to the debt crisis.
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Deal Details and Impacts
Sri Lanka has reached a deal on debt restructuring with bilateral creditors, including China and France, marking a key step in the country's economic recovery.
The agreement allows Sri Lanka to defer all bilateral loan instalment payments until 2028, providing temporary relief to the government.
Sri Lanka will be able to repay all the loans on concessional terms, with an extended period until 2043. This will help alleviate immediate cash flow pressures and establish a sustainable framework for debt repayment.
The deal covers $10 billion in debt, which is a significant portion of Sri Lanka's total foreign debt of about $83 billion.
By 2022, Sri Lanka had to repay about $6 billion in foreign debt every year, amounting to about 9.2% of gross domestic product. This agreement will enable Sri Lanka to maintain debt payments at less than 4.5% of GDP between 2027 and 2032.
The debt restructuring deal will also reopen the doors to bilateral transactions and the resumption of foreign projects stalled when the island nation defaulted.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of debt are excluded from the restructuring process in Sri Lanka?
The restructuring process in Sri Lanka excludes multilateral debt, such as IMF, World Bank, and ADB loans. This means that only official bilateral debt and external commercial debt are included in the restructuring process.
Who were the legal advisors in the process of restructuring Sri Lanka's foreign debt?
Clifford Chance was the legal advisor in the process of restructuring Sri Lanka's foreign debt. Deborah Zandstra, a partner at Clifford Chance, led the mandate for two and a half years.
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