Sri Lanka Ranks Fourth Largest Global Improver in Debt Transparency

The Government of Sri Lanka achieved the fourth-largest improvement among 57 emerging markets and developing economies in the Institute of International Finance (IIF) Investor Relations and Debt Transparency Report 2026. The country's overall score rose to 43.67 from 37.33 in 2025, placing it in the top quartile of assessed nations.

The Ministry of Finance and Planning attributed these gains to the efforts of the Public Debt Management Office to strengthen the sovereign investor relations framework. Specific drivers of the score increase include improved environmental, social and governance (ESG) data, better policy dissemination, and enhanced debt transparency.

These developments follow a 2022 sovereign debt default and sustained engagement with the International Monetary Fund. The IIF stated that while transparency does not compensate for weak economic fundamentals, it reduces uncertainty for investors and can lower borrowing costs by clarifying known risks.