Sri Lanka, April 17 -- The Government of Sri Lanka says it hopes to continue discussions with the bondholders with a view to reaching common ground ahead of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) board consideration of the second review of Sri Lanka's Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program.

The Finance Ministry, yesterday, issued a statement announcing that the government has concluded the initial restricted discussions with nine members of the Steering Committee of the Ad Hoc Group of Bondholders regarding its international sovereign bonds (ISBs).

The Steering Committee as a whole comprises ten of the largest members of the Group, with the Group controlling approximately 50% of the aggregate outstanding amount of ISBs.

In its statement, ...