Sri Lanka, May 27 -- Sri Lanka will learn today whether the International Monetary Fund will approve the 5th and 6th reviews under its Extended Fund Facility Programme at the executive level.

If the IMF Executive Board approves the reviews during today's meeting, the country can expect the release of the sixth and seventh tranches of the 2.9 billion dollar global loan. The government anticipates around 700 million US dollars, which will help relieve downward pressure on the local currency.

This board meeting follows a staff-level agreement reached between the IMF staff and Sri Lankan authorities in April regarding the combined reviews. If these 2 tranches receive approval, Sri Lanka will await one final payment before the 4-year program...