IMF asks Sri Lanka to protect hard-won gains

Leftist leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake won last month's presidential election promising to reverse steep tax hikes, raise public servant salaries and renegotiate an unpopular IMF bailout secured by Colombo last year. But analysts say Dissanayake has little room to reshape the terms of the IMF deal. The avowed Marxist held talks with IMF representatives for a second straight day Friday, his office said in a statement. "President Dissanayake aims to achieve the objectives of the program in partnership with the IMF...