US opposed to $2 billion IMF loan to Sri Lanka: Clinton

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday said this "is not an appropriate time" to talk about IMF's $2 billion loan to Sri Lanka. After Britain, the United States is the second country which appears to opposing the massive loan from the International Monetary Fund to Sri Lanka, which is currently under consideration. "This is a very troubling humanitarian crisis, and we have been focused on it and trying to convince both sides to cease their hostilities. We have also raised questions about the IMF loan at this time," Ms. Clinton told State Department reporters in response to a question. "We think that it is not an appropriate time to consider that until there is a resolution of this conflict. And that's what we're focussed on trying to help bring about," Ms. Clinton said. She was addressing a joint press conference with visiting Malaysian Foreign Minister Y.B. Datuk Anifah bin Haji Aman. Observing that the U.S. has been very clear in its statements — the most recent one by the President — that there needs to be a cessation of the hostilities and humanitarian relief to be provided to the people who are trapped in the fighting. "We've called on both sides to cease their hostilities.And we've asked that both sides permit humanitarian relief to be delivered, and at the very least, a high-level humanitarian mission to make an assessment of what relief is necessary," Ms. Clinton said.