COLOMBO, SRI LANKA - DECEMBER 14: Sri Lankan market stall owner Shiyana Akram (R), 60, speaks with another trader at a market on December 14, 2024 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is currently facing profound economic challenges, characterized by high poverty levels, with approximately 25.9% of the population living below the poverty line as of 2023, a situation exacerbated by the impacts of previous economic mismanagement and external shocks. Despite recent signs of stabilization, including a projected moderate growth rate of 2.2% in 2024, the country continues to grapple with significant issues such as income inequality, labor market declines, and the need for comprehensive structural reforms to ensure sustainable recovery and growth. (Photo by Rebecca Conway/Getty Images)