World Bank halts payment requests on Myanmar projects made after February 1 coup

FILE PHOTO: The World Bank headquarters building is decorated ahead of the IMF/World Bank spring meetings in Washington, U.S., April 8, 2019. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The World Bank has halted payments to projects in Myanmar on withdrawal requests that were made after a Feb. 1 coup by the country's military, the bank said in a letter to Myanmar's finance ministry seen by Reuters on Thursday.

A World Bank spokesman verified the letter, from World Bank Myanmar country director Mariam Sherman to the Myanmar Ministry of Planning, Finance and Industry. It said the bank would make payments to Myanmar project suppliers, contractors and consultants for withdrawal applications made prior to that date.