While new debts generated from World Bank and ADB in 1996-97 totalled $1.592 billion, outflow due to interest payments made to the two agencies itself amounted to $726.04 million.

International Bank for reconstruction and development (IBRD) and International Development Assistance (IDA) - World Bank's soft loan window - together accounted for $609.31 million outflow on interest payments, the accounts disclosed. Interest payments to ADB on outstanding debts totalled $116.74 million in 1996-97, almost double the principal amount repaid to the agency during the year. The repayments to ADB in 1996-97 amounted to $59.65 million compared to an inflow of $480.18 million from the Manila-based bank. However, the outstanding debt repayments to themultilateral agencies declined marginally in 1996-97 and stood at $15.234 billion, $41.35 million lower than the previous year.

While IBRD's share in country's external debts was $6.647 billion, IDA's share stood at $6.622 billion, the finance accounts said. During the year the outstanding repayments to ADB increased to $1.965 billion from $1.545 billion. Additions to the outstanding payments to IBRD during 1996-97 was $472.77 million, while repayments during the year stood at $763.62 million, it said.