Category: Commodity
Regulating prices: From price mandates to more competition
Regulating prices: from price mandates to more competition The government recently removed the maximum retail price (MRP) on rice with a decision to import a buffer stock of rice to prevent any shortages. This is an important step in the right direction. Opening up the market for more competition will reduce the market power of […]
Central Bank removes cash margin deposit requirement on non-essential imports
Sri Lanka’s Central Bank has decided to discontinue the 100 percent cash margin deposit requirement against the importation of selected goods of non-essential/non-urgent nature with immediate effect. The decision to impose a cash margin deposit requirement was expected to support the efforts to preserve the stability of the exchange rate and foreign currency market liquidity, […]
Central Bank requests Govt to tax export profits at 28-pct where forex is not repatriated & converted
Sri Lanka’s Central Bank requests the government to tax profits of exporters at 28 percent and not 14 percent where forex is not repatriated & converted. Unveiling the Six-Month Road Map for Ensuring Macroeconomic & Financial System Stability, Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal said that there will be specified limits. Service related foreign exchange inflows will […]
Central Bank recommends complete repatriation of export proceeds within reasonable period
Steps must be taken to strengthen the systems to ensure monitoring and to implement measures that lead to the complete repatriation and conversion of export proceeds within a reasonable period, the Central Bank said. Releasing an information series note on the current status of the export earnings, the Central Bank justified that it would be […]
Central Bank imposes 100-pct cash margin deposit requirement for non-essential goods imports
The Monetary Board of the Central Bank has decided to impose a 100 percent cash margin deposit requirement against the importation of selected goods of non-essential/non-urgent nature made under Letters of Credit and Documents against Acceptance terms with Licensed Commercial Banks and National Savings Bank, with immediate effect. The decision to impose the cash margin […]
Headline inflation increased to 6-pct in August 2021
Headline inflation, as measured by the year-on-year change in the Colombo Consumer Price Index, increased to 6.0 percent in August 2021 from 5.7 percent in July 2021 driven by monthly increases of prices of items in both Food and Non-food categories. Subsequently, Food inflation (Y-o-Y) increased to 11.5 percent in August 2021 from 11.0 percent […]
Emergency regulations on essential food supply declared
As per the powers vested in terms of section 2 of the Public Security Ordinance, President has declared emergency regulations formulated as per section 5 on essential food supply, with effect from midnight yesterday, by enforcing directives under section ii of the Ordinance. The authorized officers will be able to take steps to provide essential […]
‘s headline inflation increased to 6.8-pct in July 2021
Headline inflation, as measured by the National Consumer Price Index has increased to 6.8 percent in July 2021 from 6.1 percent in June 2021 driven by the monthly increases of prices of items in both Food and Non-food categories. Accordingly, Food inflation (Y-o-Y) increased to 11.0 percent in July 2021 from 9.8 percent in June […]
CBSL tightens monetary policy to curb inflationary pressures; rectify external sector imbalances
Sri Lanka’s Central Bank has tightened its monetary policy stance to address the imbalances in the external sector and to preempt the buildup of excessive inflationary pressures over the medium term. Accordingly, the Monetary Board of the Central Bank has decided to increase the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate […]
Sri Lanka records USD 978Mn exports in June 2021; maintains its upward trend
As per the latest statistics released by the Sri Lanka Customs, the export sector performance has been able to maintain its upward trend in June 2021 with exports increasing by 9.41 % to US$ 978.2 Mn compared to June 2020. This upward trend was evident year-on-year for the last four months. Sri Lanka’s merchandise exports […]
June food prices increase by 14.3-pct: Advocata’s Bath Curry Indicator
June Food Prices Increase by 14.3–pct Advocata’s Bath Curry Indicator (BCI) which tracks the monthly changes in the price of food recorded a jump of 14.3% for the month of June 2021. The month of June experienced an increase in prices comparatively to the month of May, according to the basket of food tracked by […]
NCPI based Inflation increased to 6.1-pct in May 2021
Headline inflation, as measured by the year-on-year change in the National Consumer Price Index increased to 6.1 percent in May 2021 from 5.5 percent in April 2021, mainly driven by the monthly increases in prices of items in both the Food and Non-food categories. Meanwhile, Food inflation increased to 10.3 percent in May 2021 from […]