Category: Economy
Sri Lanka CB maintains policy rates
The Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, at its meeting held on 18 May 2022, decided to maintain the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) of the Central Bank at the current levels of 13.50 per cent and 14.50 per cent, respectively. The Board is of […]
Year on year food prices increase close to 50-pct: Advocata
Advocata’s Bath Curry Indicator (BCI) , which tracks the monthly changes in the retail price of food, recorded an increase of 14% from March 2022 to April 2022. This is a year on year increase of 49% for this basket of food. This is driven primarily by prices of dhal and samba rice being the […]
It is critical that we receive funds from Japan, as they are the only option we have left: Harsha
Contrary to statements made by former Ministers who stated that Sri Lanka will receive funds from the Middle East and various other countries, ultimately, it is only Japan that we have left, speaking in Parliament Harsha de Silva said. “We hear that President Gotabaya has written to the Japanese Prime Minister requesting some money while […]
Another Grant of 300 Million Chinese Yuan from China to Sri Lanka
China has decided to provide another grant of 300 million Chinese Yuan to Sri Lanka to help in the supply of medicine, food, fuel, and other essentials, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement. This latest grant will bring the total amount of China’s grant aid to 500 million Chinese Yuan (approximately million).
Staff-level agreement with IMF is likely to be reached within next 2 months: CB Governor
While external debt restructuring remains a top priority for the Sri Lankan government, domestic debt in the form of Government securities and Sri Lanka Development Bonds will not be restructured, Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe announced today (April 28, 2022). Dr. Weerasinghe made these comments while addressing a meeting of the Committee of the […]
Debt-for-nature swaps can provide debt relief, but could constitute event of default: Moody’s
In a proposal to Sri Lanka’s government, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has suggested debt-for-nature swaps as part of the sovereign’s broader debt restructuring plan. Under the UNDP proposal, the debt-for-nature swap would allow a portion of the government’s large debt burden to be forgiven in exchange for the implementation of environmental policies or […]
Inflation is expected to peak at 29-pct in July; LKR to further depreciate
Inflation is expected to peak at 29% in July owing to potential price hikes in essential commodities like gas, electricity, and fuel prices, the First Capital Research said. CCPI further increased to 18.7% in March, exceeding the CBSL’s and FC Research’s desired range of 4%-6% and 5%-7% respectively. According to First Capital Research, the exchange […]
IMF team for Sri Lanka completes initial technical discussions on an IMF-supported program
During the 2022 IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C., IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and other senior members of IMF management met with a Sri Lankan delegation, led by Finance Minister Ali Sabry and Central Bank of Sri Lanka Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe, and discussed policy actions to address economic challenges. The IMF […]
‘s special request for a Rapid Financing Instrument
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will consider the special request made despite it being outside of the standard circumstances for the issuance of a Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI), the Ministry of Finance said. Minister of Finance M.U.M Ali Sabry P.C, met with the Managing Director of IMF Kristalina Georgieva on the 18th of April at […]
SEC directs CSE to temporarily close stock market; CCC requests SEC to reconsider decision
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce requests the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission to reconsider the decision to direct the CSE to temporarily close the stock market for a period of five business days commencing from 18th April. “This action will be seen by market participants as akin to the unsuccessful attempt made to […]
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Fitch Ratings has downgraded Sri Lanka’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ‘C’ from ‘CC’. The issue ratings on foreign-currency bonds issued on international markets have also been downgraded to ‘C’ from ‘CC’. The Long-Term Local-Currency IDR has been affirmed at ‘CCC’ and the Country Ceiling at ‘B-‘. A full list of rating actions […]
Sri Lanka suspends normal debt servicing; announces interim policy on servicing external debt
Sri Lanka’s government has suspended the normal debt servicing of all affected debts, for an interim period pending an orderly and consensual restructuring of those obligations in a manner consistent with an economic adjustment program supported by the IMF. Announcing an interim policy regarding the servicing of Sri Lanka’s external public debt, the Ministry of […]