Category: Economy
Sri Lanka inflation at 3-pct for Jan 2021
Feb 02, 2021 (LBO) – The overall rate of inflation as measured by CCPI on Y on Y basis is 3.0 percent in January 2021 and Y on Y inflation calculate for the month of December 2020 was 4.2 percent. As per the Statistics Department, Year on Year inflation of both the Food Group and […]
‘s foreign currency reserves fall below foreign debt obligations
Sri Lanka’s foreign currency reserves which were at USD 5.7Bn as of December 2020, have now marginally fallen below the foreign debt obligations for the first time in the recent past as foreign currency reserve cover falls below 1.0x. Official reserve assets of the country stood at USD 5,665Mn as of 31 December 2020 while […]
Ceylon Chamber to host Outlook 2021 forum next week
The Ceylon Chamber’s annual discourse on the year’s Outlook will be held virtually on 3rd February 2021, organised by the Chamber Academy. The Outlook webinar will provide the private sector with key insights on global and local indicators as well as perspectives to navigate through the evolving economic and policy climate which would help companies […]
Global equity interest in emerging markets expected to trickle down to CSE: Ceylon Asset Management
Jan 26, 2021 (LBO) – Local investors should exploit attractive valuations of the CSE before a Sri Lanka country rating revision and foreign investor confidence returns to the CSE, a new report says. “Invest in the Colombo Stock Exchange. Investors should include equity in portfolios during 2021, before PE ratio exceed 15X, ” the Ceylon […]
Fitch expects Sri Lanka’s FX reserves to decline to around USD4.2 bn in 2021 & USD3.4 bn in 2022
Fitch downgraded Sri Lanka’s rating to ‘CCC’ from ‘B-’ in November 2020, reflecting the sovereign’s increasingly challenging public and external debt position. Fitch Ratings: How Are Sri Lanka’s Fragile External Finances Likely to Hold Up in 2021? The coronavirus shock has exacerbated an already high public debt-to-GDP ratio, and financing options for the sovereign have […]
‘s export earnings amounted to USD 932Mn in December
The US$ 13.5 billion export target set for merchandise export sectors in early 2020 remains challenging, requiring not only strong efforts from local enterprises, but also the recovery of global demand amid complicated Covid-19 situation. Amid severe impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, Sri Lanka’s merchandise exports remain at US$ 9.9 billion in 2020, which is […]
Gross official reserves estimated at USD 5.7bn at end 2020
Sri Lanka’s gross official reserves were estimated at US dollars 5.7 billion at the end of 2020, with an import cover of 4.3 months, the Central Bank said continuing its accommodative monetary policy stance. The trade deficit is expected to have narrowed by over US dollars 2.0 billion in 2020 in comparison to the previous […]
SEC welcomes market performance; low bank interest rates attract local investors to CSE
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) welcomes the record-breaking performance of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE). Bloomberg has identified the CSE as the second best performing equity market in the world. On 15th January 2021, the CSE saw 61,722 trades which is the highest number of trades ever in a single day […]
European Union provides LKR 8.26 billion in grants to Sri Lanka
The European Union (EU) announced the signing of three grants worth EUR 35.75 million (LKR 8.26 billion) which will support Sri Lanka’s justice sector, help improve food safety, and strengthen efforts to mitigate climate change. The grants were signed on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka by Secretary to the Treasury, Mr. S.R. Attygalle […]
Asia Securities forecasts strong growth trajectory for equities in 2021
Following a year of volatility, leading stockbroking firm Asia Securities (Pvt) Ltd, notes that the road ahead for Sri Lanka’s capital markets is optimistic, with the ASPI expected to reach 7,400-7,600 in 2021. The Sri Lankan stock market marked a V-shaped recovery in 2020, seeing one of its strongest rallies to recover all losses suffered […]
‘s Human Development Index ranked 72 out of 189 countries; highest in South Asia
Jan 05, 2021 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is in the high human development category, positioned 72 out of 189 countries, and is the highest in the South Asian region, handing over the Global Human Development Report 2020 to Prime Minister, UNDP Resident Representative Robert Juhkam said. The Human Development Report (HDR), is the annual flagship […]
Restrictions on outward remittances on capital transactions extended by 6 months
Jan 05, 2021 (LBO) – The Central Bank says that the restrictions imposed on outward remittances on capital transactions have been extended by a further six months to preserve the foreign currency reserve position of Sri Lanka. Accordingly following restrictions on outward remittances on capital transactions will be effective till 1 July 2021. Suspension of […]