Category: Forex
Central Bank revises maximum interest rates on foreign currency deposits
The Monetary Board has issued an order on maximum interest rates to be paid in respect of foreign currency deposit products of licensed commercial banks and the National Savings Bank. Maximum interest rates on FCY deposits The maximum interest rates that shall be offered or paid by a licensed commercial bank and the National Savings […]
‘s official reserves position has reached around USD 3.1bn: Central Bank
Sri Lanka’s Central Bank says that with the receipt of recent inflows, the official reserves position has now reached around US dollars 3.1 billion, and is expected to remain at such level by end of 2021. Releasing a statement, the Central Bank said that the foreign currency inflows in connection with several other facilities that […]
Sri Lanka expects USD 2bn SWAP facilities from Middle Eastern & other regional central banks
The Central Bank says that the measures being taken at present will ensure that by end of 2021 official reserves will remain above US dollars 3 billion. Releasing a statement, the bank said that major foreign exchange inflows to the Central Bank include SWAP facilities with Middle Eastern and other regional central banks amounting to […]
Joint Chambers express concern on impact of currency shortage; request to engage with IMF
Statement issued by the following Institutions: We wish to draw the attention of the Government to the difficulties faced by our member companies and the broader private sector in obtaining foreign currency to finance much needed imports due to the prevailing situation with regard to the lack of availability of foreign currency. This will affect […]
Central Bank initiates regulatory actions against errant Money Changers
In response to several complaints that certain Authorized Money Changers are engaged in activities which are not in compliance with the Directions issued under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Act No. 12 of 2017 (FEA), the Central Bank is conducting a series of spot examinations at the places of Authorized Money Changers. In the […]
Sri Lanka official reserves down to USD 1.6bn in November, confirms Central Bank
Sri Lanka’s official reserve assets were 1.6 billion US dollars (USD 1,587.0mn) by the end of November, down from 2.3 billion US dollars in October, the latest Central Bank data showed. By the end of November, the foreign currency reserves were 1,009.5 million dollars while the reserve position in the IMF was 67.0 million dollars. […]
Rs.10 per dollar incentive for inward workers’ remittances converted into rupees: CBSL
The Monetary Board of the Central Bank has decided to pay an incentive of Rs. 8.00 per US dollar for workers’ remittances, in addition to the existing incentive of Rs.2.00 under the “Incentive Scheme on Inward Workers’ Remittances”, when such funds are remitted through banks and other internationally accepted formal channels and converted into Sri […]
“Dark future looming as foreign reserve drop to USD 1.5Bn, lowest in history” Eran
The opposition alleged in Parliament that foreign reserves have dropped to US 1.5 billion dollars which included the gold reserves of US 300 million dollars. The Govt. did not refute the opposition claim that the available cash reserve was only USD 1.5 billion less than one month’s import payment, lowest in history. He told a […]
CBSL expects reserves to remain around USD 3.5bn by end 2021; USD 4bn on average in 2022
Sri Lanka’s Central Bank expects gross official reserves to remain at around USD 3.5 bn at the end of 2021, and around USD 4.0 bn on average in 2022. Releasing the ‘Recent Economic Developments’ report, the Central Bank said that it expects financial flows to strengthen in the period ahead with the envisaged inflows in […]
Sri Lanka to introduce incentive package for migrant workers with various benefits
Sri Lanka to introduce an incentive package for migrant workers, which includes pension/superannuation benefits, accident/life insurance benefits, banking facilities including low-interest loans for housing and/or self-employment on return to Sri Lanka, and enhanced duty-free concessions. The Central Bank said they are currently working in collaboration in this regard, with the Ministry of Labour, State Ministry […]
New rules to convert export proceeds have no impact on Sri Lankans working abroad: CBSL
Sri Lanka’s Central Bank emphasizes that inward remittances by Sri Lankan expatriates, which are not considered as services exports, will not be subjected to new export proceeds conversion rules. Under the new rules issued on 28 October 2021, the minimum mandatory conversion rate of 25 percent has been relaxed, and instead, exporters have been provided […]
Sri Lanka’s reserves down to USD 2.3bn in October; YTD rupee depreciation 8-pct
Sri Lanka’s official reserves were 2.3 billion US dollars (USD 2,267.5mn) by the end of October, down from 2.6 billion US dollars in September, the latest Central Bank data showed. By the end of October, the foreign currency reserves were 1,686.1 million dollars while the reserve position in the IMF was 67.7 million dollars. Special […]