Category: Policy
Sri Lanka to open ports and power grid to private investors: President
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has told investors that the government has put three things in place: transparent governance, the laws needed to protect business, and the infrastructure to support it. “We will do our part. You must do yours,” he said. He was speaking at the Sri Lanka Economic and Investment Summit 2026, organised by […]
Central Bank of Sri Lanka maintains policy rate at current level
The Monetary Policy Board, at its meeting held yesterday, decided to maintain the Overnight PolicyRate (OPR) at the current level of 8.75%. The Board arrived at this decision after carefully considering the evolving conditions and outlook on the domestic and global fronts. The Board paid particular attention to the effects of the proactive monetary policy […]
CBSL Governor: Reserve accumulation must be backed by sound fundamentals
Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe has said reserve accumulation cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader macroeconomic policy framework, stressing it must be underpinned by sound external sector fundamentals and an economy capable of generating and retaining foreign exchange. Weerasinghe was delivering the keynote address on “Challenges in Building […]
Governor’s remarks do not signal future policy rate path or level: CBSL
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) clarified that recent media reports had misinterpreted remarks made by the Governor during a media interview. CBSL said its monetary policy is “forward looking and data driven” and that decisions to increase, decrease or maintain policy rates are made at each Monetary Policy Review based on the latest […]
Sri Lanka’s inflation climbs to 7.3% in July, highest since early 2025
Sri Lanka’s headline inflation picked up pace in July, with the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI) rising to 7.3% year-on-year, up from 6.8% in June, according to Central Bank data released this week. The uptick was driven largely by a jump in housing rents, which pushed non-food inflation contributions higher for the month, along with […]
CBSL keeps OPR unchanged; Gross Official Reserves at USD 6.45 bn at end June
The Monetary Policy Board, at its meeting held yesterday, decided to maintain the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at the current level of 8.75%. The Board arrived at this decision after carefully considering the evolving conditions and outlook on the domestic and global fronts. Renewed tensions in the Middle East have resulted in a surge in […]
Ceylon Chamber discussion puts energy security at the centre of Sri Lanka’s growth agenda
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce brought together policymakers, industry players, academics and other stakeholders last week for a discussion on Sri Lanka’s energy transition, framing the shift to cleaner power as much a matter of economic strategy as environmental necessity. The event, titled “Energy Transition in Sri Lanka: Strategic Insights from Global Markets,” comes as […]
Sri Lanka moves back into upper-middle income bracket, World Bank says
Sri Lanka has been reclassified as an upper-middle income economy by the World Bank, a milestone officials are calling hard-won but fragile because the country has been here before, and lost the status within a year. The change was confirmed in the World Bank Group’s Country Income Classifications for the fiscal year running from 1 […]
Sri Lanka’s inflation hits 6.8-pct in June
Sri Lanka’s inflation problem isn’t going away anytime soon. June’s headline number came in at 6.8% year-on-year, up from 5.5% in May, and the drivers are exactly what most people already feel when they fill up their tank or do their weekly grocery run. Energy costs remain the main villain here. The Middle East conflict […]
Sri Lanka, US reaffirm strong ties as talks focus on trade gap and tariffs
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met with visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Dr. Paul Kapur, at the Presidential Secretariat this afternoon (22). The two sides reflected on 77 years of Sri Lanka-US relations, noting how the partnership has grown to cover trade, defence, investment, tourism and people-to-people connections. Kapur […]
Central Bank increases Overnight Policy Rate to 8.75-pct
The Monetary Policy Board, at its meeting held yesterday, decided to increase the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) by 100 bps to 8.75%. Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR), which are linked to OPR with predetermined margins of ± 50 bps, are also increased to 8.25% and 9.25%, respectively. The Board […]
Central Bank keeps Overnight Policy Rate unchanged
The Monetary Policy Board, at its meeting held yesterday, decided to maintain the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at the current level of 7.75%. The Board arrived at this decision after carefully considering evolving developments and the outlook on both domestic and global fronts. The Board is of the view that the current monetary policy stance […]