Category: Policy
Central Bank of Sri Lanka keeps Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) unchanged
The Monetary Policy Board decided to keep the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at 8.00% at its meeting held yesterday. The Board arrived at this decision after carefully considering the developments both domestically and globally. The Board remains confident that the prevailing monetary policy stance will ensure that inflation will move towards the target of 5% […]
Central Bank maintains Overnight Policy Rate at the current level
The Monetary Policy Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, at its meeting held on 28 January 2025, decided to maintain the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) of the Central Bank at its current level of 8.00 per cent. The Board arrived at this decision following a careful analysis of the current and expected macroeconomic […]
Central Bank of Sri Lanka further eases its monetary policy stance
The Monetary Policy Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has decided to further ease the monetary policy stance and set the newly introduced Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at 8.00 per cent. With this change, the effective reduction in the policy interest rate would be around 50 basis points from the current level of […]
CBSL implements Single Policy Interest Rate Mechanism by Introducing Overnight Policy Rate
The Monetary Policy Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has decided to implement a single policy interest rate mechanism transitioning from its dual policy interest rate mechanism, with effect from 27 November 2024. Accordingly, the Central Bank introduces the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR), as its primary monetary policy tool to signal and operationalise […]
Opinion: CB defends liquidity injections amid “Money Printing” controversy
by Dhananath Fernando A fresh controversy has erupted following reports that Sri Lanka’s Central Bank (CBSL) injected nearly 100 billion rupees into the banking system by October 25. Given that money printing was the major cause of the country’s financial crisis, this news has sparked considerable attention. CBSL has defended its actions, arguing that these […]
Central Bank maintains policy interest rates at their current levels
The Monetary Policy Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, at its meeting held on 26 September 2024, decided to maintain the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) of the Central Bank at their current levels of 8.25 per cent and 9.25 per cent, respectively. The Board arrived […]
IMF Technical Assistance recommends introducing single policy rate to strengthen policy signaling
The IMF South Asia Regional Training and Technical Assistance Center (SARTTAC) provided technical assistance (TA) to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) focusing on modernizing monetary operations framework and improving liquidity monitoring. Macroeconomic crisis, compounded by the pandemic, has created significant challenges for conducting monetary policy in Sri Lanka. Considering this, the mission proposed […]
‘s economy
In the high-stakes world of trade and logistics, corruption at Sri Lanka’s customs, IRD, ports, and airports is not just an inconvenience—it’s a crisis that’s crippling the nation’s export sector. Outdated, manual systems have become breeding grounds for corruption, where bribery and inefficiency rule, bleeding exporters dry and stifling economic growth. The country stands at […]
Sri Lanka’s Industries call for reduction in water tariffs to boost competitiveness
A collective of trade associations including the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Sri Lanka (FCCISL), the European Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka (ECCSL), the Exporters Association of Sri Lanka (EASL), the International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka (ICCSL), and the National Chamber of Exporters (NCE), […]
”s “real” agenda
In the latest series of the RIUNIT podcast hosted by Roshan Madawela, distinguished economists Prof. Howard Nicholas and Prof. Jayati Ghosh, delve deeply into the rapidly changing economic and geopolitical environment, examining both local and global economic orders. By questioning popular narratives, they provide insightful analysis and perspectives on the complex forces shaping our world […]
Central Bank of Sri Lanka publishes its inaugural market operations report
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (the Central Bank) released its inaugural Market Operations Report (MOR) with the aim of enhancing awareness and knowledge among the stakeholders on monetary operations carried out by the Central Bank in line with the prevailing monetary policy stance. The MOR would be a catalyst to improve transparency and accountability […]
Port City Economic Commission Act to be amended to enhance global competitiveness
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Investment Promotion to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a bill for amendment of Port City Economic Commission Act No 11 of 2021 inclusion of relevant amendments. The necessity has been identified to amend the Port […]