Category: Policy
‘s political crisis puts IMF loan negotiations on hold
Nov 21, 2018 (LBO) – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan facility to Sri Lanka, approved in mid-2016, has been put on hold due to the islands prevailing political crisis, a foreign media report said. I The IMF approved the loan facility on the condition of comprehensive economic reforms. Speaking to media two weeks before the […]
Sri Lanka growth expected to recover to 4 – 4.5-pct in 2019: CB Gov
Nov 15, 2018 (LBO) – There are some positive signs with FDI and exports probably going to be record numbers this year and we envisage Sri Lanka’s growth to be somewhere between 4 -4.5 percent for 2019, the Central Bank Governor said. Growth is expected to remain below envisaged levels in 2018. As per the […]
Central Bank reduced Statutory Reserve Ratio & increased policy interest rates
Nov 14, 2018 (LBO) – Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, at its meeting held on 13 November 2018, has decided to reduce the Statutory Reserve Ratio (SRR) applicable on all rupee deposit liabilities of commercial banks by 1.50 percentage points to 6.00 percent. In order to neutralize the impact of this reduction […]
Parliament passes resolution to raise Rs.310Bn under Active Liability Mgmt
Oct 26, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Parliament on Friday passed a resolution to raise up to 310 billion rupees by way of loans, in or outside Sri Lanka under the Active Liability Management Act. The Active Liability Management Act provides the legal framework for the government to raise loans for management of public debt […]
CBSL Deputy Governor C. J. P. Siriwardena appointed Commissioner General of Inland Revenue
October 23, 2018 (LBO) – Central Bank of Sri Lanka Deputy Governor Mr. C. P. J. Siriwardena has been appointed as Commissioner General of Inland Revenue by Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera. The position is the top tax official in Sri Lanka and is one of the most important public sector appointments. His Bloomberg Executive Profile […]
Sri Lanka plans new import controls for non essential goods
Oct 17, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena has instructed the Finance Ministry to study the current imports and submit a report on goods of which the imports can be temporarily restricted. President has made these remarks at the 20th session of the National Economic Council, which was held at the Presidential Secretariat […]
Only 8-pct of Sri Lanka’s 2018 budget promises progressing on track: Verité
Oct 16, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s private think tank Verité Research has found out that only 8 percent of promises announced in the 2018 budget are progressing on track through the end of the first six months of this year. The research firm has also found out that progress on 33 percent of proposals […]
Central Bank introduces whistleblowing policy & code of conduct for employees
Oct 15, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank said a whistleblowing policy and a new code of conduct for all employees have been introduced as part of the execution of recommendations included in the bond commission report. Releasing a statement on the progress they made with regard to the recommendations of the bond commission […]
Sri Lanka FM interview ahead of IMF and WB annual meet on global trade, economy
Oct 10, 2018 (LBO) – Global finance and reserve bank chiefs will gather this week in Bali, Indonesia for the annual gathering of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank amid rising concern over trade war and risks of global economic crisis.Sri Lanka’s Minister of Finance and Communications, Mangala Samaraweera is chair of the Groups […]
President, NEC hold discussions on devaluation of rupee and economy
Oct 05, 2018 (LBO) – Special attention was drawn at a discussion regarding the promotion of Sri Lanka’s export sector and managing the devaluation of the rupee by the National Economic Council, headed by President Maithripala Sirisena. The NEC gathered under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat, Wednesday with the participation […]
Govt. expenditure for 2019 Rs.4,376Bn : Budget deficit 4.1-pct
Oct 02, 2018 (LBO) – As per the Appropriation Bill, which was presented to the Cabinet recently by Finance and Media Minister, Mangala Samaraweera, next year’s annual state expenditure will be 4,376 billion rupee.The budget deficit will be 644 billion rupees, 4.1 percent of Gross Domestic Product, the Finance Ministry said issuing a statement. The Government […]
Sri Lanka reserves at USD7.3bn; used only USD184mn YTD to defend rupee
Oct 02, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank says the country currently has 7.3 billion US dollars worth foreign reserves and expects to close this year with around 8.3 billion dollars of reserves. Senior Deputy Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said that at the beginning of this year they expected to end the year with close […]