Category: Money
‘s official reserves down to USD 1.94bn in March
Sri Lanka’s official reserve assets were 1.9 billion US dollars (USD 1,939mn) by the end of March, further down from 2.3 billion US dollars in February this year, the latest Central Bank data showed. By the end of March, the foreign currency reserves were 1,724 million dollars while the reserve position in the IMF was […]
Central Bank indicative spot exchange rate surpasses Rs250 per USD
The indicative USD spot exchange rate of the Central Bank has surpassed 250 rupees (251.97 rupees) per dollar on Friday even though they earlier expected forex transactions to take place at levels that are not more than 230 rupees per dollar. Accordingly, the indicative USD spot exchange rate which is the weighted average rate of […]
Will continuously support Sri Lanka’s development: ADB President
Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masatsugu Asakawa and Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa met Thursday (10th) in Colombo and it was reaffirmed by the Bank leadership that it would continue to support the islands recovery path from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Asakawa commended the government’s rapid vaccination drive, which has been critical to […]
Bond yields to extend further surge; rate hike expectations for 2022E increased: FCR
In light of the weaker economic conditions, First Capital Research believes that the CBSL will maintain the momentum on tightening policy rates resulting in yields to further surge at an accelerated pace, and expect it to move further over upcoming months. Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves were recorded at USD 2.3Bn in Feb 22 and due […]
Ceylon Chamber welcomes CBSL move towards a more flexible exchange rate
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce commends the Governor and his team at Central Bank for permitting greater flexibility in the exchange rate. This action has been proposed by the Ceylon Chamber, on its own and along with other chambers on numerous occasions in the recent past. Hence, the Chamber is pleased to note this announcement […]
Sri Lanka maintains official reserves at USD 2.3bn in February
Sri Lanka’s official reserve assets were 2.3 billion US dollars (USD 2,314mn) by the end of February, slightly down from 2.3 billion US dollars (USD 2,361mn) in January this year, the latest Central Bank data showed. By the end of February, the foreign currency reserves were 2,025 million dollars while the reserve position in the […]
Time for home-grown solutions is over; Seek international support immediately: Harsha
The country is in complete disarray today. Fuel is rationed at pumps, daily power cuts across the island, shortage of dollars to import essentials including medicine, food is to be rationed next, a current Parliamentarian and former Minister said. “Collapse is imminent if we continue to go this way, it is almost similar to a […]
“Opposition calls on Govt for urgent dialogue with them,” MP Harsha
Opposition parliamentarians have urged President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to initiate a dialogue with them to better understand the current economic issues facing the nation and find solutions together. “We are all in this together,” Dr. Harsha De Silva, an opposition member of parliament said addressing a media briefing yesterday. “The Governor of the Central Bank reiterates […]
Opinion: Repay foreign debt or finance essential imports
By Chair of our Academic Programme and former Economic Adviser at the World Bank, Dr. Sarath Rajapatirana, and our Senior Research Fellow, and former Director of CBSL, Dr. Roshan Perera The available foreign reserves of the country can be used to either repay foreign creditors or to finance imports of essential goods and services required […]
Gold reserves down by 54-pct in December; USD 3.1bn reserves include Chinese swap: CBSL
Sri Lanka’s official reserve assets were 3.1 billion US dollars (USD 3,137.6 mn) by the end of December, up from 1.6 billion US dollars in November, the latest Central Bank data showed. Accordingly, the official reserves include the swap facility signed with the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) of RMB 10 billion (equivalent to approximately […]
15-pct food price increase in a single month; Advocata
Advocata’s Bath Curry Indicator (BCI) , which tracks the monthly changes in the retail price of food, recorded an increase of 15% from November 2021 to December 2021. Much of this increase is driven by rising prices of vegetables. 100g of Green Chillies at Rs18 increased to Rs 71. This is a 287% increase in […]
Opinion: Government heavy-handedness to blame for our currency woes
By Vinuja Singharachchige: Much is being said nowadays about the pressures the Sri Lankan Rupee is facing, but it is important that we understand the mechanics and greater economic context. Currency crises have been common in our modern history with countries facing sudden devaluations to the point where we can predict the patterns. There was […]