Category: Money
Restrictions on outward remittances on capital transactions extended by 6 months
Jan 05, 2021 (LBO) – The Central Bank says that the restrictions imposed on outward remittances on capital transactions have been extended by a further six months to preserve the foreign currency reserve position of Sri Lanka. Accordingly following restrictions on outward remittances on capital transactions will be effective till 1 July 2021. Suspension of […]
CBSL to establish permanent single-digit interest rate structure in economy
Jan 04, 2021 (LBO) – Capitalising on the achievement of 12-years of single-digit inflation, the Central Bank intends to establish a permanent single digit interest rate structure in the economy, Governor W D Lakshman said. Introducing the monetary and financial sector policies for 2021, Governor said that they will remain focused on maintaining market interest […]
Fallout from Pandemic prompts an unprecedented rate cut: FCR
Jun 30, 2020 (LBO) – First Capital Research (FCR) believes that there is a higher likelihood of 90% that CBSL may provide a rate cut to ensure the continued supply of credit at a low cost of funding. The firm also believes that there is a probability of 40% for a 100bps rate cut to […]
SL should aim for V-shaped economic recovery post COVID 19 : Cabraal
Jun 25, 2020 (LBO) – Ajith Nivard Cabraal, advisor to the Prime Minister on Economic Affairs says that Sri Lanka should aim for V-shaped economic recovery and aspire for high growth in the immediate future. Elaborating further on the topic Cabraal told Lanka Business Online exclusively. ……..
100bps rate cut on the cards to push banks for lending: First Capital Research
Jun 19, 2020 (LBO) – First Capital Research allocates a policy rate cut expectation of 100bps bringing the SDFR and SLFR to 4.50% and 5.50%, respectively. Despite prevailing the low-interest-rate environment it will have a ripple effect on the overall economy, First Capital Research said in a new research note. “We believe that the Central […]
‘s Central Bank further reduces Statutory Reserve Ratio
Jun 16, 2020 (LBO) – The Monetary Board of the Central Bank has decided to reduce the Statutory Reserve Ratio (SRR) applicable on all rupee deposit liabilities of licensed commercial banks (LCBs) by 200 basis points to 2.00 percent, with effect from the reserve maintenance period that commenced on 16 June 2020. According to the […]
Sri Lanka export earning drop 42.3-pct in Mar 2020
Jun 02, 2020 (LBO) – The deficit in the trade account narrowed in March 2020 to US dollars 549 million, from US dollars 592 million in March 2019, as the decline in imports in value terms exceeded the decline in exports, the Central Bank said. However, on a cumulative basis, the trade deficit widened to […]
Sri Lanka seeks USD1.1bn special SWAP facility from India
May 24, 2020 (LBO) – President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday asked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help Sri Lanka by providing a special SWAP facility of 1.1 billion US dollars to deal with country’s foreign exchange issues. “If the Government of India could provide USD 1.1 billion special SWAP facility to top up USD 400 […]
Sri Lanka explores SWAP facilities with regional Central Banks
May 19, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is in the process of exploring SWAP facilities with regional central banks, while arrangements are also being made for syndicate financing with identified foreign sources, the Central Bank said. While reiterating its commitment to meeting all its financial obligations, the Central Bank said in a statement that the […]
Sri Lanka official reserves at USD 7.9Bn at end Feb 2020
May 18, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s gross official reserves stood at 7.9 billion dollars at end February 2020, equivalent to 4.7 months of imports, the Central Bank said. Total foreign assets, which consist of gross official reserves and foreign assets of the banking sector, amounted to 10.9 billion dollars at end February 2020, equivalent […]
IMF discusses Sri Lanka’s intention to replace EFF with rapid financing instrument
May 08, 2020 (LBO) – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says that they are currently discussing Sri Lanka’s intention to replace the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement that the country had with the rapid financing instrument as the current IMF program is about to be completed. During a press briefing held at the IMF yesterday, […]
Sri Lanka gross official reserves down to USD7.2 bn by end-April
May 07, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s gross official reserves were 7.2 billion US dollars (USD7,179.9mn) by the end of April, down from 7.5 billion US dollars in March, the latest Central Bank data showed. By the end of April, the foreign currency reserves were 6,744.1 million dollars while the reserve position in the IMF […]