Category: Policy
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 […]
Sri Lankan rupee depreciates 9.7-pct YTD; CB says observed stabilizing exchange rate
Oct 02, 2018 (LBO) – Recent measures are expected to ease the excessive demand for foreign currency and therefore the pressure in the domestic foreign exchange market as already observed in the stabilizing exchange rate, the Central Bank said releasing its monetary policy review. In line with several other peer countries such as India, Philippines, […]
Central Bank of Sri Lanka maintains policy interest rates at current levels
Oct 02, 2018 (LBO) – Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, at its meeting held on 01 October 2018, has decided to maintain policy interest rates at their current levels. Accordingly, the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) of the Central Bank will remain at 7.25 […]
Sri Lanka restricts vehicle imports for MPs, Ministries, state sector employees & others
Sept 29, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government in order to ease the pressure on the Sri Lankan rupee has decided to take the following measures temporarily effective from midnight today (29). – Issuing of Vehicle permits to Members of Parliament will be suspended for a period of one year. – Importation of vehicles for […]
IMF staff mission concludes visit to Sri Lanka; stresses on reforms
Sept 28, 2018 (LBO) – Authorities should accelerate reforms to strengthen the Sri Lankan economy’s resilience to domestic and external shocks, given still significant vulnerabilities, concluding a recent visit, an IMF staff mission said. The IMF staff mission led by Manuela Goretti said the authorities should sustain reform efforts to support trade, investment, and inclusive […]
Collapse of rupee and yahapalana govt.’s economic mismanagement: MR
Sept 26, 2018 (LBO) – The Rupee has depreciated steadily against the US Dollar ever since the yahapalana government came into power – a trend which has now accelerated alarmingly. The value of the US Dollar which was Rs. 131 at the end of 2014 when I left office is now over Rs.170 and continuing […]
Appropriation Bill to parliament second week of October
Sept 25, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s cabinet has approved the Appropriation Bill proposed by Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera, to be presented in Parliament during the second week of October, a statement said. The Appropriation Bill estimates, the total expenditure for 2019 without budget proposals is 4,376 billion rupees, the latest statement on cabinet decisions said. […]
‘s rupee hits record lows as Central Bank hold rates
Sept 21, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s rupee hit an all time low of 168.65/169.00 to the US dollar at the close of day Thursday down from 167.10 the day before as the Central Bank of Sri Lanka held rates. Sri Lanka’s Minister of Finance Mangala Samaraweera releasing a statement said that Sri Lanka has been […]
Sri Lanka to introduce an investment law for single window facilitation: PM
Sept 14, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will bring in a new legislation for the Single Window Investment Facilitation model, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said. The government, a few months ago established a Single Window Investment Facilitation Task Force (SWIFT) to fast-track investments through a virtual one-stop shop. Speaking at the Economic Summit 2018, Wickremesinghe said […]