Category: Policy
Opinion: Introducing import licenses will worsen Sri Lanka’s economic crisis
Advocata Extraordinary Gazette No 2270/18 of March 2022, imposes import restrictions on 367 goods determined as “non-essential” by the Ministry of Finance. These can now only be imported under a license issued by the controller general of imports and exports control. This move tightens already existing import restrictions on a series of imported goods ranging […]
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 […]
Central Bank further tightens Monetary Policy Stance
The Monetary Board of the Central Bank, at its meeting held on 03 March 2022, has decided to reinforce its stance adopted in January 2022. Accordingly, it has been decided to; a) increase the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) of the Central Bank by 100 basis points each, […]
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 […]
‘s economic policies
Explaining the economic policy of the future SJB government, Eran Wickramaratne M.P. said that the SJB has already decided to allow the use of chemical fertilizer in order to promote export- oriented value -added commercial agriculture. He also said that future SJB government will give priority to exports and the government will mediate directly to […]
CBSL raises policy rates by 50bps; urges banks to swiftly increase deposit interest rates
Sri Lanka’s Central Bank has decided to adopt several policy measures with a view to strengthening macroeconomic stability. Accordingly, in consideration of the current and expected macroeconomic developments, the Monetary Board at its meeting held on 19 January 2022, has decided to: a) increase the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility […]
National single window: Paving way for paperless trade
By Mithara Fonseka and Kavishka Indraratna In 2016, Sri Lanka ratified its Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) with the WTO and in 2017 a Secretariat was established for the National Trade Facilitation Committee to drive much needed trade reforms in the country. Currently, the rate of Sri Lanka’s implementation commitments under TFA stands at 34.9% with […]
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 […]
“Dark future looming as foreign reserve drop to USD 1.5Bn, lowest in history” Eran
The opposition alleged in Parliament that foreign reserves have dropped to US 1.5 billion dollars which included the gold reserves of US 300 million dollars. The Govt. did not refute the opposition claim that the available cash reserve was only USD 1.5 billion less than one month’s import payment, lowest in history. He told a […]