Category: Forex
Role of alternative financing mechanisms to address Sri Lanka’s debt overhang
By Imesha Dissanayake The common path followed by almost all IMF member countries in response to sovereign debt crises in recent decades, is to enter into an IMF supported stabilisation and structural adjustment programme. Sri Lanka has been a country that has followed this trend repetitively, having entered into 16 economic stabilisation programmes during 1965-2020, […]
Sri Lanka official reserves at USD 2.2Bn in Feb 2023
Gross official reserves stood at US dollars 2.2 billion as at end February 2023, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka says. This included the swap facility from the People’s Bank of China, equivalent to around US dollars 1.4 billion, which is subject to conditionalities on usability. The Central Bank recorded a net absorption of foreign […]
We are ready to unlock IMF program; guidance band removed: CBSL Governor
Sri Lanka is now standing ready to unlock the IMF Extended Fund Facility arrangement as all prior actions of the program have been completed, the Central Bank Chief said. “We are now standing ready to unlock the IMF program,” CBSL Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe told reporters in Colombo. “Although we raised policy rates, we would expect […]
‘s export earnings decline to 11.3-pct in Jan 2023: Imports down 29.2-pct
• The deficit in the merchandise trade account narrowed in January 2023, compared to a year ago. • Export earnings declined while import expenditure remained subdued in January 2023, compared to year earlier. • Workers’ remittances and earnings from tourism continued to increase in January 2023. • Gross official reserves strengthened at end January 2023, […]
RIU to host webinar on achieving debt sustainability and safeguarding social wellbeing
The Research Intelligence Unit (RIUNIT) is hosting the webinar entitled ‘lessons from Sri Lanka’s sovereign debt crisis’ on 22 February 2023, which aims to draw international lessons from the current economic crises. An extremely high powered panel includes Ali Sabry, Attorney-at-law and the current Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka; Yanis Varoufakis, former Minister of Finance, […]
‘s Long-Term Local-Currency IDR to CC; affirms RD Foreign-Currency IDR
FitchRatings has downgraded Sri Lanka’s Long-Term Local-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ‘CC’, from ‘CCC’, and has affirmed the Long-Term Foreign-Currency IDR at ‘RD’ (Restricted Default). Fitch typically does not assign Outlooks to ratings of ‘CCC+’ or below. Fitch has also removed the Long-Term Local-Currency IDR from Under Criteria Observation, on which it was placed […]
Finance Minister requests the public to deposit or sell foreign currency notes in possession
In order to attract foreign currency held with the public into the banking system, the Minister of Finance has issued an Order granting an amnesty period of 1 month effective from 15.08.2022 for persons in, or resident in, Sri Lanka who hold foreign currency notes in possession to: i. Deposit into a Personal Foreign Currency […]
DCTS to replace UK GSP; SL to benefit from duty-free exports to UK on more than 80-pct of products
Over 99% of goods exported from Sri Lanka eligible for duty-free access to the UK £69m of tariffs saved on exports to the UK under the new Developing Countries Trading Scheme The UK is reshaping trade with 65 developing countries, including Sri Lanka, through a new trading framework: the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS). The DCTS […]
Central Bank relaxes mandatory conversion requirement on service export proceeds
With the view of encouraging service exporters to repatriate their export proceeds into the country, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has withdrawn the mandatory requirement to convert service export receipts/proceeds, that are received in Sri Lanka on or after 12 August 2022. The service exporters may use their export proceeds so repatriated to Sri […]
Central Bank to initiate actions against persons who hold over USD 10,000 in possession
With the intention of attracting foreign currency in the hands of the public into the formal banking system, the Minister of Finance has issued an Order under Section 8 of the Foreign Exchange Act No. 12 of 2017 as follows: (1) Reducing the amount of foreign currency retained in possession by a person in, or […]
Finance Minister of India assures her fullest support to economic recovery process in Sri Lanka
Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister of India Nirmala Sitharaman assured the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India, Milinda Moragoda of her fullest support and cooperation in the process of economic recovery in Sri Lanka. The Finance Minister of India gave this assurance when High Commissioner Moragoda called on her on 21 June at the […]
Central Bank deploys new system to monitor foreign currency transactions
Recognising the need to implement a comprehensive cross-border transactions and domestic foreign currency transactions monitoring system as a key national priority, the Central Bank has implemented a new data collecting system known as the International Transactions Reporting System (ITRS) with the participation of Licensed Commercial Banks (LCBs) and Licensed Specialised Banks (LSBs). The ITRS is […]