• Central Bank Extends the Deadline of Application for 4% Working Capital Loan Scheme until 30th September 2020

    The Monetary Board decided to extend the deadline of 4% Working Capital Loan Scheme, at its meeting held on 19th August 2020. Accordingly, COVID-19 affected businesses and individuals can submit their loan applications under the Saubagya COVID-19 renaissance facility to respective licensed banks until 30th September 2020.

    Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka surpassed the milestone of Rs. 100 billion loans on 18th August 2020, approving Rs.100,017 million worth of loans submitted by 36,489 applicants under the above facility. Out of approved loans, licensed banks have already disbursed more than Rs. 68.5 billion among 25,365 affected businesses and individuals island-wide as of 18th August 2020 (See Table 1 for details).

  • NCPI based Inflation decreased in July 2020

    Headline inflation as measured by the yearon- year (Y-o-Y) change in the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI, 2013=100) decreased to 6.1 per cent in July 2020 from 6.3 per cent in June 2020. This was mainly driven by the statistical effect of the high base prevailed in July 2019. Meanwhile, Food inflation (Y-o-Y) decreased to 12.9 per cent in July 2020 from 13.6 per cent in June 2020, where as Non-food inflation (Y-o-Y) increased to 1.0 per cent in July 2020 from 0.8 per cent in June 2020.

    The change in the NCPI measured on an annual average basis increased to 5.9 per cent in July 2020 from 5.6 per cent in June 2020.

  • Establishment of Financial Consumer Relations Department of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka

    The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) established a new department named “Financial Consumer Relations Department” (FCRD) with effect from 10.08.2020 to serve as the single point of contact to handle all external complaints and grievances directed to CBSL on entities regulated by CBSL under the provisions of Section 33 of the Monetary Law Act No. 58 of 1949, as amended.

  • The Central Bank of Sri Lanka continues its Accommodative Monetary Policy Stance

    The Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, at its meeting held on 19 August 2020, decided to maintain the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) of the Central Bank at their current levels of 4.50 per cent and 5.50 per cent, respectively. The Board recognised the necessity to continue the accommodative monetary policy stance, particularly as market lending rates are yet to reflect the full passthrough of policy easing measures implemented thus far. The Board decided to adopt targeted measures to reduce specific interest rates that it considered to be excessive, which would help marginal borrowers.

  • Sri Lanka Purchasing Managers’ Index - July 2020

    Purchasing Managers' Indices for both Manufacturing and Services activities continued to expand in July 2020, compared to June 2020 benefitting from the normalising of economic activities.

    Reflecting that manufacturing activities are gradually approaching the pre-COVID levels with the normalization of business activities, the Manufacturing PMI continued to expand in July 2020 recording 64.6 mainly due to the expansion in New Orders and Production sub-indices.

    Services sector continued to expand for the second consecutive month with PMI reaching 51.4 in July 2020. This was underpinned by the expansions observed in New Businesses, Business Activities and Expectations for Activity compared to June 2020 indicating a further recovery in the services sector, which was affected by COVID-19 pandemic.

  • External Sector Performance - June 2020

    Sri Lanka’s external sector stabilised further in June 2020, with the gradual normalisation of domestic economic activity. The trade deficit declined in June 2020 (year-on-year), with a more than expected rebound in merchandise exports and notable reduction in merchandise imports on account of restrictions on non essential imports. Workers’ remittances recorded a growth in June, for the first time since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the month, both the government securities market and the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) recorded some outflows. Supported by the reduction in the trade deficit, the Sri Lankan rupee recorded a marginal appreciation during June 2020.

  • CCPI based Inflation increased in July 2020

    Headline inflation as measured by the year-on-year (Y-o-Y) change in the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI, 2013=100) increased to 4.2 per cent in July 2020 from 3.9 per cent in June 2020. This was mainly driven by monthly increase of prices of items in Non-food category along with the statistical effect of the low base prevailed in July 2019. Food inflation (Y-o-Y) increased to 10.9 per cent in July 2020 from 10.0 per cent in June 2020. Further, Non-food inflation  (Y-o-Y) also increased marginally to 1.5 per cent in July 2020 from 1.4 per cent in June 2020.

  • The Central Bank of Sri Lanka Denies Media Reports on Macroeconomic Projection Updates

    Several media reports have been brought to the notice of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) in which certain macroeconomic projections are erroneously attributed to the CBSL. 

    The CBSL has not released to the public any update to its macroeconomic projections since the publication of the CBSL Annual Report in April 2020. Given the conditions of uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic, frequent updates to macroeconomic projections are required, and the CBSL has continued to monitor standard indicators of economic activity as they become available. It has been using unconventional indicators as well on a real time basis in its analysis and policy guidance. 

  • The Central Bank enters into a Bilateral Currency Swap Agreement with the Reserve Bank of India

    The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) have entered into a currency swap agreement on 24th July 2020 under the Framework on Currency Swap Arrangement for South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries for 2019 - 2022. This would provide short-term financing to the CBSL to meet the country’s balance of payment requirements.

    The intention of the CBSL in entering into this Swap agreement was to be able to maintain a sufficient short-term foreign exchange liquidity while preserving the foreign currency reserve position of the country intact. The challenging external economic environment of Sri Lanka today is the result largely of this Covid-19 pandemic. This Swap agreement has the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers, received on the recommendation of the Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

  • The Central Bank clarifies its Repurchase Agreement with the Federal Reserve Bank, New York

    The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has recently entered into an agreement with the Federal Reserve Bank, New York (FED) as a temporary source of US dollar liquidity to be used when required. The facility, in technical jargon, is an overnight Repurchase (Repo) facility available for “Foreign and International Monetary Authorities” (FIMA). Many central banks in the world have resorted to this facility to meet their short-term US dollar liquidity requirements. This facility enables a Central Bank to secure short-term funding when needed, without having to make any sudden structural adjustments to its long-term investment portfolios in foreign exchange. 

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