The publication on the Financial Statements and Operations of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka 2025, a requirement under Section 99(2) and 7 (1) (l) of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Act, No 16 of 2023, was presented to His Excellency the President and the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, by Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, today, 20 April 2026.
Note on the coverage:
The Annual Economic Review 2025, the publication in accordance with Section 80 of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Act, No. 16 of 2023, was presented to His Excellency Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the President and the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, by Dr. P Nandalal Weerasinghe, the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, today (20 April 2026).
Key highlights of the Annual Economic Review 2025 are given below:
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) continues to closely monitor on a day-to-day basis developments relating to National Development Bank PLC (NDB) following the disclosure of an internal fraud.
Purchasing Managers’ Indices indicate expansions in both Manufacturing and Services activities in March 2026.
Sri Lanka Purchasing Managers’ Index for Manufacturing (PMI – Manufacturing) increased to 66.7 in March 2026, supported by heightened activity related to seasonal demand. However, many respondents reported a tight production environment, mainly attributed to raw material and fuel shortages, rising costs, and logistical constraints.
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) wishes to inform the public that it has been closely monitoring developments relating to National Development Bank PLC (NDB) following the recent disclosure of an internal fraud.
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission team led by Mr. Evan Papageorgiou visited Sri Lanka from 26 March to 9 April 2026 for the combined Fifth and Sixth Reviews under Sri Lanka’s Extended Fund Facility Arrangement.
The National Development Bank PLC (NDB) has informed the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) that it has uncovered an internal fraud that could lead to a significant loss being incurred. CBSL has also been informed that no customer accounts or deposits have been affected by this fraud.
The external current account recorded a surplus in February 2026, extending the trend observed since November 2025, and recorded a cumulative surplus of US$ 487 million during January–February 2026.
The Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI, 2021=100)1 based headline inflation (year-on-year, Y-o-Y) accelerated in March 2026. Accordingly, headline inflation (Y-o-Y) was recorded at 2.2% in March 2026 compared to 1.6% in February 2026.
The Sri Lanka Purchasing Managers’ Index for Construction (PMI – Construction), as reflected by the Total Activity Index, recorded a value of 70.3 in February 2026. This indicates continued expansion in construction activities, albeit at a slower pace compared to the significantly higher level observed in the previous month. Most firms reported favourable industry conditions in February, underpinned by steady inflows of construction projects and favourable weather.
