The deficit in the trade account widened on a year-on-year basis for the fourth consecutive month in June 2021. Both exports and imports were significantly higher in June 2021 compared to June 2020. Considering the first half of the year, although exports recorded a healthy growth, import expenditure increased at a higher pace. Workers’ remittances recorded a year-on-year decline in June 2021, while earnings from tourism remained at minimal levels. In the financial account, both foreign investment in the government securities market and the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) continued to record marginal net outflows during the month. The Sri Lankan rupee remained broadly stable in June 2021.
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External Sector Performance - June 2021
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Closure of Public Relations Counters of Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) Department of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Members and Employers of Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) are hereby informed that the Public Relation and Inquiry Counters at the Lloyd’s Building, Sir Baron Jayathilake Mawatha, Colombo 01 will be closed until 20.08.2021 as several staff members of this unit have been tested positive for COVID-19.
All other services of EPF Department will be continued uninterruptedly. Please refer to the contact details below or visit our website, www.epf.lk for more information.
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Streamlining Complaint Handling Procedure and Introducing a Hotline for Inquiries from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka
The Financial Consumer Relations Department (FCRD) established under the provisions of Section 33 of the Monetary Law Act No. 58 of 1949, as amended, continues to serve as the single point of contact to handle complaints against financial service providers (FSPs) regulated by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL).
FCRD introduced a complaint submission form for financial consumers who wish to submit a complaint against a FSP regulated by CBSL. This will streamline the complaint handling process in an efficient manner and financial consumers are encouraged to submit a clear and concise complaint with accurate information using the complaint submission form.
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Land Valuation Indicator - First Half of 2021
Land Valuation Indicator (LVI) for Colombo District increased to 155.1 during the first half of 2021. The annual increase of 9.5 and the semi-annual increase of 6.8 of LVI, reversed the declining trend observed in the LVI increases over the last two years.
All sub-indicators of LVI, namely Residential LVI, Commercial LVI and Industrial LVI, contributed to the overall increase. Industrial LVI recorded the highest annual increase of 10.1 per cent, followed by Residential LVI and Commercial LVI.
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CCPI based Inflation increased to 5.7 per cent in July 2021
Headline inflation, as measured by the year-onyear (Y-o-Y) change in the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI, 2013=100)1 , increased to 5.7 per cent in July 2021 from 5.2 per cent in June 2021. This was driven by monthly increases of prices of items in the Non-food category. Subsequently, Food inflation (Y-o-Y) decreased to 11.0 per cent in July 2021 from 11.3 per cent in June 2021, while Non-food inflation (Y-o-Y) increased to 3.2 per cent in July 2021 from 2.5 per cent in June 2021.
The CCPI, measured on an annual average basis, increased marginally to 4.2 per cent in July 2021 from 4.1 per cent in June 2021.
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NCPI based Inflation remained unchanged in June 2021
Headline inflation, as measured by the year-on-year (Y-o-Y) change in the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI, 2013=100), remained unchanged at 6.1 per cent in June 2021 due to the statistical effect of the high base prevailed in June 2020. Meanwhile, Food inflation (Y-o-Y) decreased to 9.8 per cent in June 2021 from 10.3 per cent in May 2021 and Non-Food inflation (Y-o-Y) increased to 2.9 per cent in June 2021 from 2.5 per cent in May 2021.
The NCPI, measured on an annual average basis, also remained unchanged at 5.4 per cent in June 2021.
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Imposition of Administrative Penalties by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to Enforce Compliance on Financial Institutions during the Second Quarter of 2021
By virtue of the powers vested under Section 19 (1) read together with section 19 (2) of the Financial Transactions Reporting Act, No. 06 of 2006 (FTRA), financial penalties are imposed on Institutions for non-compliance with the provisions of the FTRA. The penalty may be prescribed taking into consideration the nature and gravity of relevant non- compliance of the Financial Institution.
Accordingly, as Sri Lanka’s regulator for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT), the FIU imposed penalties, amounting to Rs. 3.0 million in total for the period from 1 April 2021 to 30 June 2021 to enforce compliance on Financial Institutions. The money collected as penalties were credited to the Consolidated Fund.
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Response to the Announcement made by Moody's Investors Service
Following the announcement by Moody’s Investors Service on Sri Lanka’s Sovereign rating, the Ministry of Finance has issued a response, which can be found on the link below:
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Special Publication by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka on “The 70 Year Journey of Currency Issue and Management”
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has published a special publication on the history of currency used in Sri Lanka, titled “The 70 Year Journey of Currency Issue and Management” co-authored by Retired Director Communications of CBSL, Ms. Shellomi H Gunawardena and Retired Senior Manager of CBSL, Mr. W M K Weerakoon.
The authors have utilized their years of experience at the Currency Department of CBSL, in compiling this publication, to be used as a reference for bankers, students, numismatists, and others who would be interested in the history pertaining to currency in Sri Lanka. The book carries attractive colour illustrations of currency notes and coins used in Sri Lanka from ancient times with historical narratives, which also provide a glimpse of the political, economic and cultural background of the country over the past 70 years.
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Release of ‘Economic and Social Statistics of Sri Lanka – 2021’ Publication
‘Economic and Social Statistics of Sri Lanka – 2021’, an annual publication of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, is now available for public access.Statistics Department of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka restructured the layout of the publication last year, for ease of reference, while adding more statistics to enrich its content. Accordingly, the publication consists of statistical tables categorised under eight major areas, i.e. ‘National Accounts’, ‘Economic and Social Infrastructure’, ‘Prices, Wages and Employment’, ‘External Trade and Finance’, ‘Government Finance’, ‘Money and Capital Markets’, ‘Financial Sector’ and statistics of other countries.