Purchasing Managers’ Indices indicate a contraction in Manufacturing activities and Services activities in April 2026.
Following the seasonal pattern, Sri Lanka Purchasing Managers’ Index for Manufacturing (PMI – Manufacturing) contracted in April 2026, recording an index value of 42.6. New Orders, Production, Employment, and Stock of Purchases sub-indices declined during the month compared to the seasonal peak in March, resulting in an overall contraction in the index.
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) announces the launch of an online Complaint Management System (CMS) marking a significant step to facilitate the submission of complaints and grievances by financial consumers relating to Financial Service Providers (FSPs) regulated by CBSL.
The Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI, 2021=100) based headline inflation (year-on-year, Y-o-Y) accelerated in April 2026 reflecting the spillovers from the ongoing war in the Middle East, particularly the significant upward adjustments in domestic energy prices. Accordingly, headline inflation (Y-o-Y) was recorded at 5.4% in April 2026 compared to 2.2% in March 2026.
The external current account recorded a marginal surplus in March 2026, mainly supported by higher workers’ remittances and a lower primary income deficit, despite a widening of the trade deficit and a moderation in the services surplus compared to a year earlier. The cumulative current account surplus reached US$ 531 million during the first quarter of 2026.
The Sri Lanka Purchasing Managers’ Index for Construction (PMI – Construction), as reflected by the Total Activity Index, recorded a value of 57.1 in March 2026, indicating continued expansion in construction activities, albeit at a slower pace than the previous month. Many respondents reported a challenging operating environment, mainly due to limited availability of fuel and raw materials, rising costs, and logistical bottlenecks stemming from the conflict in the Middle East.
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.
