Central Bank of Sri Lanka

News

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka Reduces the Bank Rate

The Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, at its meeting held on 15 April 2020, having observed the cumulative reduction of the key policy interest rates of the Central Bank, namely the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR), by 200 basis points each since 31 May 2019, decided to allow the Bank Rate to automatically adjust in line with the SLFR, with a margin of +300 basis points.

Measures taken by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to Provide Flexibility to Non-Bank Financial Institutions (NBFIs) to Support Businesses and Individuals Affected by the Outbreak of Coronavirus

The Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) decided to introduce number of measures to provide flexibility to NBFIs namely Licensed Finance Companies (LFCs) and Specialised Leasing Companies (SLCs) facilitating them to support businesses and individuals affected by the outbreak of COVID-19. These measures include relaxation of regulatory requirements and granting liquidity support for needy LFCs.

Introducing a Special Deposit Account to Support the National Effort to Manage the Challenges Faced due to COVID-19 Outbreak

The Government of Sri Lanka in consultation with the Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has introduced a Special Deposit Account (SDA) with the view to seek assistance for the national effort to overcome the effects of COVID-19 outbreak in the country.

The Government and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Introduce Further Measures to Preserve the Foreign Currency Reserve Position of Sri Lanka

With the view of preserving the foreign currency reserve position of the country, minimizing the existing pressure on the exchange rate and considering the possible negative impact to the Sri Lankan economy due to the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, the Hon. Minister of Finance, Economic and Policy Developments with the recommendation of the Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) and the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has issued an Order imposing the following measures on outward remittances on Capital Transactions for a period of three (03) months.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka Further Reduces Policy Interest Rates

The Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, on 03 April 2020, decided to reduce the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) of the Central Bank by 25 basis points to 6.00 per cent and 7.00 per cent, respectively, effective from the close of business on 03 April 2020. This decision will complement the measures taken thus far to ease market conditions, and enable the domestic financial market to provide further relief to businesses and individuals affected by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions placed to contain its spread within the country.