End-of-Mission press releases include statements of IMF staff teams that convey preliminary findings after a visit to a country. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that,  subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF's Executive Board for discussion and decision.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has observed media reports highlighting adjustments to the Value-Added Tax (VAT) as the reason for increased inflation in 2017.

The CBSL wishes to clarify the Governor’s response to a query from the media on rising inflation in 2017 at the press conference held on the Monetary Policy Review No. 6 of 2017 at CBSL Head Office. In his response, the Governor stated that in addition to the adjustments made to the government tax structure, the adverse impact of weather related supply side disruptions, rising international commodity prices and the impact of the base contributed to the acceleration of inflation thus far during 2017. While the aforementioned factors lie beyond the control of the CBSL, it has maintained a tight monetary policy stance since early 2016 thereby containing demand-driven inflationary pressures and the buildup of adverse inflation expectations.