Economy

Sri Lanka targets $ 879 m in local investments in 2025

Published

1 year ago

January 16, 2025

Sri Lanka expects about $ 879 million in investments from local investors in 2025 based on government incentives and an improved investment climate in the country, Economic Development Deputy Minister Prof. Anil Jayantha Fernando said.

Speaking in Parliament yesterday (7), he said that the government forecasts $ 879 million from local investors, an assumption based on the current situation and past trends.

He also added that the figure is forecasted based on the incentive packages that the government will provide, improvement in the investment climate and maintaining policy consistency.

Fernando said that the government will provide a conducive environment for local investors where they can have a level playing field with improved ease of doing business.

Moreover, he said that forecasts for foreign direct investments (FDIs) are also made based on the assumptions made for local investors.

However, Fernando said that the government is trying to move away from these assumptions as they have not been able to attract sufficient FDIs in the past based on these assumptions.

“We are trying our maximum to get at least $ 2 billion in FDIs annually, while priority will be given to investments to bring in new technology and capital requirements,” he added.

According to a response tabled at parliament by Finance and Planning Deputy Minister Harshana Suriyapperuma in December, the Board of Investment (BOI) has signed 74 projects in 2024, with an estimated investment of $ 608 million.

The statement said that the BOI signed 41 new projects and 33 project extensions between January and December 2024, the estimated total investment in the 74 projects is $ 608 million, which is only a mere $ 110 million growth in the second half of the year after recording $ 498 million investments in the first half.

Source – The Morning

Economy

Sri Lanka’s exports surpass US$ 5.7b in first four months of 2026

Published

20 hours ago

May 25, 2026

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Sri Lanka’s total exports, comprising both merchandise and services, reached US$ 1,380.93 million in April 2026, recording a year-on-year growth of 6 % compared to April 2025.

According to provisional data released by Sri Lanka Customs, together with estimated figures for Gems & Jewellery and Petroleum Products, merchandise exports in April 2026 increased by 9.87% to US$ 1,063.77 million.

Earnings from services exports were estimated at US$ 317.16 million in April 2026, underscoring the growing importance of the services sector in driving Sri Lanka’s overall export performance.

On a cumulative basis, total exports for the period January to April 2026 are estimated at US$ 5,784.38 million, reflecting a growth of 4.3 % over the corresponding period in 2025.

Overall, the positive export performance recorded during the first four months of 2026 highlights the resilience of Sri Lanka’s external sector. Sustained export earnings, supported by stable merchandise trade and the growing contribution of services exports, indicate a steady and encouraging recovery trajectory for the Sri Lankan economy in 2026.

Economy

Sri Lankan Rupee becomes best performing Asian currency

Published

1 day ago

May 25, 2026

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In remarkable turnaround of events for the Sri Lankan rupee, respected financial news agency Bloomberg said the currency has surged against the dollar, snapping a nine-day losing streak to become Asia’s best-performing currency on Friday.

Bloomberg reported that the rupee strengthened as much as 2.7%, its biggest gain since March 2023, reversing losses from Thursday when it slid to a three-year low.

Data from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) show the extent of the panic that gripped Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange market last week, with the rupee’s year-to-date (YTD) depreciation against the US dollar accelerating sharply within days as importers rushed to secure dollars while exporters delayed conversions.

According to CBSL Weekly Economic Indicators data, the rupee’s YTD depreciation stood at 4.5% by 15 May before surging to 7.2% by 22 May, marking the sharpest deterioration in the currency so far this year.

The movement came amid heightened market anxiety over the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict and fears of rising global energy prices.

The rupee appreciated on Friday after the CBSL moved to calm a nervous foreign exchange market following sharp depreciation earlier in the week.

Economy

Sri Lankan rupee ranked Asia’s worst-performing currency

Published

5 days ago

May 21, 2026

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The Sri Lankan rupee has been identified as the worst-performing currency in Asia this month, according to a report published by a leading global business news platform.

The report stated that the Sri Lankan rupee had weakened significantly against the US dollar in recent days and warned that the currency could depreciate further.

Commenting on the situation, Professor Wasantha Athukorala of the Department of Economics and Statistics at the University of Peradeniya said the rapid depreciation of the rupee within a short period posed a serious risk to the country’s economy.

He warned that inflation could rise sharply in the future if urgent measures were not taken to control the situation.

Meanwhile, Member of Parliament Ravi Karunanayake claimed that the current government had no proper mechanism in place to prevent the rupee from depreciating further.

Former MP Piyal Nishantha also stated that both the government and opposition should work together to take immediate action to address the prevailing economic crisis.

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