News & market updates

Sri Lanka Customs exceeded its June revenue target for a sixth consecutive month, collecting 194.1 billion rupees in the first 23 days versus a 184.9 billion target. Stronger enforcement, improved valuation and a rebound in imports have boosted collections and helped fiscal revenues under the IMF program.

Sri Lanka's rupee closed at 337.25/35 to the US dollar in the spot market on Thursday, slightly weaker than 337.00/75 the previous day. Government bond yields were broadly steady, e.g., 15.09.2027 at 10.40/50%, 15.03.2028 at 10.50/65% and 01.08.2030 at 11.20/25%.

EDB Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe said rupee-to-rupee trade with India could lift bilateral commerce by about 30–40% within two years (15–20% in year one) by enabling direct INR–LKR settlements. The initiative, supported by the Indian High Commission and CBSL and involving local and Indian banks, is intended to cut dollar demand, lower transaction costs and reduce exchange-rate volatility.

Treasury bill yields rose across maturities at the weekly auction — 91-day up 12bps to 10.14%, 182-day to 10.21% and 364-day to 10.17% — with the full Rs.70bn offered sold and bids 1.86x. Money-market net liquidity was Rs.61.04bn and USD/LKR closed at 337.00/337.75.

Sri Lanka's rupee was quoted at 336.75/337.50 to the US dollar (from 337.00/337.75), with the telegraphic transfer at 333.00/342.00; local government bond yields edged slightly lower — e.g., the 01.08.2030 quoted at 11.19/23% (down from 11.20/25%).

Sri Lanka's rupee closed weaker at 337.00/75 to the US dollar, down from 335.15/40 the previous day; bond yields were broadly steady, with the 15.12.2029 bond at about 10.90/11.00% and other long-dated yields around 10.50–11.75%.

Sri Lanka's goods and services exports rose 18.3% year-on-year in May to US$1,570.6 million, with merchandise at US$1,223.5m and services US$347.2m. The EDB reported estimated export earnings of US$7,393.4m (+7.6% YTD) and launched the NEDP 2026–2030.

Sri Lanka's rupee was quoted at 336.50/80 to the US dollar in the spot market (from 335.15/40 the prior day); bond yields were broadly steady and a Rs70bn Treasury bill auction is scheduled.

Rs.70bn Treasury Bill auction scheduled today (Rs.35bn 91-day, Rs.25bn 182-day, Rs.10bn 364-day); secondary bond yields traded mixed with the short end marginally lower and medium maturities slightly higher. Call money 9.21%, repo 9.24%, USD/LKR ~335.00/335.50.

Sri Lanka's rupee closed at 335.15/40 to the US dollar in the spot market (from 334.50/75 the previous day); bond yields were broadly steady and a Rs70bn Treasury bill auction is scheduled for Wednesday.

Secondary bond market yields held broadly steady, with the 15.06.29 maturity at 10.92% and other maturities trading around 10.60%-11.90%. Money-market liquidity surplus was Rs.44.16bn, overnight call/Repo averaged 9.21%/9.24%, and USD/LKR closed at 334.45/334.75.

Sri Lanka rupee quoted at 334.40/335.00 to the US dollar on Tuesday, marginally weaker than the previous day, while shorter-tenor government bond yields edged lower (e.g. the 01.03.2030 bond quoted at 11.00/05% vs 11.00/10%).

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake chaired a meeting to find swift solutions to strengthen Sri Lanka's apparel sector and boost dollar export earnings; discussed measures include plug-and-play factory infrastructure, land/legal reforms, VAT relief proposals, expanded FTAs and a National Single Window due end-July.

Sri Lanka's rupee closed at 334.50/75 to the US dollar in the spot market, while government bond yields were broadly steady with most quoted maturities unchanged and a few minor upticks in longer-dated bonds (e.g. 15.06.2034 and 15.03.2035).

Sri Lanka recorded a record 145,745 foreign tourist arrivals in May 2026, up 9.65% year-on-year. Despite the rise in arrivals, May tourism earnings fell to USD 155.7m (−5.11% YoY) while rising to Rs. 50.6bn (+3.05%) due to a stronger USD; YTD Jan–May earnings were USD 1,360m (−11.9% YoY).

Sri Lanka's rupee was quoted at 333.50/334.50 to the US dollar in the spot market on Monday; bond yields were broadly steady, with maturities from Dec-2029 to Mar-2035 quoted roughly 10.85%–11.90%.

Secondary bond market rallied, driving yields sharply lower across the curve and prompting a drop in T‑bill auction rates — the 91-day yield fell to 10.02% and the 182-day to 10.16%. Foreign holdings of rupee government securities rose marginally to Rs. 121.35 billion and money-market liquidity narrowed to Rs. 31.25 billion.

An IMF country team will visit Sri Lanka from June 24–30 to assess the country's economic recovery and formally review progress on its economic reform program. The delegation will meet government authorities and stakeholders to take stock of recent economic developments.

Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha met Sri Lankan business leaders including John Keells Holdings' Krishan Balendra and Hayleys' Dhammika Perera; John Keells-backed Colombo West International Terminal handled over 1 million TEUs in its first year. Sri Lanka's cabinet approved a 2,269.18 million rupee transmission-line tender to a JV including Hayleys Fentons, and talks covered trade, investment and a Rupee-to-Rupee commercial corridor with India.

Sri Lanka has issued a Gazette to systematically monitor imports, requiring detailed importer information and mandating banks to assign a separate identification number for each transaction to curb illicit foreign-exchange outflows. The move follows disclosures of scams using fake company registrations and aims to protect reserves without fully restricting trade.

Former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake has asked President Dissanayake to cut the Central Bank’s inflation target to 2% ahead of the October 2026 statutory review. He cited recent inflation breaches (5.4% in April, 5.5% in May), currency weakness and fuel-driven price pressures as reasons.

Regulations No. 06 of 2026, effective 19 June 2026, prohibit commercial banks from making advance payments for imports unless the importer is registered as an 'eligible importer for effecting Advance Payment'; banks must assign unique transaction numbers and notify Sri Lanka Customs with TIN, beneficiary and transaction details.

Sri Lanka's rupee was quoted at 333.50/334.00 to the US dollar on Friday (from 333.90/334.20), while government bond yields fell further — e.g., a 01.03.2030 bond quoted at 10.95/11.00% down from 11.05/15%.

CoPF chair Harsha de Silva questioned CPC's FX management after a reported $46m single-day dollar purchase on 29 May, warning large one-off buys can destabilise the FX market. CPC says it will smooth purchases, planning $11m daily and preparing multi-day buying plans after fuel import bills jumped from ~$100m to >$500m monthly.

Secondary bond market retained positive momentum as yields eased on selected tenors (e.g. 15.12.26 at 10.05–10.15%, 01.05.27 at 10.40%). Money market showed a Rs.31.20bn net liquidity surplus with Rs.59.22bn at SDFR; USD/LKR closed at Rs.333.75/334.10 on $97.15m traded.

LankaRates.com offers a free website that aggregates rates from 60+ banks and finance companies—exchange rates, fixed deposits (including foreign-currency), savings, money market and gold—providing history charts and source-linked, regularly updated figures for easy comparison.

Sri Lanka's rupee closed at 333.90/334.20 to the US dollar in the spot market, little changed from the prior day, while government bond yields fell across several maturities (notably 2029–2035 maturities showed declines).

Sri Lanka's rupee was quoted at 334.50/335.00 to the US dollar and domestic bond yields fell sharply, with the 15-Feb-2028 note quoted at 10.45/65% (down from 10.50/70%) amid active trading.

Deputy Finance Minister Anil Jayantha Fernando said the rupee’s 7% year-to-date fall, which hit a four-year low of 354 LKR on May 21, is mainly driven by speculation and false information. The Central Bank used $211.3m of reserves in May, hiked the OPR 100bp to 8.75% and shortened the exporters' dollar-conversion window to 30 days.

Weekly Treasury Bill auction saw yields fall for the first time in five weeks — the 91-day yield fell 7bp to 10.02% and the auction raised the full Rs.70 billion offered. Secondary bond yields extended their rally, money market surplus was Rs.43.19bn, and USD/LKR closed near 333.5/334.25.