Wednesday, July 22 2026
Wednesday, July 22 2026
THE PURCHASE: IMF purchase plan
MONETABRIEF - Sri Lanka plans to purchase 2.2 billion from markets to build foreign exchange reserves in 2026, up from 2.0 billion in 2025, according to published IMF program documents.
In the first two months of 2026, 661 million dollars were bought from markets.
By March 03 excess liquidity available for banks overnight for lending rose to 403 billion rupees, about twice the level seen before the default.
The rupee then collapsed as the central bank refused to give back the dollars for the new money as import demand came for oil from the Middle East war and also from the former owners of the dollars, triggering a mini currency crisis.
Authorities told the IMF that Sri Lanka will 'backload' or buy more dollars later in the year after the currency trouble.
Sri Lanka will re-evaluate the purchase commitment at the Seventh Review in consultation with IMF staff. (Colombo/May29/2026)
| US Dollar | 340.98 | Sell - |
| Euro | 391.44 | Sell - |
| Japan Yen | 2.114 | Sell - |
| Sterling | 458.31 | Sell - |
| AED | 91.58 | Indi - |
| 3 month bill | 10.13 | .08 ▼ |
| 12-m bill | 10.20% | .01 ▼ |
| Gold | $4035 | - - |
| ASPI | 21,417.80 | 7.19 ▼ |
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