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Friday, November 13 2026
Friday, November 13 2026
MONETABRIEF – Sri Lanka will set up a new state-owned investment promotion company, with outside experts and an new investment protection law will also be enacted, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said.
The company will be 100 percent Treasury owned and will have "with private sector and international experience, for the promotion of investment."
Staff will get "market-competitive salaries and allowances, as was considered in the establishment of the GovTech institution."
Sri Lanka government and its civil service used to attract the best qualified talent, but after the central bank was set up inflation started to go up.
The problem became acute after the depreciation began in the 1980 with the IMF's Second Amendment to its articles, and "competitive exchange rates" with state salaries lagging far behind inflation.
Monetary debasement eventually led to civil strife, authoritarianism and the discrediting of the 'open market economy' in the eyes of the inflation hit public who did not know that macro-economists had rejected the basic economic principle of sound money.
When there is currency depreciation, social unrests and exchange controls, investors avoid countries.
President Dissanayake said a new investment protection law will also be enacted.
The draft Investment Protection Bill has been refered to the Attorney General'
It will "promote and protect investments and assets belonging to investors to ensure fair and equitable treatment, and to make provisions relating to the payment of compensation and the settlement of disputes."
Sri Lanka has seen bad treatment of foreign investors such as in the case of Emirates, which was kicked out of SriLankan Airlines because seats were not given to part of an entourage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, President Dissanayake said. (Colombo/Nov13/2026)
| 3 month bill | 9.26% | 1bp ▲ |
| 12-m bill | 9.95% | 2bp - |
| Gold (Ounce) | $4015 | - ▼ |
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