Tuesday, July 21 2026
Tuesday, July 21 2026
Private credit expanded by 100 billion rupees, down from a surge of 258.4 billion rupees in March. In April usually credit slows and the exchange rate stabilizes.
However this year, panic spread in forex markets as the central bank deployed the International Monetary Fund backed 'flexible exchange rate' and exchange rate as the first line of defence (interest rate as the last line of defence).
Heavy moral suasion further crippled the market.
Meanwhile central bank credit expanded by 62 billion rupees, though there are questions on the calculation of the volume.
Credit to government from commercial banks fell 41.5 billion rupees. Sri Lanka had recorded budget surpluses up to March 2026.
State enterprises credit also fell by 2.2 billion rupees to 492 billion rupees.
Sri Lanka's energy SOEs are required to run cost-reflective tariffs under an IMF program and had been able to repay some debt.
| 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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