Central Bank continue current interest rate trends

Sri Lankan interest rates remain unchanged, according to a decision taken by the Monetary Policy Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, at its meeting held Thursday.

It was decided to maintain the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) of the Central Bank at their current levels of 8.25 per cent and 9.25 per cent, respectively.

“The Board arrived at this decision after carefully considering the recent and expected macroeconomic developments and possible risks and uncertainties on the domestic and global fronts with a view to ensuring that inflation aligns with the target of 5 per cent over the medium term, while enabling the economy to reach its maximum potential. The Board observed that inflation is likely to remain well below the target of 5 per cent over the next few quarters, potentially recording deflation in the immediate future driven by changes to administratively determined prices and easing of supply conditions,” the board said in a statement

The decision comes on the back of the election of a new President last week with Anura Kumara Dissanayake from the National People’s Power ascending to the highest position in the land, beating incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe and main challenger Sajith Premadasa at the September 21^st poll.

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