The Central Bank of Sri Lanka, which had maintained rates since a cut in October 2013, said inflation is projected to remain in low mid-single digit levels this year but the current market interest rates are inconsistent with low inflation and investments needed to boost economic growth.
"Therefore, there is a further leeway to continue relaxation of monetary policy," the central bank said in a statement on April 15, adding that it has a mix of monetary tools available to fine-tune its policy if there is any worrying impact from the rate cut on other economic variables.
Sri Lanka's consumer price inflation rate fell to 0.1 percent in March from 0.6 percent in February while the Average Weighted Prime Lending Rate (AWPR) was 7.14 percent on April 10.
The central bank cut the benchmark Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) to 6.0 percent from 6.50 percent and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) to 7.50 percent from 8.0 percent.
The decision by the central bank's board was taken while its governor, Arjuna Mahendran, is on leave during an investigation by a committee over allegations that one of his family members benefitted unduly from a sale of treasury bonds.
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka issued the following statement:
"The Monetary Board at its regular meeting held on 11 April 2015 reviewed the
current monetary policy stance and underlying macroeconomic conditions. Accordingly, the
Monetary Board made following observations:
-
Headline inflation, on a year-on-year (y-o-y) basis, declined to 0.1 per cent in March
2015 from 0.6 per cent in February 2015. Following the same trend, annual average
inflation also declined to 2.5 per cent from 2.9 per cent recorded in the previous month.
Significant decline in inflation in March 2015 reflects primarily the first round impact of
downward price revisions of domestic energy prices as well as the administratively
reduction in prices of a number of consumer items. Meanwhile, core inflation stood at
1.4 per cent on y-o-y basis and 3.0 per cent on annual average basis in March 2015.
-
As expected, a sustained increase in credit granted by commercial banks to the private
sector was observed in the past few months. The growth of the private sector credit rose
to 12.6 per cent (y-o-y) or Rs. 24.5 billion in absolute terms in February 2015.
Reflecting the developments in domestic credit, broad money (M2b) increased by 12.3
per cent (y-o-y) in February 2015, remaining well within the underlying monetary
projections.
-
The external sector remained resilient with foreign currency inflows from export
proceeds, workers’ remittances, and tourist earnings as well as inflows to the
government securities and portfolio investments supporting maintenance of the
exchange rate against US Dollar without an unhealthy volatility on the strength of
official foreign reserves increasing from US dollars 6.8 billion as at end March 2015 to
US dollars 7.0 billion at present. The official reserves are projected to strengthen further
with the proceeds pending from the currency swap arrangement between Sri Lanka and
India and other identified regular investment inflows to a level of official reserves
comfortable for supporting the exchange rate stability in the immediate future. Overall,
the outlook in the balance of payments in 2015 remains favourable with continued
inflows expected from current account related transactions, significantly lower
expenditure on petroleum imports and receipts to the government, the banking sector
and other private corporates.
-
Current behaviour of market interest rates is viewed to be inconsistent with the
continued low inflation and investments needed to address concerns on economic
growth for the year. Inflation is projected to remain at low mid-single digit level in
2015. Therefore, there is a further leeway to continue relaxation of monetary policy,
primarily through a reduction in policy interest rates of the Central Bank to encourage
economic activities by enhanced credit flows and investments due to lower cost of funds
and behaviour of market interest rates consistent with economic growth outlook. If any
of subsequent interim effects of further monetary relaxation are found to be of concern
over other economic variables, a mix of other monetary policy tools is available to fine-
tune such effects towards achievement of current objectives of the monetary policy.
Taking the above observations into consideration, the Monetary Board decided to reduce the policy interest rates by 50 basis points. Accordingly, the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) of the Central Bank are reduced to 6.00 per cent and 7.50 per cent, respectively, with effect from today (15 April 2015). The monetary policy tool primarily adopted by the Monetary Board will continue to be the policy interest rates announced to the market with the support of other monetary policy tools. The relaxed monetary policy stance will also be pursued in months to come until concerns over inconsistent behaviour of market interest rates are addressed sufficiently to facilitate the economic growth further in a low single digit inflation environment.
The date for the release of the next regular statement on monetary policy would be announced in due course. "
www.CentralBankNews.info
0 comments:
Post a Comment