Economic Indicator Highlights of the Week
- CNL Reporter
- June 7, 2025
- News
- Economic
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Real Sector
During the period ending 06 June 2025, crude oil prices exhibited a mixed performance. Prices increased at the beginning of the week, driven by concerns over supply disruptions due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. However, prices declined owing to a rise in US stockpiles during the midof the period. Later in the period, prices increased again amid optimism over US-China trade negotiations. Overall, Brent and WTI crude oil prices increased by US dollars 0.85 and US dollars 0.67 per barrel, respectively.
Monetary Sector
Weekly Average Weighted Prime Lending Rate (AWPR) for the week ending 06 June 2025 increased by 2 bps to 8.37 per cent compared to the previousweek.
The Average Weighted Call Money Rate (AWCMR) decreased to 7.71 per cent on 06 June 2025 compared to 7.75 per cent at the end of last week.
The reserve money increased compared to the previous week mainly due to increase in currency in circulation and the increase in deposits held by thecommercial banks with the Central Bank.
The total outstanding market liquidity was a surplus of Rs. 173.74 bn by 06 June 2025, compared to a surplus of Rs. 203.79 bn by the end of last week.
By 06 June 2025, the All Share Price Index (ASPI) increased by 3.20 per cent to 17,394.45 points and the S&P SL 20 Index increased by 3.90 per cent to 5,175.95 points, compared to the index values of the last week.
Fiscal Sector
During the four months ending April 2025, government revenue and grants increased to Rs. 1,454.7 bn compared to Rs. 1,218.1 bn in the corresponding period of 2024.
Total expenditure and net lending increased to Rs. 1,716.3 bn during the four months ending April 2025 compared to Rs. 1,579.2 bn in the corresponding period of 2024.
During the four months ending April 2025, overall budget deficit decreased to Rs. 261.6 bn compared to Rs. 361.1 bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2024.
During the four months ending April 2025, net domestic financing decreased to Rs. 289.5 bn compared to Rs. 368.6 bn in the corresponding period of
2024. Foreign financing recorded a net repayment of Rs. 27.9 bn during the four months ending April 2025 compared to a net repayment of Rs. 7.4 bn recorded in corresponding period of 2024.
Outstanding central government debt increased to Rs. 29,134.5 bn by end January of 2025 from Rs. 28,738.7 bn as at end 2024. By the end of January2025, total outstanding domestic debt amounted to Rs. 18,512.4 bn while the rupee value of total outstanding foreign debt amounted to Rs. 10,622.1 bn.
T-Bill and T-Bond yields broadly declined during the week.
The rupee value of T-Bills and T-Bonds held by foreign investors increased by 3 per cent in comparison to the previous week.
In the reporting week, the auction for T-Bills experienced oversubscription rate of approximately 2 times.
The total volume of secondary market transactions in T-Bills and T-Bonds increased by approximately 20 per cent in the reporting week compared to the week before.
External Sector
Year to date depreciation of Sri Lanka rupee against the US dollar was 2.2 per cent as of 06 June 2025.
Earnings from tourism amounted to US dollars 164.1 mn in May 2025, compared to US dollars 256.7 mn in April 2025 and US dollars 154.0 mn in May 2024.
Workers’ remittances amounted to US dollars 641.7 mn in May 2025, compared to US dollars 646.1 mn in April 2025 and US doollars 544.4 mn in May 2024.
The net purchases by the CBSL from the domestic foreign exchange market amounted to US dollars 256.8 mn in May 2025.
The gross official reserves were provisionally estimated at US dollars 6,284 mn as at end May 2025. This includes proceeds from the PBOC swap
