Friday Jul 17, 2026
Friday Jul 17, 2026
Monday, 6 July 2026 05:14 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) returned to net purchases of foreign exchange in June, buying a net $ 70.5 million as pressure on the rupee eased after the local currency came under strain in May.
Official data showed the CBSL purchased $ 96.3 million and sold $ 25.8 million during the month, reversing May’s net sale of more than $ 211 million, when it became a net seller of foreign exchange for the first time in 22 months.
The June purchases lifted the CBSL’s cumulative net foreign exchange purchases to $ 556.4 million in the first six months of 2026, following record net purchases of $ 2 billion in 2025.
The CBSL on Friday said gross official reserves were provisionally estimated at $ 6,881 million as at end-May 2026 and includes proceeds from the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) swap arrangement.
