Business

‘New CBSL Act set to have balanced impact on all sectors’

Published

3 years ago

2023/07/27

The new Central Bank Act enables welcome separation and good coordination between the Fiscal Policy and the Monetary Policy, the Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe says.

by Sanath Nanayakkare

The dominance of the fiscal policy used by the government over the Monetary Policy of the Central Bank is set to wax and wane under the new Central Bank Act, creating a more balanced and positive impact on all sectors of the economy , Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said in Colombo recently.

The Governor made this remark on July 21 while delivering the keynote speech at the CFA Society Sri Lanka CEO Forum.

“The new Central Bank Act which was passed in parliament recently will ensure the Central Bank’s mandate to maintain domestic price stability, financial stability and greater accountability to the general public of the country thanks to the provisions that establish the independence of the Central Bank. According to its provisions, whatever we do, we are accountable to the public, to the parliament and to the Cabinet. The new law empowers the Central Bank to implement flexible inflation targeting. And that framework will stay on course irrespective of the administration in power or whoever happens to be on the Monetary Board of the Central Bank. This will ensure predictability and stability of the monetary policy framework. It will also help negate the fiscal dominance on Monetary Policy,” he said.

“With the new law, the Secretary to the Treasury is moving out of the Monetary Board, creating conditions for a much more representative Monetary Board. When the Secretary to the Treasury is sitting on the Monetary Board obviously his mandate is to reduce borrowing costs for the government side by reducing the cost of financing, and this is in conflict with the Monetary Policy,” he said.

“Further, the Central Bank by law, engaged in monetary financing or so-called money printing as it was one of the instruments the Central Bank used over many years, and very heavily within the past two years to facilitate the fiscal policy and government spending. Now it is prohibited under the new Central Bank Act barring in extreme circumstances, subject to approval of parliament. When the fiscal policy’s objectives override, inevitably the Monetary Policy is tainted.” he noted.

The Governor emphasized the fact that Monetary Policy needs to encompass all sectors of the country and not just government’s public finance.

“Thus the new Act enables a welcome separation while having good coordination between the Fiscal Policy and Monetary Policy. Although there is no Treasury Secretary sitting on the Monetary Board now, there will be coordination between Fiscal and Monetary policies through a Coordinating Council, which is an embedded institutional structure in the new law,” he pointed out.

Referring to the appointments of the Central Bank Governor, members of the Monetary Board and the Governing Board, he said,” The new law stipulates the mandatory suitability of the appointees and checks and balances which the Minister of Finance recommends. Subsequently those appointments recommended by the Minister of Finance need to go through the Constitutional Council of bipartisan consensus. Thus the members for these posts will be made for fixed terms regardless of administration changes. Thus there are clauses in the new Act to consolidate the independence of the Central Bank which is a favourable outcome for all sectors in the country,” he said.

Referring to the recent debate in parliament over the draft bill of the Central Bank, the Governor said, “On the whole, it was a good debate although it was obvious that some members of parliament who took part in it, had not read the bill’s provisions.”

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Business

UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka mobilizes business to lead with purpose

Published

14 hours ago

2026/07/4

Thilina Walpola

As businesses navigate an increasingly complex operating environment shaped by workforce transformation, evolving stakeholder expectations, technological disruption and shifting market demands, strengthening performance requires more than new strategies. It requires new ways of thinking, leading, and collaborating.

It was against this backdrop that UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka convened CATALYZE 2026: Social, bringing together business leaders, sustainability practitioners, policymakers, development partners and industry experts to mobilize collective action and equip businesses with the knowledge, partnerships and practical approaches needed to strengthen performance through responsible business.

More than a forum for dialogue, CATALYZE 2026 was designed to help businesses think differently about performance. It reinforced that long-term success is increasingly shaped by how organizations lead, uphold human rights, foster inclusive workplaces, strengthen ethical governance, and build cultures that enable innovation, resilience and trust. Responsible business is no longer separate from business performance — it is fundamental to it.

Aligned with the UN Global Compact’s 2026–2030 Global Strategy, the Forum reflected its three strategic pillars — Equip, Catalyze and Advance — by strengthening business capability, fostering collaboration and mobilizing leadership to accelerate progress on social sustainability.

UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka’s approach to social sustainability centres on driving this change — recognizing that meaningful progress comes not only through policies and commitments, but through the everyday decisions, leadership behaviours and organizational cultures that shape how businesses operate. CATALYZE 2026: Social encouraged participants to move beyond intention towards implementation, embedding responsible business practices into strategy, governance and organizational culture.

Opening the CATALYZE 2026: Social, Rathika de Silva, Executive Director of UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka, spoke to the role of responsible business leadership in strengthening Sri Lanka’s global competitiveness:

“Sri Lanka has the workforce, resilience, and opportunity to compete not by being the cheapest producer, but by becoming the most trusted. As global expectations evolve, compliance is no longer simply a cost of doing business — it is the foundation of market access, and the decisions we make today will determine how strongly we compete in the markets of the future.”

The Forum featured keynote addresses, leadership dialogues and technical sessions on the issues shaping the future of business, including business integrity and anti-corruption, human rights, neurodiversity and inclusive workplaces, artificial intelligence and the future of jobs, the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), responsible sustainability communications, and workforce resilience. Together, these discussions highlighted how responsible leadership, inclusive practices, and strong governance contribute to organizational resilience, innovation, and long-term performance.

Business

A regional conversation on the future of English language teaching

Published

14 hours ago

2026/07/4

Thilina Walpola

Free British Council online conference brings together leading educators from across South Asia to explore how creativity, inclusion and technology can help prepare learners for a rapidly changing world

The British Council has announced the South Asia TeachingEnglish Online Conference 2026, a free three-day event that will convene educators, researchers and teacher educators from across the region to examine one of the most pressing questions facing education today: how can schools equip learners with the creativity, adaptability and communication skills needed to thrive in an increasingly complex world?

Taking place from 23–25 July 2026, the online conference comes at a time when education systems across South Asia are grappling with the challenge of balancing curriculum demands, assessment pressures and evolving learner needs. While English remains a critical gateway to academic and professional opportunities, educators are increasingly seeking approaches that move beyond language acquisition alone to foster critical thinking, collaboration, learner agency and participation.

Business

The Ceylon Chamber convenes dialogue on energy security and standards for Sri Lanka’s energy transition

Published

14 hours ago

2026/07/4

Thilina Walpola

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce recently hosted a discussion titled “Energy Transition in Sri Lanka: Strategic Insights from Global Markets”, bringing together representatives from the public and private sectors, industry experts, academics, and other stakeholders to examine the opportunities and challenges associated with Sri Lanka’s evolving energy landscape.

Held at a time when countries around the world are accelerating their transition towards cleaner, more resilient, and technology-driven energy systems, the event provided a timely platform to examine renewable energy not only as an environmental priority but as a strategic pillar of national energy security, with implications for economic growth and long-term competitiveness. The discussion also considered the increasing importance of reliable energy infrastructure in meeting the growing demands of digital transformation, including emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, electric mobility, and data centres.

The programme covered a wide range of topics relevant to Sri Lanka’s energy future, including renewable energy development, energy security, regulatory and policy frameworks, electricity sector reforms, energy storage systems, grid modernization, investment and financing considerations, and international experiences in energy transition. Particular attention was given to the need for creating an enabling environment that supports innovation, attracts investment, including the technical and safety standards required to protect consumers and businesses as storage and solar adoption scales nationally.