The need has not yet arisen to curb vehicle imports to Sri Lanka, Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said yesterday following the latest monetary policy review.

Responding to a question from the media during the Q&A session, Weerasinghe said the Central Bank of Sri Lanka was closely monitoring developments before considering any such measure.

He noted that foreign remittance inflows have not been affected so far despite the ongoing war in the Middle East. In fact, remittances have slightly increased as overseas Sri Lankans appear to be sending more money home amid the prevailing uncertainty.

However, tourism earnings have declined due to the current situation, while export data for the latest period are yet to be received.

“If consumption in Sri Lanka’s export markets is affected by changes in consumer behaviour in those countries, we could expect some decline in export earnings,” the Governor said.

Despite the uncertainties, he said Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves – currently exceeding USD 7 billion – provide a stronger buffer for the country’s balance of payments compared with the situation during the Sri Lankan economic crisis in 2022.

Dr. Weerasinghe said the government would also study the complexities of the evolving global situation and take appropriate action to minimise potential adverse impacts.

“Our monetary policy has been formulated based on several key assumption scenarios. No one can predict when the war will end and build a monetary model around that,” he said.

“What we have done instead is develop prudent scenario assessments and design monetary policy in a way that allows the economy to withstand potential adverse consequences in the best possible manner.”

The Governor also said that no businesses have so far requested loan moratoria due to hardships arising from global uncertainty. “Up to now we have not seen such concerns from enterprises,” Dr. Weerasinghe said, noting that the financial system has not yet experienced stress from companies seeking repayment relief.

By Sanath Nanayakkare

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has launched a five-year “Sow and Grow” project, supported by USD 10 million from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), in partnership with the government of Sri Lanka.

The project aims to strengthen Sri Lanka’s Thriposha programme by boosting the production of high-quality local maize and ensuring a reliable supply of Thriposha for children under five, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Thriposha is a fortified supplementary food and a longstanding nutrition safety net for vulnerable mothers and children in Sri Lanka. Sow and Grow will boost local maize production, improve quality and strengthen supply chains for sustainable provision of Thriposha.

The project will support 7,500 farmers, in Anuradhapura, Monaragala and Badulla districts, boosting productivity, promoting climate-smart farming, and cutting post-harvest losses. It will connect farmers with aggregators and Sri Lanka Thriposha Limited for better market access and ensure a reliable supply of high-quality maize, helping lower dependence on imports and mitigate climate-related risks.

Sow and Grow is projected to enhance nutrition for more than 650,000 children under five, as well as over 330,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women across the country.

Sow and Grow will be implemented by the World Food Programme in partnership with the Government of Sri Lanka, including the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security & Cooperative Development, and the Ministry of Finance.

New Anthoney’s Farms, Sri Lanka’s pioneering producer of antibiotic-free, no-added hormones poultry, once again took its place at the Healthy Living Expo 2026, marking its third consecutive year at the country’s foremost wellness exhibition. The Expo ran from 6 to 8 March 2026 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), Colombo, welcoming free and open attendance from the public, as part of the 15th edition of Medicare 2026, an international healthcare exhibition.

The Healthy Living Expo is built on the principle of wellness before illness, a philosophy that sits at the heart of New Anthoney’s Farms’ founding mission. The Farm has long held that what ends up on the dinner table begins long before the kitchen: it begins on the farm, with the choices made in rearing, feeding, and caring for every bird raised. By choosing not to use antibiotics at any stage, New Anthoney’s Farms ensures that its poultry supports, rather than undermines, the long-term health of the families it feeds.