Business

Trade account deficit widens YoY for fourth consecutive month

Published

5 years ago

2021/08/17

External sector performance – June 2021

The deficit in the trade account widened on a year-on-year basis for the fourth consecutive month in June 2021. Both exports and imports were significantly higher in June 2021 compared to June 2020. Considering the first half of the year, although exports recorded a healthy growth, import expenditure increased at a higher pace. Workers’ remittances recorded a year-on-year decline in June 2021, while earnings from tourism remained at minimal levels. In the financial account, both foreign investment in the government securities market and the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) continued to record marginal net outflows during the month. The Sri Lankan rupee remained broadly stable in June 2021.

Trade Balance and Terms of Trade

Trade Balance: The deficit in the trade account widened on a year-on-year basis to US dollars 652 million in June 2021 compared to the deficit of US dollars 161 million recorded in June 2020. The cumulative deficit in the trade account in the first half of the year also widened to US dollars 4,316 million from US dollars 3,262 million recorded in the corresponding period in 2020, and US dollars 3,597 million recorded in the corresponding period in 2019. The major contributory factors for this outcome are shown in Figure 1.

Terms of Trade: Terms of trade, i.e., the ratio of the price of exports to the price of imports, deteriorated by 16.7 per cent in June 2021 compared to June 2020, as the increase in import prices were higher than the increase of export prices, compared to June 2020.

Performance of Merchandise Exports1

Overall exports: Earnings from merchandise exports in June 2021 recorded an increase of 12.6 per cent to US dollars 1,007 million on a year-on-year basis. Cumulative export earnings from January to June 2021 amounted to US dollars 5,699 million, compared to US dollars 4,413 million recorded in the corresponding period in 2020 and US dollars 5,999 million recorded in the corresponding period in 2019. Exports improved by 12.9 per cent in June 2021 over May 2021.

Industrial exports: Earnings from the export of industrial goods increased by 16.6 per cent in June 2021 compared to June 2020, with a broad-based increase in export earnings under most of the categories. Substantial increases were noted with respect to rubber products (tyres and gloves), petroleum products, machinery and mechanical appliances (all subcategories), textiles and garments, gems, diamonds and jewellery, and base metals and articles. Increase in earnings from petroleum products was due to the increase in unit values of bunker fuel along with some improvement in quantities supplied. Despite the ongoing pandemic related disruptions, the main export segments also recorded increased earnings on a month-on-month basis. Total earnings from industrial exports from January to June 2021 amounted to US dollars 4,408 million with a growth of 31.3 per cent from the same period in 2020.

Agricultural exports: Total earnings from the export of agricultural goods in June 2021 remained around the same values recorded in June 2020. Earnings from tea exports increased due to improvement in export volumes while the export unit value declined. Further, earnings from exports of coconut (both kernel and non-kernel products), spices (such as pepper and cloves) and unmanufactured tobacco increased. In contrast, there was a decline in export earnings from seafood, minor agricultural products (fruits, arecanuts, betel leaves, etc.) and vegetables (fresh, frozen, dried, preserved, etc.). Total earnings from agricultural exports during the first half of 2021 amounted to US dollars 1,259 million, with a growth of 21.2 per cent from the same period in 2020.

Mineral exports: Earnings from mineral exports were higher in June 2021 than in June 2020 with increases in earnings from earths and stone as well as ores, slag and ash. Total earnings from mineral exports from January to June 2021 amounted to US dollars 25 million.

1 Exports classified according to Standard International Trade Classification Revision 4 are presented in Annex I

Export indices: The export volume and unit value indices increased by 8.9 per cent and 3.4 per cent, respectively, on a year-on-year basis in June 2021. These indicate that the increase in export earnings, on a year-on-year basis, was due to the combined impact of higher export volumes and prices.

Performance of Merchandise Imports2

Overall imports: Expenditure on merchandise imports increased by 57.2 per cent to US dollars 1,659 million compared to US dollars 1,055 million recorded in June 2020. The increase in import expenditure was observed across all main categories of imports, namely, consumer goods, intermediate goods and investment goods, although expenditure on petroleum imports was low due to low import volumes during June 2021. On a cumulative basis, total import expenditure in the first half of 2021 amounted to US dollars 10,015 million, compared to US dollars 7,675 million recorded in the corresponding period in 2020 and US dollars 9,596 million recorded in the corresponding period in 2019.

Consumer goods: Expenditure on the importation of both food and beverages and non-food consumer good categories increased substantially in June 2021 compared to a year ago. Expenditure on food and beverages increased by 61.9 per cent to US dollars 165.0 million with a broad-based increase in all categories, except seafood. However, the largest contribution to the increase in total food bill was from dairy products (mainly milk powder, but also cheese and butter), and oils and fats (mainly coconut oil, but also other types of oil). Expenditure on non-food consumer goods increased by 47.6 per cent to US dollars 217.2 million, contributed mainly by medical and pharmaceuticals (mainly vaccines), home appliances (televisions, rice cookers, fans, refrigerators, etc.), mobile phones, rubber tyres and tubes, etc. Total expenditure on the importation of consumer goods in the first half of 2021 amounted to US dollars 1,912 million, which is an increase of 7.3 per cent compared to the same period in 2020.

Intermediate goods: Expenditure on importation of intermediate goods in June 2021 increased by 48.5 per cent over June 2020, despite the 40.0 per cent decline in the expenditure on fuel. Expenditure on fuel declined due to non-importation of crude oil and low import volumes of other types of petroleum, taking into consideration the availability of sufficient stocks. The expenditure on almost all other types of intermediate goods increased, except fertiliser, mineral products and unmanufactured tobacco, reflecting increased economic activity in the country as well as increased commodity prices in the world market. Total expenditure on importation of intermediate goods during the first half of 2021 amounted to US dollars 5,950 million with an increase of 42.8 per cent from the same period in 2020.

(CBSL)

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Business

World Bank puts USD 110m into climate-resilient road rebuilding

Published

16 hours ago

2026/10/6

Sahan Weerasooriya

A Cyclone Ditwah-damaged area in Sri Lanka.

By Ifham Nizam

The World Bank has approved USD 110 million in additional financing to rebuild around 600 kilometres of roads damaged by Cyclone Ditwah, with the investment aimed not merely at restoring connectivity but at making critical transport infrastructure more resilient to future climate shocks.

The financing comes against a much larger recovery requirement for the transport sector, estimated at USD 1.31 billion, highlighting the scale of the infrastructure challenge following one of the most destructive weather disasters to hit the country in recent years.

The World Bank said the additional financing, provided through the International Development Association (IDA) Crisis Response Window, would support road reconstruction incorporating improved drainage, landslide protection and upgraded engineering standards.

‘Cyclone Ditwah has had a devastating impact on connectivity across Sri Lanka, but rebuilding also gives us an opportunity to build back stronger, said Gevorg Sargsyan, World Bank Group Country Manager for Sri Lanka and Maldives.

The World Bank said the programme would go beyond repairing damaged roads, helping reconnect farmers with markets, communities with essential services and households with economic opportunities.

The additional financing will extend the Inclusive Connectivity and Development Project (ICDP) by three years, taking total World Bank transport investment under the operation to USD 610 million.

The World Bank’s December 2025 GRADE assessment estimated Cyclone Ditwah had caused USD 4.1 billion in direct physical damage, equivalent to around four percent of GDP. Infrastructure accounted for approximately USD 1.735 billion, or 42% of the total, with roads, bridges, railways and water systems among the heavily affected assets.

The Bank has stressed that the USD 4.1 billion estimate measures direct physical damage and does not include income or production losses or the full cost of recovery and reconstruction.

The transport sector alone suffered extensive disruption, making the rebuilding of road networks a critical component of the broader economic recovery.

The latest USD 110 million package is expected to directly benefit more than 830,000 people, while nearly two million people across eight districts are expected to benefit from improved connectivity.

The programme is also expected to support employment during reconstruction and improve market access for approximately 22,000 tea, vegetable and paddy farmers.

The World Bank’s intervention therefore combines immediate disaster recovery with a longer-term infrastructure objective: ensuring that money spent on reconstruction does not simply restore roads to their pre-disaster condition but reduces their vulnerability to the next extreme-weather event.

That approach is becoming increasingly important as climate-related disasters place additional pressure on already constrained public finances.

Rebuilding the same infrastructure repeatedly after floods, landslides and other disasters carries a significant economic cost, making resilience an increasingly important part of infrastructure investment decisions.

Business

SLIC Life offers Rs.1million free life cover to parents of children born on World Children’s Day 2026

Published

16 hours ago

2026/10/6

Sahan Weerasooriya

Senior Management of SLIC Life and officials of Castle Street Hospital for Women symbolically handing over a Free Life Cover of Rs. 1 million to a parent whose child was born on 1st of October 2026

In celebration of World Children’s Day 2026, Sri Lanka Insurance Life (SLIC Life) has once again extended a Rs. 1 million free life insurance cover to the parents of every child born on 1 October 2026, across Sri Lanka. Now in its fifth consecutive year, the initiative was implemented island-wide, covering hospitals across the country and enabling parents of newborns to benefit from this special offering.

Beyond providing financial protection, the initiative seeks to highlight the importance of planning for a family’s financial security from the very beginning of a child’s life.

“The birth of a child marks the beginning of a new journey filled with hopes, dreams and aspirations. At SLIC Life, we believe that protection should begin from the very start of that journey. Through this initiative, we aim to create greater awareness of the importance of planning ahead and the role life insurance can play in safeguarding families against life’s uncertainties. As we continue this initiative for the fifth consecutive year, we remain committed to extending meaningful protection to Sri Lankan families and contributing towards a more secure future for the next generation,” said Dr. Sameera Dharmasena, Chief Executive Officer of SLIC Life.

Launched in 2022 as part of SLIC Life’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, the World Children’s Day initiative was introduced with the aim of supporting parents and strengthening financial security for families at an important stage in their lives. Over the years, the initiative has become a significant part of SLIC Life’s annual CSR calendar, reflecting the company’s broader commitment to children, families and communities.

SLIC Life’s commitment to children and education extends across several long standing CSR initiatives. The ‘Pasal Piriyatha Surakimu’ programme, launched in 2007, has benefited over 3,365 underprivileged schools through initiatives including classroom refurbishments, water facilities, libraries and learning resources. The 2026 edition of the programme is scheduled to be carried out in November, continuing SLIC Life’s efforts to enhance learning environments for children across the country. Complementing this, the ‘Suba Pathum Scholarship Programme’, which has been conducted since 2014, has now awarded 2,425 scholarships valued at Rs. 265 million to children of policyholders who demonstrate excellence in national examinations. The programme reflects SLIC Life’s continued focus on supporting educational aspirations and creating opportunities for the next generation.

Children remain at the heart of SLIC Life’s commitment to building a more secure future. Through the annual World Children’s Day initiative and its wider CSR programmes, SLIC Life continues to demonstrate that the value of insurance extends beyond financial protection, contributing to stronger and more resilient families and communities.

Business

HelpAge thanks donors for helping in carrying out free cataract surgery program

Published

16 hours ago

2026/10/6

Sahan Weerasooriya

A surgery in progress under the aegis Helpage.

At a recent seminar HelpAge Sri Lanka (HASL) thanked local and foreign donors for strengthening the on-going free cataract surgeries program conducted by HelpAge Eye Hospital, Wellawatta for less- privileged elders over 55 years.

According to HelpAge Eye Hospital statistics the free cataract surgery programme was commenced in 2002 and over 55,000 surgeries have so far been performed for elderly citizens.

Head of HelpAge Eye Hospital Mahanama Wijesinghe said needy persons over 55 years of age could contact the hospital on telephone numbers 0112555759 and 0112589450 for free cataract surgeries.

‘Steps have been taken to conduct surgeries within a short duration of 30 days after attending the Eye Hospital clinic, he said.

Wijesinghe thanked all donors for their donations towards helping underprivileged citizens of the country.

HelpAge, Executive Director Dr. Harsha Bandara said HelpAge also conducts free medical and eye camps for needy elders and thanked donors for their donations towards this meritorious cause.

He requested philanthropists and donors to make their contributions for the sake of the needy.