News
State Minister Semasinghe explains measures taken to shore up country’s foreign reserves
By Saman Indrajith
Samurdhi, Household Economy, Micro Finance, Self-Employment and Business Development State Minister Shehan Semasinghe told Parliament yesterday that the country’s net foreign assets were worth USD 1.507 Bn as at November, this year.
The state minister said so while making a ministerial statement on behalf of the Ministry of Finance in response to a question raised by JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake on a previous date.
State Minister Semasinghe said that the government had taken the necessary measures to increase its reserves.
The state minister detailed the measures taken by the government through the following: 1. USD 1 Bn SWAP facility with the Central Bank of Qatar, 2. USD 400 Mn SWAP facility with the Reserve Bank of India (SAARC), 3. USD 300 Mn loan from the Consolidated Loan Facility.
“We have made the necessary arrangements to obtain 500 million USD through currency swaps with the partnership of various global commercial banks,” he said.
The state minister said Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa during his visit to India reached an agreement for fuel purchases, while the government also had reached agreements for the purchasing of essential goods and medicines.
Sri Lanka aimed for a US$ 12 Bn export revenue by the end of 2021, he said, adding that remittance would also boost the reserves.
The Cabinet of Ministers granted their concurrence to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Youth Affairs to appoint S. Achchudan of Special Grade of Sri Lanka Administrative Service, who is currently serving as an Additional Commissioner of Elections at the Elections Commission who is
recommended by the panel of interviewers to the post of Director General of the Sports Development Department with effect form 01.01.2026.
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal furnished by the Minister of Environment to publish the draft bill of the National Environment (Amended) Act in the government gazette notification and subsequently to submit the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Buddhism, Religious, and Cultural Affairs to provide tax relief on imported dates received as donations or gift for Ramadan.
This year’s Ramadan fasting season is scheduled to begin on 19-02-2026 and end on 21-03-2026.
Shafali, Renuka close in on top five in ICC T20I rankings
S. Achchudan appointed as Director General of the Sports Development Department.
Amendment of the National Environment Act No. 47 of 1980
Tax relief for Dates received as donations or gifts for Ramadan
Cabinet nod to establish the Sri Lanka Industrial Transformation and innovation Authority
Temporary employment of Sri Lankan labour in the State of Israel
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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