Colombo, Sri Lanka – 07 September 2026 – The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has released its “Daily Economic Indicators” for September 4, 2026, offering a comprehensive snapshot of the nation’s financial health. The report provides crucial insights into monetary policy, market performance, and energy trends, vital for businesses, investors, and policymakers navigating the current economic landscape.
Monetary Policy and Inflation
The latest indicators reveal the Policy Rate (OPR) holding steady at 9.35%, with the Statutory Reserve Ratio (SRR) maintained at 2.00%. The Weekly Average Weighted Prime Lending Rate (AWPR) was reported at 9.00% as of September 4, 2026, reflecting the current borrowing costs in the market.
Inflation figures indicate a continued upward trend. The National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) Year-on-Year change recorded 7.2% for July 2026, rising to 8.0% in August 2026. Similarly, the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI) Year-on-Year change stood at 8.75% for July 2026, accelerating to 10.92% in August 2026. Real GDP Growth for Q1 2026 was reported at 5.1%.
Exchange Rates and Money Market Stability
On September 4, 2026, the indicative spot exchange rate for the USD/LKR was recorded at Rs. 328.36. Telegraphic Transfer (TT) exchange rates for major currencies were:
- USD: Buying Rs. 323.9250 / Selling Rs. 332.8821
- GBP: Buying Rs. 437.1316 / Selling Rs. 451.6300
- EUR: Buying Rs. 375.2680 / Selling Rs. 388.4768
- JPY: Buying Rs. 2.0694 / Selling Rs. 2.1424
In the money market, overnight liquidity saw a slight dip, closing at Rs. 110.30 billion on September 4, 2026, down from Rs. 115.09 billion the previous day. The Average Weighted Call Money Rate (AWCMR) was 8.92%, and the Average Weighted Repo Rate (AWRR) was 8.86%.
Yield rates for Treasury Bills showed varied movements. For the 04-Sep-26 maturity, the 182-day T-bill yield was 9.21%, and the 364-day yield was 9.73%. The 91-day T-bill yield for this date was not specified in the primary market data provided.
Currency in Circulation on September 4, 2026, decreased to Rs. 1,664,935.53 million from Rs. 1,671,831.12 million, while Reserve Money also saw a reduction to Rs. 1,922,042.23 million from Rs. 1,931,996.85 million the day prior.
Colombo Stock Exchange Performance
The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) on September 4, 2026, reflected active trading. The All Share Price Index (ASPI) closed at 21,620.44, while the S&P SL20 Index stood at 6,058.92. Daily turnover reached Rs. 2,677.69 million, contributing to a total market capitalisation of Rs. 7,821.06 billion. The Price-to-Earnings (PE) Ratio was 11.43. Foreign investor activity recorded purchases of Rs. 40.95 million against sales of Rs. 107.94 million.
Energy Sector Update
Global petroleum product prices on September 4, 2026, saw Brent crude at USD 96.68 per barrel, WTI at USD 91.93 per barrel, and OPEC crude at USD 98.50 per barrel. Refined product prices were Petrol at USD 123.25, Diesel at USD 165.03, and Kerosene at USD 159.40 per barrel.
Locally, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) prices remained unchanged:
- Petrol (92 octane): LKR 399.00 per litre
- Auto Diesel: LKR 382.00 per litre
- Kerosene: LKR 285.00 per litre
Electricity generation on September 4, 2026, totalled 58.37 GWh, with a peak demand of 2,966.00 MW. The energy mix was dominated by Hydro (35.5%), followed by Thermal Oil (24.6%) and Solar (21.5%). Thermal Coal contributed 11.7%, Wind 5.9%, and Biomass 0.8%.
The latest CBSL report provides a critical daily pulse of Sri Lanka’s economic performance, highlighting key areas for observation and analysis in the coming weeks.
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