COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – 02 October 2026 – The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has released its “Daily Economic Indicators” for 01 October 2026, providing a crucial snapshot of the nation’s financial and energy landscape. The data, essential for policymakers, investors, and the general public, reveals stable inflation, consistent bond yields, and dynamic capital market movements as the country navigates its economic trajectory.
Macroeconomic Performance: Growth and Inflation Outlook
Sri Lanka’s economic recovery continues with the latest figures indicating robust growth in the second quarter of 2026. Real GDP Growth for Q2 2026 stood at a healthy 4.2%, signalling sustained momentum in the national economy.
Inflation figures, as measured by the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) Year-on-Year change, show a positive trend towards stability:
- August 2026: 8.1%
- September 2026: 8.0%
This marginal decrease in NCPI inflation indicates the effectiveness of current monetary policies in taming price increases, offering relief to consumers.
Monetary Policy and Money Market Dynamics
The money market on 01 October 2026 saw Overnight Liquidity at Rs. 150.13 billion, a slight reduction from Rs. 158.66 billion on 30 September 2026. The Weekly Average Weighted Prime Lending Rate (AWPR) was recorded at 10.94%.
Yield rates for Treasury Bills remained largely stable between 30 September and 01 October 2026, reflecting investor confidence and controlled market conditions:
- 91-Day T-Bills: Remained at 9.25%
- 182-Day T-Bills: Remained at 9.41%
- 364-Day T-Bills: Saw a marginal decrease from 9.95% to 9.94%
The stability in short-term government securities is a positive sign for the government’s borrowing costs and overall financial market stability.
Exchange Rate Movements
The Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) showed moderate fluctuations against major international currencies on 01 October 2026. The indicative USD/LKR spot exchange rate was observed at 330.70. Telegraphic Transfer (TT) exchange rates were as follows:
- USD: Buying at Rs. 326.2698, Selling at Rs. 335.2191
- GBP: Buying at Rs. 431.1817, Selling at Rs. 445.6067
- EUR: Buying at Rs. 368.0492, Selling at Rs. 381.0800
- JPY: Buying at Rs. 2.0564, Selling at Rs. 2.1299
These rates provide important benchmarks for trade and foreign investment activities in Sri Lanka.
Colombo Stock Exchange Performance
The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) continued to be an active space for investors. On 01 October 2026, the All Share Price Index (ASPI) closed at 20,880.90, while the S&P SL20 Index stood at 5,901.65. The daily turnover for the market was Rs. 1,434.11 million, with a total market capitalization reaching Rs. 7,563.18 billion.
Foreign investor activity saw purchases amounting to Rs. 45.43 million, offset by foreign sales of Rs. 139.64 million, indicating a net outflow for the day. The market’s Price-to-Earnings (PE) Ratio was 10.80, suggesting reasonable valuations.
Energy Sector: Global Prices and Local Consumption
Global petroleum product prices on 01 October 2026 showed varying trends:
- Brent Crude: USD 102.65 per barrel
- WTI Crude: USD 93.02 per barrel
- OPEC Basket: USD 107.30 per barrel
- Refined Petrol (Singapore Platts): USD 150.69 per barrel
- Refined Diesel (Singapore Platts): USD 177.61 per barrel
- Refined Kerosene (Singapore Platts): USD 180.69 per barrel
Locally, CPC retail prices remained stable: Petrol (92 octane) at LKR 414.00 per litre, Auto Diesel at LKR 392.00 per litre, and Kerosene at LKR 285.00 per litre.
Electricity generation figures for 01 October 2026 indicated a total energy generation of 60.14 GWh, with peak demand at 2,959.40 MW. Sri Lanka’s energy mix continues to emphasize renewable sources, with Hydro (43.0%), Solar (19.0%), and Wind (1.0%) contributing significantly alongside Thermal Coal (27.5%) and Thermal Oil (8.8%).
Conclusion
The Daily Economic Indicators for 01 October 2026 paint a picture of an economy exhibiting resilience and stability in key areas, supported by moderated inflation and consistent monetary policy. While global energy prices remain a factor, local market dynamics and robust GDP growth provide a positive outlook for Sri Lanka’s economic future.
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