Anil Jayantha, Senior Advisor to the President on Economic and Financial Affairs, has assured that the government will not be taking new loans but will instead rely on the local financial market to meet its funding needs. In response to concerns regarding allegations of increased local and foreign borrowings following the appointment of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Jayantha clarified that the government’s financial operations are part of a standard process.
“Every week, the central bank raises funds through the sale of treasury bills and treasury bonds, which is a normal procedure to manage day-to-day essential expenses and repay matured debts,” Jayantha explained. He emphasized that this process remains unchanged and that there is nothing unusual about it despite the transition in leadership.
Jayantha noted that repayments on maturing treasury instruments are ongoing, and the government is simply maintaining its routine financial activities. He reiterated, “No new borrowing has been done. As usual, we are only fundraising.”
He also pointed out the importance of assessing claims regarding loans taken from local or foreign markets as highlighted in recent media reports. “We need to investigate whether any loans have been taken as indicated,” he stated.
Regarding the stability of the financial market, Jayantha mentioned that the responsibility for this lies with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. He indicated that measures, including the purchase of US dollars, were taken prior to the new president’s appointment to support market stability.
The advisor concluded by affirming that the government is actively working to gather information on the amounts raised in the domestic market and is committed to transparency regarding the country’s financial activities.
