Features
Fixing the dollar exchange rate: A major mistake
by Romesh Dias Bandaranaike, Ph.D.
Until September last year the US Dollar (USD) – Sri Lanka Rupee (SLR) exchange rate was determined on the basis of a “managed float.” This meant that demand and supply of USD in the market were the primary determinants of the exchange rate. Official (Central Bank) market intervention, by way of sale or purchase of USD in limited quantities, smoothed out any large fluctuations in the exchange rate, when needed.
In September 2021 the Central Bank (CB) set an upper limit of SLR 203 per USD that authorized dealers in foreign exchange, including banks, must adhere to for all foreign exchange transactions. This restriction, now in effect for five months, has had severe adverse impacts on the functioning of the Sri Lankan economy.
Since the demand for USDs has been higher than the supply of USDs at the upper limit of SLR 203 per USD, the CB restriction essentially results in the exchange rate being “fixed” at this rate. Banks have been compelled to address this shortage, by restricting allocation of their inadequate USDs among customers for all permitted foreign expenditures, at this “fixed” rate. The shortage has worsened substantially over the past months. In response, the CB, while stubbornly maintaining the “fixed” rate, has issued a number of additional directives, which have failed to address the adverse consequences of this shortage, as detailed below.
When the demand for a foreign currency exceeds its supply in any country, the fixed official exchange rate does not allow market adjustment to reflect that difference. The natural consequence is the emergence of an alternative market for the currency in shortage, commonly termed a “black market.” Such a black market has recently developed in Sri Lanka with USDs “selling” in excess of SLR 240 per USD compared with the “official” rate of SLR 203.
Migrant Remittances: Sri Lanka’s single largest source of USDs are remittances from migrant workers abroad, primarily in the Middle East. Informal currency transfer arrangements for workers in the Middle East from many South Asian countries (Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, etc.) have been in place for decades, since many such workers did not have bank accounts in their home countries. These arrangements, termed “Hawala” and “Undiyal” are very reliable. Workers hand over foreign currency in the country where they work and the designated person in the home country is given the money in local currency at the agreed exchange rate.
In the past, most Sri Lankan workers did not resort to such arrangements because they had bank accounts in Sri Lanka to which they transferred their foreign earnings at a realistic official exchange rate. With the recent significant price difference between the official and black market rates for the USD, the Hawala/Undiyal arrangements have provided a ready alternate avenue for Sri Lankan workers. As more of these workers became aware of the alternate option, remittances through the banking system have declined precipitously, from USD 600-700 million per month, to USD 200-300 million per month.
The CB tried to reduce this decline by initially offering SLR 2 per USD over the “official” rate for worker remittances, and later an additional SLR 8 per USD. When remittances declined further, the Central Bank tried to “threaten” workers by saying that using alternate methods were illegal and may even be funding “drug dealing.” In November 2021, foreign worker remittances through official channels had declined by USD 340 million compared with November 2020. While the official exchange rate remains misaligned to market demand and supply, this loss will only increase as more workers become aware of alternate avenues. The adverse impact on Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange earnings will be a staggering USD 4 billion per year. This alone should be reason enough to dispense with the “fixing” of the exchange rate.
Export Earnings: With the fixing of exchange rates, exporters have been delaying the repatriation of their export earnings for as long as possible, till the CB is finally forced to succumb to the pressure and let the currency float. The CB has introduced more and more regulations to push exporters to bring back these funds to Sri Lanka and mandatorily convert portions of these amounts to SLRs. Despite all CB regulations, the USDs officially coming into the country from exports is less than if the currency was allowed to find the level at which supply and demand balance.
Tourist Earnings: With better control of the Covid-19 pandemic, tourist numbers have increased substantially in December and January, though not to pre-pandemic levels. When it became apparent that tourists too were converting their foreign currencies into SLRs in the black market, the CB required tourists to pay their bills at all registered tourist hotels and guest houses in foreign currency. The attractiveness of Sri Lanka as a tourist destination depends on the costs incurred by tourists in their own currencies. If they officially receive less SLRs for their currencies than with a realistic exchange rate, this will discourage some fraction of tourists from visiting Sri Lanka, which, in turn, will reduce tourist foreign currency inflows.
Shipping and Airlines: As a result of the severe USD shortage, banks are restricting foreign exchange for local agents of shipping and airlines who seek foreign exchange to pay their principals for services provided, after collecting payments in SLRs from clients. Kuwait Airways has already stopped its flights to Sri Lanka. Others will also reduce flights if not paid for tickets sold or goods air freighted. Shipping lines will soon by-pass Sri Lanka as a destination if not paid for their services. The country will face severe economic repercussions from these trends.
Foreign Investments: The Colombo Stock Exchange indices have grown significantly over the past year, totally on the back of local investors. Foreign investors have been very large net sellers. The original foreign investments were made on condition that the foreign investors could freely convert revenue from sale of shares and from dividends back to the currencies they originally brought in for investments. These sellers now face difficulty when trying to remit their sales proceeds in foreign currencies, because of the shortage. One can only imagine the negative impact this will have on investor confidence and any potential new investments.
“Illusory” Benefit: The most often cited “benefit” of fixing the exchange rate at an artificially low rate is that this would control price increases in imported food and other consumer items. This is an illusion. Many importers can only obtain foreign exchange to import such items in the black market. The rates paid for such exchange is further increased beyond the open market rate because of another CB regulation (see below). When importers persuade banks to open LCs for imports and the banks are late in meeting their obligation to pay the LCs after the goods have arrived in the Port, importers incur large demurrage costs. This increases the final consumer price, even if the LC is paid for at the official exchange rate.
Foreign Currency Grab by CB: The CB has introduced a regulation in terms of which any bank which converts SLRs to foreign currency for one of its clients must give the CB foreign currency equivalent to 25% of the converted amount at the official rate. An importer desperate to obtain foreign exchange for any critical need, such as urgent spares to repair machinery, arranges to pay an exporter having USD a premium above the official rate, if the exporter agrees to bring in USD into the exporter’s local bank at the official rate. The importer then asks the same local bank to open an LC on his behalf and use the funds he has arranged for (although it is brought into the exporter’s account) to pay for the urgent import. Because of the CB’s 25% regulation, the bank typically asks the importer to arrange for an extra 25% beyond the LC amount. This effectively means that instead of paying a premium of SLR 37 (say) over SLR 203, it costs the importer a further 25% (SLR 9.25) per USD to fund his LC. In essence, the CB is now asking importers desperate for foreign exchange to purchase an additional 25% on behalf of the CB and to meet the cost of the premium; effectively a “black market” deal on behalf of the CB!
The CB has also, by decree, forced private banks to allocate a share of their limited foreign exchange for the import of fuel, for vehicles and for operating the CEB’s thermal power plants. LCs for such imports were previously opened through the two state banks, which no longer have sufficient funds for this purpose, because of the fixed exchange rate. This has further reduced the foreign exchange available to private banks to service their own customers.
It is abundantly clear to any person with a modicum of sense, although clearly not to the Central Bank, that its attempts to artificially control the exchange rate by diktat is having a massive adverse impact on the functioning of the economy, without any worthwhile offsetting benefits. Will the CB ever come to its senses and let the USD find its true rate to save the country from further misery?
[The author is an economist with extensive experience at CEO level, in both public and private sectors.]
by Dr Gotabhya Ranasinghe
Senior Consultant Cardiologist
National Hospital Sri Lanka
When we sought a meeting with Hon Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Health, he graciously cleared his busy schedule to accommodate us. Renowned for his attentive listening and deep understanding, Minister Pathirana is dedicated to advancing the health sector. His openness and transparency exemplify the qualities of an exemplary politician and minister.
Dr. Palitha Mahipala, the current Health Secretary, demonstrates both commendable enthusiasm and unwavering support. This combination of attributes makes him a highly compatible colleague for the esteemed Minister of Health.
Our discussion centered on a project that has been in the works for the past 30 years, one that no other minister had managed to advance.
Minister Pathirana, however, recognized the project’s significance and its potential to revolutionize care for heart patients.
The project involves the construction of a state-of-the-art facility at the premises of the National Hospital Colombo. The project’s location within the premises of the National Hospital underscores its importance and relevance to the healthcare infrastructure of the nation.
This facility will include a cardiology building and a tertiary care center, equipped with the latest technology to handle and treat all types of heart-related conditions and surgeries.
Securing funding was a major milestone for this initiative. Minister Pathirana successfully obtained approval for a $40 billion loan from the Asian Development Bank. With the funding in place, the foundation stone is scheduled to be laid in September this year, and construction will begin in January 2025.
This project guarantees a consistent and uninterrupted supply of stents and related medications for heart patients. As a result, patients will have timely access to essential medical supplies during their treatment and recovery. By securing these critical resources, the project aims to enhance patient outcomes, minimize treatment delays, and maintain the highest standards of cardiac care.
Upon its fruition, this monumental building will serve as a beacon of hope and healing, symbolizing the unwavering dedication to improving patient outcomes and fostering a healthier society.We anticipate a future marked by significant progress and positive outcomes in Sri Lanka’s cardiovascular treatment landscape within the foreseeable timeframe.
by Fr. Emmanuel Fernando, OMI
Jesuit Fr. Aloysius Pieris (affectionately called Fr. Aloy) celebrated his 90th birthday on April 9, 2024 and I, as the editor of our Oblate Journal, THE MISSIONARY OBLATE had gone to press by that time. Immediately I decided to publish an article, appreciating the untiring selfless services he continues to offer for inter-Faith dialogue, the renewal of the Catholic Church, his concern for the poor and the suffering Sri Lankan masses and to me, the present writer.
It was in 1988, when I was appointed Director of the Oblate Scholastics at Ampitiya by the then Oblate Provincial Fr. Anselm Silva, that I came to know Fr. Aloy more closely. Knowing well his expertise in matters spiritual, theological, Indological and pastoral, and with the collaborative spirit of my companion-formators, our Oblate Scholastics were sent to Tulana, the Research and Encounter Centre, Kelaniya, of which he is the Founder-Director, for ‘exposure-programmes’ on matters spiritual, biblical, theological and pastoral. Some of these dimensions according to my view and that of my companion-formators, were not available at the National Seminary, Ampitiya.
Ever since that time, our Oblate formators/ accompaniers at the Oblate Scholasticate, Ampitiya , have continued to send our Oblate Scholastics to Tulana Centre for deepening their insights and convictions regarding matters needed to serve the people in today’s context. Fr. Aloy also had tried very enthusiastically with the Oblate team headed by Frs. Oswald Firth and Clement Waidyasekara to begin a Theologate, directed by the Religious Congregations in Sri Lanka, for the contextual formation/ accompaniment of their members. It should very well be a desired goal of the Leaders / Provincials of the Religious Congregations.
Besides being a formator/accompanier at the Oblate Scholasticate, I was entrusted also with the task of editing and publishing our Oblate journal, ‘The Missionary Oblate’. To maintain the quality of the journal I continue to depend on Fr. Aloy for his thought-provoking and stimulating articles on Biblical Spirituality, Biblical Theology and Ecclesiology. I am very grateful to him for his generous assistance. Of late, his writings on renewal of the Church, initiated by Pope St. John XX111 and continued by Pope Francis through the Synodal path, published in our Oblate journal, enable our readers to focus their attention also on the needed renewal in the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka. Fr. Aloy appreciated very much the Synodal path adopted by the Jesuit Pope Francis for the renewal of the Church, rooted very much on prayerful discernment. In my Religious and presbyteral life, Fr.Aloy continues to be my spiritual animator / guide and ongoing formator / acccompanier.
Fr. Aloysius Pieris, BA Hons (Lond), LPh (SHC, India), STL (PFT, Naples), PhD (SLU/VC), ThD (Tilburg), D.Ltt (KU), has been one of the eminent Asian theologians well recognized internationally and one who has lectured and held visiting chairs in many universities both in the West and in the East. Many members of Religious Congregations from Asian countries have benefited from his lectures and guidance in the East Asian Pastoral Institute (EAPI) in Manila, Philippines. He had been a Theologian consulted by the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences for many years. During his professorship at the Gregorian University in Rome, he was called to be a member of a special group of advisers on other religions consulted by Pope Paul VI.
Fr. Aloy is the author of more than 30 books and well over 500 Research Papers. Some of his books and articles have been translated and published in several countries. Among those books, one can find the following: 1) The Genesis of an Asian Theology of Liberation (An Autobiographical Excursus on the Art of Theologising in Asia, 2) An Asian Theology of Liberation, 3) Providential Timeliness of Vatican 11 (a long-overdue halt to a scandalous millennium, 4) Give Vatican 11 a chance, 5) Leadership in the Church, 6) Relishing our faith in working for justice (Themes for study and discussion), 7) A Message meant mainly, not exclusively for Jesuits (Background information necessary for helping Francis renew the Church), 8) Lent in Lanka (Reflections and Resolutions, 9) Love meets wisdom (A Christian Experience of Buddhism, 10) Fire and Water 11) God’s Reign for God’s poor, 12) Our Unhiddden Agenda (How we Jesuits work, pray and form our men). He is also the Editor of two journals, Vagdevi, Journal of Religious Reflection and Dialogue, New Series.
Fr. Aloy has a BA in Pali and Sanskrit from the University of London and a Ph.D in Buddhist Philosophy from the University of Sri Lankan, Vidyodaya Campus. On Nov. 23, 2019, he was awarded the prestigious honorary Doctorate of Literature (D.Litt) by the Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, the Most Venerable Welamitiyawe Dharmakirthi Sri Kusala Dhamma Thera.
Fr. Aloy continues to be a promoter of Gospel values and virtues. Justice as a constitutive dimension of love and social concern for the downtrodden masses are very much noted in his life and work. He had very much appreciated the commitment of the late Fr. Joseph (Joe) Fernando, the National Director of the Social and Economic Centre (SEDEC) for the poor.
In Sri Lanka, a few religious Congregations – the Good Shepherd Sisters, the Christian Brothers, the Marist Brothers and the Oblates – have invited him to animate their members especially during their Provincial Congresses, Chapters and International Conferences. The mainline Christian Churches also have sought his advice and followed his seminars. I, for one, regret very much, that the Sri Lankan authorities of the Catholic Church –today’s Hierarchy—- have not sought Fr.
Aloy’s expertise for the renewal of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka and thus have not benefited from the immense store of wisdom and insight that he can offer to our local Church while the Sri Lankan bishops who governed the Catholic church in the immediate aftermath of the Second Vatican Council (Edmund Fernando OMI, Anthony de Saram, Leo Nanayakkara OSB, Frank Marcus Fernando, Paul Perera,) visited him and consulted him on many matters. Among the Tamil Bishops, Bishop Rayappu Joseph was keeping close contact with him and Bishop J. Deogupillai hosted him and his team visiting him after the horrible Black July massacre of Tamils.
Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement
By Gomi Senadhira
senadhiragomi@gmail.com
“You might tell fairy tales, but the progress of a country cannot be achieved through such narratives. A country cannot be developed by making false promises. The country moved backward because of the electoral promises made by political parties throughout time. We have witnessed that the ultimate result of this is the country becoming bankrupt. Unfortunately, many segments of the population have not come to realize this yet.” – President Ranil Wickremesinghe, 2024 Budget speech
Any Sri Lankan would agree with the above words of President Wickremesinghe on the false promises our politicians and officials make and the fairy tales they narrate which bankrupted this country. So, to understand this, let’s look at one such fairy tale with lots of false promises; Ranil Wickremesinghe’s greatest achievement in the area of international trade and investment promotion during the Yahapalana period, Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA).
It is appropriate and timely to do it now as Finance Minister Wickremesinghe has just presented to parliament a bill on the National Policy on Economic Transformation which includes the establishment of an Office for International Trade and the Sri Lanka Institute of Economics and International Trade.
Was SLSFTA a “Cleverly negotiated Free Trade Agreement” as stated by the (former) Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama during the Parliamentary Debate on the SLSFTA in July 2018, or a colossal blunder covered up with lies, false promises, and fairy tales? After SLSFTA was signed there were a number of fairy tales published on this agreement by the Ministry of Development Strategies and International, Institute of Policy Studies, and others.
However, for this article, I would like to limit my comments to the speech by Minister Samarawickrama during the Parliamentary Debate, and the two most important areas in the agreement which were covered up with lies, fairy tales, and false promises, namely: revenue loss for Sri Lanka and Investment from Singapore. On the other important area, “Waste products dumping” I do not want to comment here as I have written extensively on the issue.
1. The revenue loss
During the Parliamentary Debate in July 2018, Minister Samarawickrama stated “…. let me reiterate that this FTA with Singapore has been very cleverly negotiated by us…. The liberalisation programme under this FTA has been carefully designed to have the least impact on domestic industry and revenue collection. We have included all revenue sensitive items in the negative list of items which will not be subject to removal of tariff. Therefore, 97.8% revenue from Customs duty is protected. Our tariff liberalisation will take place over a period of 12-15 years! In fact, the revenue earned through tariffs on goods imported from Singapore last year was Rs. 35 billion.
The revenue loss for over the next 15 years due to the FTA is only Rs. 733 million– which when annualised, on average, is just Rs. 51 million. That is just 0.14% per year! So anyone who claims the Singapore FTA causes revenue loss to the Government cannot do basic arithmetic! Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I call on my fellow members of this House – don’t mislead the public with baseless criticism that is not grounded in facts. Don’t look at petty politics and use these issues for your own political survival.”
I was surprised to read the minister’s speech because an article published in January 2018 in “The Straits Times“, based on information released by the Singaporean Negotiators stated, “…. With the FTA, tariff savings for Singapore exports are estimated to hit $10 million annually“.
As the annual tariff savings (that is the revenue loss for Sri Lanka) calculated by the Singaporean Negotiators, Singaporean $ 10 million (Sri Lankan rupees 1,200 million in 2018) was way above the rupees’ 733 million revenue loss for 15 years estimated by the Sri Lankan negotiators, it was clear to any observer that one of the parties to the agreement had not done the basic arithmetic!
Six years later, according to a report published by “The Morning” newspaper, speaking at the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) on 7th May 2024, Mr Samarawickrama’s chief trade negotiator K.J. Weerasinghehad had admitted “…. that forecasted revenue loss for the Government of Sri Lanka through the Singapore FTA is Rs. 450 million in 2023 and Rs. 1.3 billion in 2024.”
If these numbers are correct, as tariff liberalisation under the SLSFTA has just started, we will pass Rs 2 billion very soon. Then, the question is how Sri Lanka’s trade negotiators made such a colossal blunder. Didn’t they do their basic arithmetic? If they didn’t know how to do basic arithmetic they should have at least done their basic readings. For example, the headline of the article published in The Straits Times in January 2018 was “Singapore, Sri Lanka sign FTA, annual savings of $10m expected”.
Anyway, as Sri Lanka’s chief negotiator reiterated at the COPF meeting that “…. since 99% of the tariffs in Singapore have zero rates of duty, Sri Lanka has agreed on 80% tariff liberalisation over a period of 15 years while expecting Singapore investments to address the imbalance in trade,” let’s turn towards investment.
Investment from Singapore
In July 2018, speaking during the Parliamentary Debate on the FTA this is what Minister Malik Samarawickrama stated on investment from Singapore, “Already, thanks to this FTA, in just the past two-and-a-half months since the agreement came into effect we have received a proposal from Singapore for investment amounting to $ 14.8 billion in an oil refinery for export of petroleum products. In addition, we have proposals for a steel manufacturing plant for exports ($ 1 billion investment), flour milling plant ($ 50 million), sugar refinery ($ 200 million). This adds up to more than $ 16.05 billion in the pipeline on these projects alone.
And all of these projects will create thousands of more jobs for our people. In principle approval has already been granted by the BOI and the investors are awaiting the release of land the environmental approvals to commence the project.
I request the Opposition and those with vested interests to change their narrow-minded thinking and join us to develop our country. We must always look at what is best for the whole community, not just the few who may oppose. We owe it to our people to courageously take decisions that will change their lives for the better.”
According to the media report I quoted earlier, speaking at the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) Chief Negotiator Weerasinghe has admitted that Sri Lanka was not happy with overall Singapore investments that have come in the past few years in return for the trade liberalisation under the Singapore-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement. He has added that between 2021 and 2023 the total investment from Singapore had been around $162 million!
What happened to those projects worth $16 billion negotiated, thanks to the SLSFTA, in just the two-and-a-half months after the agreement came into effect and approved by the BOI? I do not know about the steel manufacturing plant for exports ($ 1 billion investment), flour milling plant ($ 50 million) and sugar refinery ($ 200 million).
However, story of the multibillion-dollar investment in the Petroleum Refinery unfolded in a manner that would qualify it as the best fairy tale with false promises presented by our politicians and the officials, prior to 2019 elections.
Though many Sri Lankans got to know, through the media which repeatedly highlighted a plethora of issues surrounding the project and the questionable credentials of the Singaporean investor, the construction work on the Mirrijiwela Oil Refinery along with the cement factory began on the24th of March 2019 with a bang and Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his ministers along with the foreign and local dignitaries laid the foundation stones.
That was few months before the 2019 Presidential elections. Inaugurating the construction work Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the projects will create thousands of job opportunities in the area and surrounding districts.
The oil refinery, which was to be built over 200 acres of land, with the capacity to refine 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day, was to generate US$7 billion of exports and create 1,500 direct and 3,000 indirect jobs. The construction of the refinery was to be completed in 44 months. Four years later, in August 2023 the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to cancel the agreement with the investors of the refinery as the project has not been implemented! Can they explain to the country how much money was wasted to produce that fairy tale?
It is obvious that the President, ministers, and officials had made huge blunders and had deliberately misled the public and the parliament on the revenue loss and potential investment from SLSFTA with fairy tales and false promises.
As the president himself said, a country cannot be developed by making false promises or with fairy tales and these false promises and fairy tales had bankrupted the country. “Unfortunately, many segments of the population have not come to realize this yet”.
(The writer, a specialist and an activist on trade and development issues . )
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