Lanka CB to Keep Rates Steady

Sri Lanka’s central bank is expected to keep its key interest rates steady at more than three-year highs at a policy meeting on Friday, a Reuters poll showed, to boost faltering growth hit by adverse weather. Thirteen out of 14 economists surveyed predicted the central bank would keep its standing deposit facility rate and standing lending facility rate unchanged at 7.25% and 8.75%, respectively. The lone outlier expected a 25-basis-point hike in both rates. All 14 economists predicted the statutory reserve ratio to stay at 7.50%.