Topics
Explore
Featured Insight
Maldives’ reserves continue to dip
The external reserves of the Maldives have been on a declining trend since June 2020. At that time, the gross reserves held by the Maldives Monetary Authority amounted to USD 702.5 million , sufficient to finance 5.2 months of imports. However, by September 2024, the reserves had fallen to USD 371.2 million, covering only 1.1 months of imports. This situation mirrors what happened in Sri Lanka, which faced its worst economic crisis after its usable external reserves plummeted from USD 6,695 million (6.4 months of imports) in June 2020 to USD 308 million (0.18 months of imports) by April 2022. The rapid decline forced Sri Lanka to default on its external debts due to a shortage of foreign exchange. With assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Sri Lanka is now undergoing debt restructuring, temporarily halting debt repayments and increasing foreign exchange inflows. While the Maldives' reserves are declining at a slower rate—0.08 months of import coverage lost per month compared to Sri Lanka's 0.25 months per month—the trend is still concerning. At this pace, the Maldives could face a similar crisis within the next 2 years. It is crucial for the Maldives to identify these warning signs early. Proactive measures, such as pre-emptive debt restructuring, can be less harmful than dealing with a disorderly default. Early intervention can help stabilise the economy and avoid the severe consequences as experienced in Sri Lanka.
Featured Insight
Maldives’ reserves continue to dip
The external reserves of the Maldives have been on a declining trend since June 2020. At that time, the gross reserves held by the Maldives Monetary Authority amounted to USD 702.5 million , sufficient to finance 5.2 months of imports. However, by September 2024, the reserves had fallen to USD 371.2 million, covering only 1.1 months of imports. This situation mirrors what happened in Sri Lanka, which faced its worst economic crisis after its usable external reserves plummeted from USD 6,695 million (6.4 months of imports) in June 2020 to USD 308 million (0.18 months of imports) by April 2022. The rapid decline forced Sri Lanka to default on its external debts due to a shortage of foreign exchange. With assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Sri Lanka is now undergoing debt restructuring, temporarily halting debt repayments and increasing foreign exchange inflows. While the Maldives' reserves are declining at a slower rate—0.08 months of import coverage lost per month compared to Sri Lanka's 0.25 months per month—the trend is still concerning. At this pace, the Maldives could face a similar crisis within the next 2 years. It is crucial for the Maldives to identify these warning signs early. Proactive measures, such as pre-emptive debt restructuring, can be less harmful than dealing with a disorderly default. Early intervention can help stabilise the economy and avoid the severe consequences as experienced in Sri Lanka.
Featured Insight
Maldives’ reserves continue to dip
The external reserves of the Maldives have been on a declining trend since June 2020. At that time, the gross reserves held by the Maldives Monetary Authority amounted to USD 702.5 million , sufficient to finance 5.2 months of imports. However, by September 2024, the reserves had fallen to USD 371.2 million, covering only 1.1 months of imports. This situation mirrors what happened in Sri Lanka, which faced its worst economic crisis after its usable external reserves plummeted from USD 6,695 million (6.4 months of imports) in June 2020 to USD 308 million (0.18 months of imports) by April 2022. The rapid decline forced Sri Lanka to default on its external debts due to a shortage of foreign exchange. With assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Sri Lanka is now undergoing debt restructuring, temporarily halting debt repayments and increasing foreign exchange inflows. While the Maldives' reserves are declining at a slower rate—0.08 months of import coverage lost per month compared to Sri Lanka's 0.25 months per month—the trend is still concerning. At this pace, the Maldives could face a similar crisis within the next 2 years. It is crucial for the Maldives to identify these warning signs early. Proactive measures, such as pre-emptive debt restructuring, can be less harmful than dealing with a disorderly default. Early intervention can help stabilise the economy and avoid the severe consequences as experienced in Sri Lanka.
Featured Insight
Maldives’ reserves continue to dip
The external reserves of the Maldives have been on a declining trend since June 2020. At that time, the gross reserves held by the Maldives Monetary Authority amounted to USD 702.5 million , sufficient to finance 5.2 months of imports. However, by September 2024, the reserves had fallen to USD 371.2 million, covering only 1.1 months of imports. This situation mirrors what happened in Sri Lanka, which faced its worst economic crisis after its usable external reserves plummeted from USD 6,695 million (6.4 months of imports) in June 2020 to USD 308 million (0.18 months of imports) by April 2022. The rapid decline forced Sri Lanka to default on its external debts due to a shortage of foreign exchange. With assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Sri Lanka is now undergoing debt restructuring, temporarily halting debt repayments and increasing foreign exchange inflows. While the Maldives' reserves are declining at a slower rate—0.08 months of import coverage lost per month compared to Sri Lanka's 0.25 months per month—the trend is still concerning. At this pace, the Maldives could face a similar crisis within the next 2 years. It is crucial for the Maldives to identify these warning signs early. Proactive measures, such as pre-emptive debt restructuring, can be less harmful than dealing with a disorderly default. Early intervention can help stabilise the economy and avoid the severe consequences as experienced in Sri Lanka.
Data
Reports
Acts and Gazettes
Insights
Dashboards
Annual Budget Dashboard
Budget Promises
Fiscal Indicators
Fuel Price Tracker
IMF Tracker
Infrastructure Watch
PF Wire
About Us
EN
English
සිංහල
தமிழ்
;
Thank You
Free and Open Access to
Public Finance Data and Analysis
Home
Reports
All
Fiscal Strategy
Action Plans
Public Accounts
Budgets
Fiscal Reviews
Other
Fiscal Management Reports
Annual Reports
Mid-year Fiscal Reports
Performance Reports
Appropriation Act
Budget Estimate (Approved)
Budget Speech
Provincial Budgets
Debt Management Report
Other
Citizens Budgets
Data
Reports
Acts and Gazettes
Insights
Filter by year
From
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
To
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Assessment of Sri Lanka Government's Commitment to Crisis Response Policies 2022
How well did the government implement the proposed Crisis Response Policies? Sri Lanka’s prolonged economic crisis and socio-political turmoil have had severe repercussions for its citizens. Three defining characteristics of the crisis have been: acute shortages in essential medicine & drugs, surging food inflation, and fuel shortages that rendered citizens immobile for months. In this context, Verité Research set out to assess how well the government implemented policies it proposed to overcome these three problems during the first half of 2022. The objectives were to (1) improve visibility on government decision-making and its subsequent follow-through and (2) hold the government and its vast network of bureaucracy accountable.
View Report
Assessment of Sri Lanka Government's Commitment to Crisis Response Policies 2022
How well did the government implement the proposed Crisis Response Policies? Sri Lanka’s prolonged economic crisis and socio-political turmoil have had severe repercussions for its citizens. Three defining characteristics of the crisis have been: acute shortages in essential medicine & drugs, surging food inflation, and fuel shortages that rendered citizens immobile for months. In this context, Verité Research set out to assess how well the government implemented policies it proposed to overcome these three problems during the first half of 2022. The objectives were to (1) improve visibility on government decision-making and its subsequent follow-through and (2) hold the government and its vast network of bureaucracy accountable.
View Report