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The Maldives’ primary deficit still remains high
The Maldives’ primary deficit has increased since 2020, raising concerns about the country’s debt sustainability. This contrasts with Sri Lanka, where the primary deficit also increased but recovered, following its suspension of debt repayments, along with a fiscal consolidation program. A primary deficit—or negative primary balance—occurs when government revenue is insufficient to cover non-interest expenditure. All deficits are funded through borrowing, which can contribute to long-term fiscal risks. Before 2020, the Maldives’ primary balance was already in deficit, ranging from 1%–5%. In 2020, it climbed above 20% due to the sharp decline in revenue and economic activity caused by the COVID-19 lockdowns. Although the tourism-dependent economy has begun to recover, the primary deficit remains high—around 10%—as spending continues to outpace revenue. Sri Lanka also faced an increased primary deficit in 2020 and 2021, driven partly by the pandemic but largely due to misguided fiscal policies. This led to the country’s worst debt crisis and a default on external debt. Sri Lanka has since shown signs of recovery, achieving a positive primary surplus in 2023 and 2024 with support from an IMF program focused on fiscal consolidation and revenue enhancement. Moving forward, it is important for the Maldives to identify and address its fiscal challenges, such as the higher primary deficit, promptly, to avoid a crisis similar to Sri Lanka. Previous analysis has highlighted that the country’s reserves are on a declining trajectory similar to Sri Lanka and could be depleted within the next two years unless decisive corrective measures are implemented.
Featured Insight
The Maldives’ primary deficit still remains high
The Maldives’ primary deficit has increased since 2020, raising concerns about the country’s debt sustainability. This contrasts with Sri Lanka, where the primary deficit also increased but recovered, following its suspension of debt repayments, along with a fiscal consolidation program. A primary deficit—or negative primary balance—occurs when government revenue is insufficient to cover non-interest expenditure. All deficits are funded through borrowing, which can contribute to long-term fiscal risks. Before 2020, the Maldives’ primary balance was already in deficit, ranging from 1%–5%. In 2020, it climbed above 20% due to the sharp decline in revenue and economic activity caused by the COVID-19 lockdowns. Although the tourism-dependent economy has begun to recover, the primary deficit remains high—around 10%—as spending continues to outpace revenue. Sri Lanka also faced an increased primary deficit in 2020 and 2021, driven partly by the pandemic but largely due to misguided fiscal policies. This led to the country’s worst debt crisis and a default on external debt. Sri Lanka has since shown signs of recovery, achieving a positive primary surplus in 2023 and 2024 with support from an IMF program focused on fiscal consolidation and revenue enhancement. Moving forward, it is important for the Maldives to identify and address its fiscal challenges, such as the higher primary deficit, promptly, to avoid a crisis similar to Sri Lanka. Previous analysis has highlighted that the country’s reserves are on a declining trajectory similar to Sri Lanka and could be depleted within the next two years unless decisive corrective measures are implemented.
Featured Insight
The Maldives’ primary deficit still remains high
The Maldives’ primary deficit has increased since 2020, raising concerns about the country’s debt sustainability. This contrasts with Sri Lanka, where the primary deficit also increased but recovered, following its suspension of debt repayments, along with a fiscal consolidation program. A primary deficit—or negative primary balance—occurs when government revenue is insufficient to cover non-interest expenditure. All deficits are funded through borrowing, which can contribute to long-term fiscal risks. Before 2020, the Maldives’ primary balance was already in deficit, ranging from 1%–5%. In 2020, it climbed above 20% due to the sharp decline in revenue and economic activity caused by the COVID-19 lockdowns. Although the tourism-dependent economy has begun to recover, the primary deficit remains high—around 10%—as spending continues to outpace revenue. Sri Lanka also faced an increased primary deficit in 2020 and 2021, driven partly by the pandemic but largely due to misguided fiscal policies. This led to the country’s worst debt crisis and a default on external debt. Sri Lanka has since shown signs of recovery, achieving a positive primary surplus in 2023 and 2024 with support from an IMF program focused on fiscal consolidation and revenue enhancement. Moving forward, it is important for the Maldives to identify and address its fiscal challenges, such as the higher primary deficit, promptly, to avoid a crisis similar to Sri Lanka. Previous analysis has highlighted that the country’s reserves are on a declining trajectory similar to Sri Lanka and could be depleted within the next two years unless decisive corrective measures are implemented.
Featured Insight
The Maldives’ primary deficit still remains high
The Maldives’ primary deficit has increased since 2020, raising concerns about the country’s debt sustainability. This contrasts with Sri Lanka, where the primary deficit also increased but recovered, following its suspension of debt repayments, along with a fiscal consolidation program. A primary deficit—or negative primary balance—occurs when government revenue is insufficient to cover non-interest expenditure. All deficits are funded through borrowing, which can contribute to long-term fiscal risks. Before 2020, the Maldives’ primary balance was already in deficit, ranging from 1%–5%. In 2020, it climbed above 20% due to the sharp decline in revenue and economic activity caused by the COVID-19 lockdowns. Although the tourism-dependent economy has begun to recover, the primary deficit remains high—around 10%—as spending continues to outpace revenue. Sri Lanka also faced an increased primary deficit in 2020 and 2021, driven partly by the pandemic but largely due to misguided fiscal policies. This led to the country’s worst debt crisis and a default on external debt. Sri Lanka has since shown signs of recovery, achieving a positive primary surplus in 2023 and 2024 with support from an IMF program focused on fiscal consolidation and revenue enhancement. Moving forward, it is important for the Maldives to identify and address its fiscal challenges, such as the higher primary deficit, promptly, to avoid a crisis similar to Sri Lanka. Previous analysis has highlighted that the country’s reserves are on a declining trajectory similar to Sri Lanka and could be depleted within the next two years unless decisive corrective measures are implemented.
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Budget 2021
Budget 2021
Detailed analysis of the 2021 budget.
From The PF Wire
Source:
Daily Mirror
Governement to borrow additional LKR 400 Bn for de...
The Cabinet of Ministers cleared a request to increase the government’s credit limit by further Rs.400 billion to Rs.3.39 trillion for 2021, under Appropriation Act No. 7 of 2020, to meet the pandemic-related additional expenditu...
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Source:
economynext
Sri Lanka budget deficit 4.7-pct of GDP up to June...
Sri Lanka’s budget deficit for the six months to June 2021 was 781 billion rupees, up 6 percent from a year earlier, or 4.7 percent of projected gross domestic product, data shows, though outstanding debt was accelerating at a faster p...
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Insight on Budget 2021
Inconsistency in Budget Numbers Across D...
In November 2020, the Government presented the Budget Speech for 2021....
Missing Estimates in Budget Speeches
The budget for the year 2021 featured a number of missing estimates fo...
Budget 2021: Trade & Industry
The Budget 2021 Debate for the Ministry of Industries & Ministry of Trade is happening today...
Public Report on the 2021 Budget: Assess...
This report provides an assessment and an...
Ministries with Largest Change in Expend...
This infographic captures the change in a...
Breakdown of Government Revenue, 2000 to...
Here is a s...
New Tax Proposals: 2021 Budget
Summary of 2021 Budget
Here’s a summary of government expenditure, revenue and financing allocated in the 2021 Bud...
Total Government Revenue 2021
The chart below shows the breakdown of the budgeted government reven...
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Featured
Public Report on the 2022 Budget: Assessment of th...
This report provides an assessment and analysis of the fiscal, financial and economic assumptions and estimates applied in the formulation of the 2022 Budget. This repo...
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VAT to drive revenue growth in 2024
Sri Lankan budgets have consistently overestimated the capacity to raise revenue. Therefore, it is prudent to examine from where the 45% increase in revenue is expected. The chart above shows that more than half the increase (56%) is expecte...
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“Sugar Scam” is not the Whole Iceberg: “Forestalli...
This article was compiled by Dr. Nishan de Mel. Dr. Nishan de Mel is the Executive Director of Verité Research and an economist with extensive acade...
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