Sri Lanka prints Rs 8.7 bn in first week of May ; pumps Rs 232.3 bn this year

COLOMBO (News1st): The government printed Rs 8.73 billion rupees so far this month, pumping a total of Rs 232.37 billion so far this year, central bank data showed. Statistics show that the government had absorbed 80 million during the first week of May last year, in stark contrast to this week's situation. The central bank has printed approximately Rs. 229.13 billion since the coronavirus started spreading in the country on March 11. The Central Bank holdings of government securities stand at Rs 307.11 by May 6. A treasury bill auction this week saw the average yield for three and six-month bills being increased slightly, while around Rs 10.3 billion worth of 12-month bills went undersold.