He noted that before the recent global economic turbulence emerged, Sri Lanka had projected an economic growth rate of around 5% for 2026.
However, following increased instability in the global economy after April, the outlook has become more uncertain, making it challenging to predict how conditions will evolve over the coming months.
Dr. Weerasinghe explained that if the current economic disruptions ease within the next three months and global conditions begin to stabilize, Sri Lanka’s economic growth could remain slightly below the 5% target.
Nevertheless, he warned that if the crisis continues for six to nine months, the impact on economic growth could be far more severe, making it difficult at this stage to provide a precise forecast.
The Governor further stated that rising oil prices and increasing inflation have already begun affecting the economy during the second quarter of the year.
