Is the Pandemic the Sole Cause for the Depletion in Sri Lanka’s Foreign Reserves?

Abstract

Sri Lanka’s usable foreign reserves fell from USD 7,642 MN in 2019 to USD 1,579 MN by the end of 2021. When compared with Sri Lanka’s regional peers during the pandemic, the decline in its reserves appears to only have happened to Sri Lanka, while its other Asian countries have seen an increase in their reserve balances.