He stated in Parliament that Sri Lanka’s total public sector debt is estimated to be around US$102.2 billion as of the end of March 2026.

The Deputy Minister emphasized that a country’s debt sustainability should not be assessed based on fluctuations in exchange rates, but rather on its ability to repay that debt.

He further noted that central government debt stood at US$98.96 billion by the end of March 2026, and when loans taken by provincial councils, local authorities, and state-owned enterprises are included, the total debt stock rises to US$102.2 billion. He also pointed out that this reflects a decrease compared to the level recorded at the end of 2025.

He explained that loans taken in US dollars must be repaid in dollars, while loans taken in rupees are repaid in rupees.

“For international transactions and reporting purposes, these figures are often presented in US dollars. However, when converting them into rupees, the reported value can change depending on the prevailing exchange rate,” the Deputy Minister added.