The Central Bank of Sri Lanka hosted the 34th SAARCFINANCE Group Meeting and SAARCFINANCE Governors’ Symposium in Colombo on 12 July 2017. The 34th SAARCFINANCE Group Meeting was attended by Governors and Finance Secretaries and other delegates from the Central Banks and Ministries of Finance in the SAARC region.

Following the SAARCFINANCE Group Meeting, the SAARCFINANCE Governors’ Symposium, themed “Challenges for the SAARC region amidst Global Uncertainties and Possible Policy Measures to Mitigate these Risks”, was held at the John Exter International Conference Hall of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Governor of Central Bank of Sri Lanka Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy delivered the keynote speech at the Symposium. Each SAARC country made a presentation, highlighting the impact of global uncertainties on their economies and possible policy measures to mitigate these risks. The preliminary results of the SAARCFINANCE collaborative research study on “Financial Inclusion in the SAARC Region” were also presented at the Symposium.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) issued a commemorative coin with a face value of Rs. 10 to celebrate 150 years of Ceylon Tea and to recognize its contribution to the national economy as an important and long-standing export oriented commodity in Sri Lanka.

The first set of coins were officially presented to the Hon. Minister of Finance, Mr. Mangala Samaraweera and Hon. Minister of Plantation Industries, Mr. Navin Dissanayake by Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy, Governor of CBSL, at the ceremony held at CBSL on 12.07.2017.

The coin will be issued into circulation from 13.07.2017 through licensed commercial banks and can be used for payments amongst other currency notes and coins in circulation.

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