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Moody’s assigns B1 rating to Sri Lanka’s global bond offering
08 May, 2017
Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) has assigned a B1 rating to the Government of Sri Lanka’s US dollar bond offering maturing in 2027. The outlook on the Government of Sri Lanka’s issuer rating is negative.
Sri Lanka’s B1 rating balances the economy’s robust growth potential and higher income levels than similarly rated sovereigns?against a high government debt burden, low debt affordability, and reliance on external borrowing combined with relatively low foreign exchange reserves.
Moody’s said the negative outlook on the rating is underpinned by Sri Lanka’s persistently weak fiscal metrics, in an environment of subdued?GDP growth, which could lead to renewed balance of payments pressure? and the possibility that the effectiveness of the fiscal?reforms envisaged by the Government may be lower than currently expected, which could further weaken fiscal and economic?performance.
“Signs that the fiscal consolidation measures are ineffective or that the authorities’ commitment towards fiscal consolidation is wavering would point to a higher debt burden for longer and put negative pressure on the rating. In particular, if such developments were accompanied by a marked fall in foreign exchange reserves and lack of market access, a downgrade of the rating would be possible,”?Moody’s said.
Conversely, evidence of effective reform implementation leading to significant and lasting improvements in tax collection would be?positive. Such an improvement, coupled with reforms of macroeconomic policy that lead to more stable external financing conditions, would support a return of the rating outlook to stable.
Moody’s says the credit rating and any associated review or outlook has been assigned on an anticipated/subsequent basis. (Colombo Gazette)
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