CBSL challenges Moody's change of Lanka's Sovereign Rating Outlook

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) last week challenged the latest Sri Lanka's sovereign rating out look of Moody's. The US based credit rating agency Moody's Corporation recently changed its outlook on Sri Lanka's B1 foreign currency sovereign rating from 'Positive' to 'Stable'.

Challenging this revision the CBSL in an statement said that it is ill-advised and backward looking, and is not a proper reflection of the external position and recent improvements in the economy.

The underlying rationale for the latest rating stance is described by Moody's as (a) inadequate improvement in the external payment position in the past two years, and (b) slowdown in the pace of fiscal consolidation process.

Responding to these claims the CBSL said, "in terms of the external payment position, Moody's asserts that the official international reserves remain 'below the peak' level achieved when the outlook was changed to 'Positive' in July 2011; while also claiming that the net liability position of commercial banks doubled during July 2011 and February 2013. However, this assertion disregards several obvious factors that an impartial analysis would have clearly revealed:

1. A strong consolidation of international reserves in terms of standard reserve adequacy measures has taken place since June 2012, when Moody's reaffirmed Sri Lanka's Outlook as 'Positive'.

The import cover of official reserves and total reserves (including commercial bank assets) in July 2012 stood at 4.2 months and 5.2 months; while in May 2013, these figures rose to 4.3 months and 5.4 months.

The reserve cover for short-term liabilities has improved steadily during the last year.

2. In the recent past, several commercial banks have raised funds through foreign capital markets, and such funds have been broadly medium to long-term. Hence, there would not be any new additional pressure on Sri Lanka's external payment position.

Accordingly, the claim that a substantial increase in net foreign liabilities of commercial banks has occurred does not recognise the maturity profile of such liabilities.

3. Sri Lanka's external sector has performed satisfactorily in the first four months of 2013, with earnings from tourism continuing to grow with increasing recognition of Sri Lanka as an attractive tourist destination; Workers' remittances continuing to rise, supported by the diversification of migrant destinations and further expansion of formal channels for remitting money; Foreign investment at the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) continuing to grow, with increased activity at the CSE, indicating a gradual build-up of investor confidence.

At the same time, inflows in terms foreign direct investments are poised to record a historically high level of US $ 1.8 billion, in 2013, with major projects that are already in the pipeline. Substantial inflows have also been recorded in the government securities market on a cumulative basis. In addition, there has also been a marked contraction in the trade deficit during the first four months of the year".

With regard to Moody's assertion that there is a slower pace of fiscal consolidation the statement said, "it needs to be highlighted that the Government has given a strong commitment to continue the fiscal consolidation process, by reducing the budget deficit each year since 2009.

The budget deficit declined from 9.9 percent in 2009 to 6.4 percent in 2012 and is expected to decline further to 5.8 percent of GDP in 2013.

The Debt to GDP ratio has also gradually declined, even though it marginally increased to 79.1 percent of GDP in 2012 from 78.5 percent in 2012 owing to currency depreciation. The financial conditions of major State Owned Enterprises have improved, mainly due to market based price adjustments being made to consolidate the fiscal position further.

These developments show that Sri Lanka is on a clear path of fiscal consolidation, and hence, Moody's statement that there is a "slowdown in the pace of fiscal consolidation," is not justifiable.

Overall, it must be noted that the CBSL and the Government have acted constructively to meet the concerns that Moody's have raised during the course of pre-announcement discussions.

In June 2012, Moody's indicated that the conditions that could change the Rating upwards would be an improvement in the government's fiscal management and debt position, lower and less volatile inflation and sustainable improvements in foreign currency reserve adequacy, supported by a flexible exchange rate policy and foreign direct investment inflow.

Moody's also indicated that the conditions that could change the Rating downward would be a failure to progress on fiscal consolidation, loss of inflation control, a substantial worsening of the country's external balance and foreign currency liquidity position, or a reversal of recently achieved political stability which could adversely impact resident and foreign investor confidence.

Accordingly, it would be seen that the Sri Lankan authorities have taken constructive policy measures that would warrant an upward revision of the rating as indicated by Moody's in June 2012 instead of a lowering of the outlook.

Therefore, Moody's change of Sri Lanka's Rating outlook from 'Positive' to 'Stable' is a contradiction of its own assessment in June 2012".