COLOMBO (Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s central bank held rates on Thursday, adding it expects a moderation in market interest rates in line with the prevailing policy interest rates.

The Standing Lending Facility rate was held steady at 15.50% while the Standing Deposit Facility Rate was kept unchanged at 14.50%.

“The Board was of the view that the prevailing tight monetary policy stance is necessary to rein in any underlying demand pressures in the economy,” the central banks said in a statement.