Sri Lanka's Crazy Currency - Asia's Worst Performing | Deputy Governor Central Bank

This video is sponsored by Grade 5.lk reimagining education for the digital generation with interactive lessons, digital papers, and scientifically backed methods. Visit www.grade5.lk to learn more. About the Episode Sri Lanka's rupee is Asia's worst performing currency. GDP is growing at 5%. The IMF is happy. So what's really going on? We sat down with Dr. W.A. Wijewardene — former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, economist, and one of the sharpest minds on Sri Lankan economic history — for a deep, unfiltered conversation on inflation, the rupee, foreign reserves, Central Bank independence, and what it would really take for Sri Lanka to become a wealthy nation. From the gold standard and petrodollars to stablecoins and the Strait of Hormuz, this episode covers a lot of ground. Chapters: 0:00 – Introduction: Who is Dr. W.A. Wijewardene? 1:49 – Sri Lanka's "5% growth miracle" is actually zero 4:31 – Sri Lanka's inflation problem: 11% is the norm 8:36 – Why the rupee is Asia's worst performing currency 16:12 – The Chinese yuan swap: $1.4 billion Sri Lanka can't use 29:06 – Why the Central Bank can't defend the rupee (by law) 35:55 – Productivity: why Singapore is strong and Sri Lanka isn't 41:05 – Open economy or closed? Sri Lanka's trade paradox 45:41 – Sri Lanka's closed capital account explained 55:51 – Structural reform: lessons from Vietnam 1:01:33 – Can money buy happiness? What money actually is 1:27:42 – How America became the world's central banker 1:41:20 – The Strait of Hormuz, petrodollars, and the dollar's future 1:10:27 – Stablecoins, crypto, and America's debt strategy 1:19:17 – Central Bank digital currencies: the future of money 1:24:03 – 37 years inside the Central Bank: surviving 9 governors 1:33:23 – Advice for young entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday.