The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has requested all Sri Lankans and wellwishers living in Sri Lanka and abroad to consider depositing their savings and other funds in foreign currency within the Sri Lankan banking system -licensed commercial banks and specialized financial institutions - as a gesture of goodwill and assistance to Sri Lanka and it people during the three month period commencing from 2nd April 2020. "Your foreign currency deposits in Sri Lankan banking system at this difficult stage will be of immense help to authorities to tide over the present crisis," CBSL Governor W D Lakshman said  in a press statement today. The CBSL has further assured that foreign currency deposits will be accepted without any hindrance from the government, the Central Bank or any other government authority. The CBSL also guarantees the future convertibility of these deposits into foreign currency whenever required. All such forex remittances will be exempted from exchange control regulations and taxes and protected under banking secrecy provisions, CBSL added. The announcement and appeal has been made following a decision made during the cabinet meeting held yesterday (1). The cabinet has decided to suspend all restrictions on  foreign currency inflows into Sri Lanka during COVID-19 preventive period, defined as the three months commencing 2nd April 2020.