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Slithering Down
Sri Lanka Telecom reported a 26 percent dip in net profits for the first nine months, due to an early retirement scheme, higher operating costs and losses from its cellular subsidiary.The monopoly telecom giant said Friday that net profits fell to Rs.1.788 bn from Rs. 2.425 bn reported during the corresponding period 2002.rn rnRevenues during […]
Hidden Costs
World Bank is likely to chip in and help the government foot the hefty early retirement bill to off load around 300,000 public servants. rnrnrnrnrnrnrnNew Page 1rnrnrnrnrn Talks on negotiating the wish list under thernfourth tranche of the World Banks Poverty Reduction Support Programme, is duernto start next year. Part of the hefty VRS package […]
‘s Talking?
The main opposition Peoples Alliance is geared for Act Two of the ongoing political drama, with the President on Thursday setting a mid December deadline for political haggling with the Prime Minister to end.President Chandrika Kumaratunga set this deadline, while addressing a cross section of the business community late Thursday.rn rnA memorandum of understanding between […]
Soaring Eagle
Eagle Insurance says its net profits have soared 55 percent for the first nine months of this year, despite stiff competition in the local arena.Group net profits for the period under review touched Rs. 145 mn, as against Rs. 94 mn reported during the same period 2002.rn rnThe bulls come back to the bourse, prudent […]
Travel Charger
Collection problems could bog down state plans to charge a Rs. 300 annual levy on mobile handsets as planned from next January, which works out to less than 85 cents a day.The new charge, meant to compensate the government for Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue lost due to smuggled cellular handsets entering the market, will […]
Is It A Mirage?
The UNF government is prepared to forget the past and offer a greater role for the opposition in the current peace talks, if a consensus can be developed on the peace process and the economy, Minister G L Pieris says.ldblquote The government wishes very strongly to put the strains and tensions, that have characterised the […]
Out Of Focus
The Treasury is taking a second look at budget proposal to slap a new tax on equity trading, following howling protest by market players.rnrnrnrnrnrnProposals like a tax on mobile phones and Economic Service Chargernrnrnrnrn Proposals like a tax onrnmobile phones and Economic Service Charge (ESC), have also grabbed policymakersrnattention for some tinkering before they come […]
Bonus Stocking
All pensioners are in for a New Year bonus, with a ten percent hike in pensions from January 1 2004, the Government announced in its budget on Wednesday.rn ldblquote This is the largest increase granted to pensioners during the past ten years. This increase will cost the Government Rs.2.5 bn dblquote , Finance Minister Choksy […]
Golden Rule — Budget Comment
Sri Lankas 2004 budget is again breaking the lquote golden rule of budgeting, but its ambitious deficit target of 6.8 percent is more in line with the countrys sustainable deficit level.rnrnrnrnrnrnNew Page 1rnrnrnrnrn Therngolden rule of budgeting is actually simple common sense.rn Itrnsays that the governments revenue (taxes and so on) should cover itsrnday-to-day expenses. […]
Naughty Naughty
The telecom watchdog won the first round against Mobitel on Wednesday, when the Court Appeal rejected a stay order put forward by the cellular operator.Mobitel Lanka Ltd sought legal recourse, after the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) asked the cellular operator to withdraw its promotional GSM offer last Friday.rn rnThe cellular operator started trial runs for […]