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Leaving The Bud
VAT, which comes into effect from July 1, is slapped on tea exports.But the tea trade is against the move as it pushes the weekly tea auction prices up. Under the existing tax system, exporters are not required to pay 12.5 percent GST on the weekly tea auctions.Instead, GST is refunded whenever the trade purchases […]
Borrowing Spree
A series of Reconstruction bonds are due to hit the market later this year, while the remaining US$ 91.5 mn of the US$ 250 mn development bonds will be issued later this month. rnrnReconstruction bonds will be issued in rupee and dollar denominated notes. Of this, the bank is looking to raise US$ 300 mn […]
Olive Branch
ldblquote On a Prime Ministerial directive, we are going to take off all old tax files after a certain date. This will be an incentive to tax evaders to start afresh, dblquote Deputy Finance Minister, Bandula Gunawardene told chamber delegates today. rnrnFacing one of its highest debt servicing ratios ever, the government is banking on […]
Pushing Off
The bloated state run bus companies are the first to be auctioned off, with the Public Enterprise Reform Commission calling for expressions of interest from private firms on Wednesday. rnrnThe government is looking at public-private partnership, giving private investors a 50 percent slice and the management contracts in each of the 13 bus companies. rnrnldblquote […]
Air Wars
Attempting to break a stalemate over the management agreement of Sri Lankan Airline quote s, a team from Emirates is due in Colombo tomorrow for another round of talks with the government.
Dropping Anchor
The proposed developments are estimated at US $ 140 million for the construction of two 20 meter berths.Once complete the Galle Port will be able to service up to 40,000 TEU vessels. rnrnSpeaking to Lanka Business Online, Shipping Minister Rauf Hakeem said the project was being held back only due to a lack of funds. […]
Thallu Start
The management of the 11 cluster bus companies will be restructured on a 50:50 government/private basis, State Transport Minister said. rnrnThough 50 percent state owned, the private investor will also get the management contract, says Minister Upali Piyasoma. rnrnWork on partially privatizing the railways is also steaming ahead under the guidance of a foreign consultant, […]
SLIC Sale
The Public Enterprises Reform Commission (PERC) is to call for Expressions of Interests (EOIs) to dispose the government quote s controlling stake in Sri Lanka Insurance Corp.by mid-July.rn rnPERC says that it has now commenced the process of privatising SLIC by appointing a team of both international and Sri Lankan advisers led by PricewaterhouseCoopers to […]
Band Aid
The extra addition is estimated to cost around Rs.680 mn, and the firm plans to raise the money through a combination of preference shares to existing shareholders and public offering, its Chairman Dr. Prathap C Reddy told Lanka Business Online. rnrnHatton National Bank (HNB) has secured the mandate to raise the funds at a Rs. […]
Cock Fight
AirLanka International will contest the case against the company filed for using the former name of the national carrier.