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Curfew, Lock down and Economic Livelihoods
By Sharhan Muhseen 6th April 2020 National policymakers have been grappling on the right balance between lockdowns (total or partial) and maintaining a functioning economy to safeguard the livelihood of its citizens and viability of its corporate sector. Whilst no solution seems optimal, the need for a well-orchestrated recovery strategy is central to avoid a […]
Sri Lanka curfew update
Apr 06, 2020 (LBO) – The curfew currently in force in the districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Puttalam, Kandy and Jaffna which have been designated as high risk zones will remain effective until further notice. In all other districts, curfew which was lifted at 6.00am today, Monday the 6th and was reimposed at 2.00 pm […]
COVID-19 prevention program proceeds with professional expertise: President
Apr 06, 2020 (LBO) – Presided by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a discussion took place at the Presidential Secretariat to review the progress of the COVID-19 prevention program and to decide on the steps needed to take this program forward. President of Government Medical Officers Association Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya analyzed the manner this virus had affected […]
Foreign Ministry acts on missions abroad to ensure welfare of citizens
Apr 06, 2020 (LBO) – The Ministry of Foreign Relations, sensitive to the concerns of the OSLs amidst the rapid spread of the COVID-19 and the inability to return to Sri Lanka, has held consultations over the past 2 days with its Heads of Missions based in 67 cities across the world, The meeting facilitated the […]
‘s Hatch and LAN gear up to launch first fintech accelerator
Apr 06, 2020 (LBO) – In April 2020, Hatch in partnership with Lankan Angel Network (LAN) and through the support of the Ford Foundation, will officially launch the first chapter of its start-up accelerator programme ‘HatchX’, establishing Sri Lanka’s first fintech accelerator. The programme’s strategic partner will be the Fintech Association of Sri Lanka (FASL). […]
Chamber Academy hosts first Work-From-Home webinar
Taking the lead in empowering the private sector during COVID-19, the Chamber Academy of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with FITIS and LK Domain Registry, hosted a webinar for over a hundred participants, on how to successfully work from home (WFH). The webinar covered an introduction to working from home, and the communication […]
Daraz can bring expertise from its parent company Alibaba during this time of crisis and potentially service 10,000 households daily
Daraz, Sri Lanka’s largest e-commerce platform, ordinarily connects thousands of sellers to millions of consumers across the country. Now, however, the scalability and scope of the e-commerce giant’s platform and logistics expertise have urgent applications that will sustain the people in these uncertain times – the delivery of essential goods every day to Sri Lankan […]
Easter attacks 2019 vs. COVID-19 outbreak 2020: What lies ahead for SL
Nisha Arunatilake On Easter Sunday last year, Sri Lanka was shocked by a series of bomb attacks. The security concerns that followed kept people home and curtailed economic activities. Less than a year later, the country is again under curfew for a different reason. A new disease, COVID-19, which first emerged in the city of […]
Central Bank further reduces policy interest rates by 25 basis points
Apr 03, 2020 (LBO) – The Monetary Board of the Central Bank today decided to reduce the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) by 25 basis points to 6.00 percent and 7.00 percent, respectively, effective from the close of business on 03 April 2020. The Central Bank said this […]
‘s growth prospects, Projected to fall to 2.2-pct in 2020: ADB
Apr 03, 2020 (LBO) – The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) flagship annual economic publication, the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2020, forecasts significant headwinds for Sri Lanka’s economy as it fights the spread of COVID-19, which comes less than 12 months after the terror attacks in April 2019. Sri Lanka’s economic growth is projected to fall to […]