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 …
Strong Rupee Policy
Finance Minister K N Choksy made the strongest statement yet that the government is committed to a strong rupee policy.ldblquote Sri Lankans have accepted with …
Economic Charge — Budget 2004
A new tax called Economic Service Charge (ESC) of one percent over turnover or assets will come into effect next year, in an attempt to net in firms not paying …
Express Service — Budget 2004
Two new export-processing zones will spring up next year, as part of the governments plans to spur economic activity.As Lanka Business Online reported on …
Southern Bound — Budget 2004
The government unveiled grand policies to develop the Southern province with plans to develop an airport, a port and set up an oil refinery.Finance Minister K …
Value Add — Budget 2004
The value added tax is to unified to a single 15 per cent rate from January 2004, from the current 10 and 20 per cent, while the government has abandoned plans …
Aye Aye — Budget 2004
All public servants will get a 10 percent pay hike each month in the new budget or a minimum Rs.1250 increase, whichever is higher, at a cost of Rs.12.5 bn to …
In Person — Budget 2004
Personal tax exemption threshold would be raised to Rs 300,000 from the current Rs 240,000 and the income slabs widened, with effect from …
Adding Roofs — Budget 2004
The government is coming up with a series of housing loan packages targeted at different segments, to help spur a construction boom.The housing programmes will …
Bargain Basement — Budget 2004
Giving a leg up to the local tourist trade, the government plans to develop Maskeliya and Puttalam as a future hotspot for the travel trade.Finance Minister K …
Lazy Bums — Budget 2004
Sri Lanka Wednesday announced it was shedding 300,000 state-sector jobs and offered a generous severance package that will effectively pay employees to stay at …
Broker Bonanza — Budget 2004
Stockbrokers are sitting on a potential gold mine as a result of a new tax on equity trading proposed in the budget.rnrnrnrnrnrnNew Page 2rnrnrnrnrnA …
It Went Through — Budget 2004
A blocked nose and bad cold ridden throat could not keep away Finance Minister K N Choksy, adorned in a blue checkered tie, from walking down the pink carpeted …
Bond Raiser
The Board of Investment will tap into the local bond market, to raise up to Rs.2 bn to fund a new Economic Trade Zone, north of Biyagama.The second Economic …
Dicey Union
An impending marriage between the Marxist JVP and the main opposition Peoples Alliance Party re-surfaced on Tuesday resurrecting vibes that a snap poll was …
Stalemate
The much-awaited second rendezvous between the Executive and the Legislature ended on a stalemate with a committee appointed to look into their grievances.The …
Its Not Done
Sri Lankas parliament Wednesday ruled as illegal the presidents suspension of the assembly two weeks ago and said it will disregard any future attempt to …
Budget 2004
A Collection of Articles related to the 2004 Budget published on LBO rnrn rn rnrnChoksys Sweeteners rnrnrn17 November 2003 rnrnrnrnThe UNF …
Can or Cant?
Central Bank cut its 2004 GDP growth forecast to six percent from an earlier 6.5 per cent after factoring in current uncertainties in the peace process and the …
So Far So Good
Sri Lanka enters the penultimate lap for its 2004 budget, with a great deal of apprehension as to whether Parliament will be dissolved on Tuesday …