Author: LBO
Here’s Hoping
Reports that the treasury has set off tax liabilities of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation against the full subsidy due from the government, has raised expectations that Lanka IOC would also get the full subsidy owed to it. The treasury has agreed to set off Rs. 25 billion in taxes due to the government, a top […]
Sri Lanka’s Central Bank stays pat on interest rates
Feb. 16 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank Thursday stayed put on policy rates for the second straight month, as it expects the 25-basis point hike last December to put the brakes on money supply growth. Overnight repurchase rate remains at 8.75 percent and the reverse repurchase rate stays at 10.25 percent, the bank said […]
Oil prices fuel Sri Lanka’s trade gap
Feb. 10 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s trade deficit widened by 12 percent to US$ 2.5 billion for the year ended 2005, though foreign remittances helped strengthen the island’s balance of payments, the Central Bank said Friday. The country’s trade balance reported a US$ 502 million surplus as at end 2005, helped by a 26 percent […]
Colombo’s Cleanup
Feb 08 (LBO) – The Social Service Ministry hopes to put-up Colombo’s estimated 1523 homeless in transitional housing by end 2006. Secretary to the Ministry V. Jegarasasingham said that poverty, the war and domestic abuse among other reasons has led over 1523 Sri Lankan men, women and children to take shelter on Colombo’s streets. Not […]
Sri Lanka’s top donors not convinced that the situation is conducive for reconstruction and investment
Feb 06 (LBO) – A drop in violence and impending peace talks between warring factions has failed to convince Sri Lanka’s top donors that the situation is conducive for reconstruction and investment, officials said Monday. Top officials of the tropical island’s key donors – the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) – said […]
Bomb scare puts off Sri Lanka MP’s
Colombo, Feb 2 (PTI) Panic-stricken Sri Lankan legislators today agreed to put off their sittings by nearly two weeks following a bomb scare inside the assembly hall. Speaker W. J. M. Lokubandara said political party leaders agreed to put off the assembly till February 14. The assembly opened today half an hour behind schedule after […]
High prices of firewood, cigarettes fail to ignite Sri Lanka’s inflation
Jan. 31 (LBO) ? Sri Lanka’s annual inflation rate for January eased marginally to 11.1 percent from 11.6 percent, despite high prices in firewood and cigarettes, the Census & Statistics Deparment said Tuesday. Jan. 31 (LBO) ? Sri Lanka’s annual inflation rate for January eased marginally to 11.1 percent from 11.6 percent, despite high prices […]
Investors sceptical about government’s foreign bond plans
Market players were sceptical about government’s ability to rise up to a billion dollars internationally due uncertainty in the economic and security fronts. Market players were sceptical about government’s ability to rise up to a billion dollars internationally due uncertainty in the economic and security fronts. Treasury Secretary P B Jayasundera said on Friday that […]
Sri Lanka’s trade gap widens 22%
Jan. 19 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s trade deficit has widened by 22 percent to US$ 2.4 billion for the eleven months in 2005, though foreign remittances helped strengthen the island’s balance of payments, the Central Bank said Thursday Jan.19 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s trade deficit has widened by 22 percent to US$ 2.4 billion for […]
Sri Lanka’s import bill gallops ahead of November export earnings
Jan. 17 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s import bill for the eleven months surged ahead of export earnings for the same period last year due to rising energy costs, but the island’s Central Bank Tuesday left its key interest rates unchanged. Jan. 17 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s import bill for the eleven months surged ahead of […]
Sri Lanka’s truce monitors raps government on paramilitary groups
Jan. 13 (LBO) – Giving voice to the unspoken thoughts of most ordinary citizens of the country, Sri Lanka’s truce monitors have questioned whether the ceasefire agreement with the rebels and government has ended.Jan. 13 (LBO) – Giving voice to the unspoken thoughts of most ordinary citizens of the country, Sri Lanka’s truce monitors have […]
Sri Lanka’s Tigers seek military upper hand ahead of talks
Tamil Tiger rebels, blamed for a series of deadly attacks on Sri Lankan troops, are battling to gain the upper hand over the military ahead of a new round of peace talks, analysts said Friday.Tamil Tiger rebels, blamed for a series of deadly attacks on Sri Lankan troops, are battling to gain the upper hand […]