Author: Gayan Chandrasekara
Real GDP projected to have grown by 5-pct in 2024; gross official reserves at USD 6.1bn by end 2024: CBSL
Sri Lanka’s real GDP is projected to have grown by around 5.0% in 2024, registering the highest annual growth since 2017, the Central Bank said launching its Policy Agenda for 2025. This higher-than-expected growth also provides evidence that deflation in recent months was not due to demand factors but mainly due to supply-side factors, including […]
Sri Lankan Insurers to Tackle Profitability Pressure with Key Shifts: Fitch Ratings
Underwriting profitability for Sri Lankan non-life insurers will gradually improve as they enhance practices and shift focus to more profitable non-motor segments, Fitch Ratings says in a new report. This shift includes adjusting policy pricing, particularly for motor and medical insurance, to better cope with inflation and rising claim costs. Motor insurance profitability faces challenges […]
TRCSL Approves Starlink Satellite Broadband Tariff Plans
The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) has officially given the green light to tariff plans for ‘Starlink’ satellite broadband services, which will be deployed through ‘Starlink’ Lanka (Private) Ltd.
SLPA Achieves Record-Breaking Container Throughput in 2024 Despite Competition
In 2024, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) terminals achieved a record-breaking throughput of 2.41 million TEUs amidst intense competition. SLPA alone contributed 2,413,012 TEUs, underscoring its crucial role in the port’s performance despite ongoing construction at both terminals. The Port of Colombo, in conjunction with other terminals, also reached a historic milestone with a […]
New perceptions study: Sri Lanka excels in tourist visa accessibility, boosting global tourism appeal
Sri Lanka comes in 33rd globally for ‘easy to get visa’. Colombo climbs six places to come in 57th for ‘leader in science and technology’. Sri Lanka’s capital ranks 74th for ‘accessible and good quality healthcare’. London, New York, and Paris remain world’s top 3-ranked cities across all metrics, as Tokyo and Dubai rise to […]
CCPI-Based Headline Inflation Remains Negative in December 2024
According to the Central Bank’s near-term projections, headline inflation, as indicated by the year-on-year (Y-o-Y) change in the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI, 2021=100), remained in negative territory for the fourth consecutive month, registering a deflation of 1.7% in December 2024, compared to a deflation of 2.1% in November 2024. Non-Food deflation (Y-o-Y) moderated to […]
HIP Witnesses Shift in Cruise Ship Origins with European Vessels Leading as Indian Arrivals Decline in 2024
Hambantota International Port (HIP) saw a modest increase in cruise ship arrivals in 2024, with a notable shift in the origins of the vessels. There was a decline in ships from the Indian subcontinent, while arrivals from Europe rose significantly. Of the 23 cruise ships that docked at HIP, only six were from India, while […]
Sri Lanka to Establish Doppler Weather Radar at Puttalam with JICA Funding
Sri Lanka is set to establish a Doppler weather radar in Puttalam, thanks to funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). This initiative is part of a broader effort to improve the country’s weather prediction and disaster preparedness. The island nation, surrounded by vast sea areas like the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, […]
Sri Lanka and India Exchange Protocol to Revise Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation
In a step towards enhancing economic cooperation, the Protocol for amending the Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation was exchanged during President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s State Visit to India. Sri Lanka and India initially entered into an Agreement in 2013 for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion concerning income […]
‘s GDP Growth at 5.5-pct in Q3 2024
Sri Lanka has experienced a economic upturn, with the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expanding by 5.5% in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the same period last year. The GDP for the third quarter of 2024 at constant price (2015) has increased up to Rs. 3,151,941 million from Rs. 2,987,544 million which recorded in […]
Sri Lanka Tourist Arrivals YoY Increased by 22-pct in November
Sri Lanka’s tourism sector continues to show strong recovery and growth, as evidenced by a 21.6% year-on-year increase in foreign tourist arrivals for November 2024. According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, the number of tourists reached 184,158, compared to 151,496 in the same month of the previous year. This significant increase follows an […]
TISL Unveils Landmark Research on Private Sector Corruption Risks
Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) launched its ‘Corruption Risk Mapping Research: A Study on Sri Lanka’s Private Sector’ on December 12 at the BMICH in Colombo. This report presents an in-depth analysis of corruption risks within Sri Lanka’s private sector and explores potential measures to address them. Compiled by an Independent Researcher, this research documents […]