Author: LBO Admin
Sri Lanka official reserves at USD 7.9Bn at end Feb 2020
May 18, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s gross official reserves stood at 7.9 billion dollars at end February 2020, equivalent to 4.7 months of imports, the Central Bank said. Total foreign assets, which consist of gross official reserves and foreign assets of the banking sector, amounted to 10.9 billion dollars at end February 2020, equivalent […]
Sri Lanka trade deficit shrinks in Feb 2020
May 18, 2020 (LBO) – The deficit in Sri Lanka’s trade account widened in February 2020 to 574 million dollars, from 451 million dollars in February 2019, as the increase in imports surpassed the increase in exports. However, on a month on month basis, the trade deficit in February 2020 recorded a contraction. On a […]
Repatriation and replacement of lost foreign jobs: Handling labour migration during COVID-19
Bilesha Weeraratne Sri Lanka, which has been sending workers abroad for employment for decades, is now faced with the formidable challenge of repatriating large numbers of migrant workers affected by COVID-19. Having successfully brought back students from China, UK, Australia, and South Asia and pilgrims from India, the authorities are now making plans to repatriate […]
Over 38,000 Sri Lankans in 143 countries seek to return home
May 18, 2020 (LBO) – Over 38,983 Overseas Sri Lankans (OSLs) in 143 countries at present seek to return home, based on information gathered mainly through the ‘Contact Sri Lanka’ Web Portal of the Ministry of Foreign Relations. This comprises 3,078 students, 4,040 short term visa holders, 27,854 Migrant workers, 3527 dependents and 484 duel […]
Colombo Chamber wants pre-shipment collateral-free loans to boost exports
May 17, 2020 (LBO) – Colombo Chamber of Commerce appeals to the President for intervention to instruct banks to support the SME and MSME exporters with pre-shipment collateral-free loans up to 75% of the value of export order with a maximum cap of Rs 5 million based on actual export orders and firm contracts. Addressing […]
SL demands retraction of London Guardian Travel Quiz with reference to “Eelam”
May 16, 2020 (LBO) – The attention of Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Relations has been drawn to a quiz titled “Travel quiz: do you know your islands, Man Friday?” published on the web edition of The Guardian newspaper in the United Kingdom on Friday, 15 May 2020. The second question reads – Eelam is […]
VIDEO: Coronavirus Herd Immunity – Explained
The world has been put on hold by the Coronavirus Pandemic and until we find a vaccine, we all need to stick to the social distancing, but you may have heard about Herd Immunity, and we are here to explain it in today’s new video. Could this be a real way to overcome Covid-19? Watch […]
We cannot allow irrational laws to impede our economy: President
May 15, 2020 (LBO) – President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that irrational laws should not obstruct the policies formulated to achieve the economic objectives of the people. The President stated this during a discussion with officials and ministry secretaries attached to the Plantation Industry sector at the Presidential Secretariat on May 14.The meeting was called to […]
SLT Group 1Q 2020 operating profits grow by 28-pct to Rs.3.2Bn
May 15, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Telecom PLC Group released its financial results for the three months ending on 31st March 2020. The Total revenue for the quarter recorded Rs.22.1 Bn, which is a 3.8% growth compared to the Rs. 21.3 Bn during the same period in 2019. Stringent measures were taken to manage […]
COVID-19 economic impact could reach $USD 8.8TR globally: New ADB report
May 15, 2020 (LBO) – The global economy could suffer between $5.8 trillion and $8.8 trillion in losses—equivalent to 6.4% to 9.7% of global gross domestic product (GDP)—as a result of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, says a new report released by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) today. The report, Updated Assessment of the Potential […]
Local epidemiology should guide focused action in ‘new normal’ COVID-19 world: WHO
May 15, 2020 (LBO) – Amid rising cases of COVID-19 and as countries in WHO South-East Asia Region ease lockdowns in a graded manner, WHO today said careful assessment of local epidemiology should guide future actions to combat the virus. “Countries in the Region must continue to take evidence-informed action and conduct careful risk assessments […]
Guidelines on issuance and payment of power bills during Covid and immediately after
May 15, 2020 (LBO) – These guidelines include the interim measures suggested to be followed by Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and Lanka Electricity Company Pvt. Ltd (LECO) in order to facilitate the issuance of utility bills and to facilitate the Customer with additional services (if required) for the payment of bills during the curfew period […]