Tele Tax

Nov 07, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has made a new 10 percent telephone tax technology neutral by extending it from mobile phones to fixed lines as a part of proposals to raise revenue in 2009. The think tank strongly opposed an original state proposal to charge a fixed levy on mobile phones. LirneAsia chief […]

Sri Lanka shares slump

Nov 07, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares Friday fell for the second day running after rising on thin volumes for several days with brokers saying small investors lacked the holding power to sustain early gains. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘lbo’ and send to 678 The All Share […]

Sri Lanka 2008 economic growth 6.0 to 6.5: Central Bank

Nov 06, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s economic growth is likely to fall to between 6.0 and 6.5 percent in 2008, the island’s central bank has said, downgrading a previous forecast of 6.5 to 7.0 percent amidst a global slowdown. In 2007 Sri Lanka’s economy expanded by 6.8 percent in 2007, according to the country’s […]

Sri Lanka ruling party champions fiscal prudence, as opposition scrapes bottom

Nov 06, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s ruling party, whose fiscal profligacy caused high inflation and high interest rates while endangering the entire economy with foreign commercial borrowings, has slammed a sunshine ‘budget’ of the opposition. The main opposition United National Party which gained a name for long term budgeting that brought the country out […]

Sri Lanka proposes range of taxes and import cesses

Sri Lanka has proposed sweeping levies on imported foods, and consumer durables, jacked up a turnover based levy on international trade, trimmed value added taxes and widened income tax slabs of workers in productive sectors. Personal income tax slabs had been widened with a 300,000 rupee tax free slab remaining. The next 400,000 rupee slab […]

Sri Lanka budget deficit projected at 6.5-pct of economy

Nov 06, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka raised trade barriers and cut neutral value added taxes in its 2009 budget which is projected to have a deficit of 336 billion rupees or 6.5 percent of gross domestic product. Revenues were estimated at an optimistic 855 billion rupees, though the island failed to meet the original […]

Fuel Costs

Nov 06, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa said Wednesday the government had slashed retail fuel prices with immediate effect in an effort to bring down transport costs and inflation. “From today, the price of a litre of diesel will be reduced by 30 rupees,” Rajapaksa told parliament when he presented the government’s […]

Sri Lanka govt to buy shares in apparel firm

Nov 06, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government will buy shares in apparel export firms under a support scheme to help them cope with a possible loss of duty free access to European markets, a senior official said. Ajit Dias, chairman of the Joint Apparel Association Forum, an industry umbrella body, said the government has […]

Sri Lanka apparel exporters losing orders, market share

Nov 06, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s apparel export industry faces a tough year next year with slowing demand in key markets and the likely loss of GSP+ duty free exports to Europe, a senior official said. “I think we’re heading for somewhat of a crisis next year and the industry is gearing itself for […]

Sri Lanka president asks Tigers to respond to peace overtures or be crushed

Nov 06 (2008) – Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa called on Tamil Tigers to immediately lay down arms and enter the democratic mainstream and warned that if not they would be crushed militarily.“Terrorism has got to be destroyed,” he told parliament delivering a speech to present the government budget for 2009. The security forces were […]

Sri Lanka govt gives incentives to troubled tea trade

Nov 06, 2008 (LBO) – The Sri Lankan government plans to offer several incentives to the tea industry such as lower taxes and subsidised fertiliser, president Mahinda Rajapaksa said. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘act (space) lbo’ and send to 678 The incentives are meant to help the industry […]

Sri Lanka shares fall on profit taking on thin volumes

Nov 06, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares slumped Wednesday after several days of gains on thin volumes as investors took profits, with brokers saying the volatility could deter investors. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘lbo’ and send to 678 The All Share Price Index fell 2.58 percent (50.62 […]

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