Litmus Test

The coming week will show how much of the Jakarta pledges will materialise into hard cash, says visiting UN Chief Kofi Annan wrapping up a two day old tour of Sri Lanka’s tsunami ravaged southern and eastern coastal belts.The coming week will show how much of the Jakarta pledges will materialise into hard cash, says […]

Resting Under Protection

Insurance industry says impact on profitability will be small despite more than Rs.10 billion in tsunami related claims saying that they are adequately covered by reinsurance.Insurance industry says impact on profitability will be small despite more than Rs. 10 billion in tsunami related claims saying that they are adequately covered by reinsurance. However some in […]

Friend Or Foe?

Government creditors in the Paris Club are this week to consider a debt moratorium for Sri Lanka and Indonesia, two of the countries worst affected by last month’s tidal wave, although experts have questioned the usefulness to Jakarta of such a move. Government creditors in the Paris Club are this week to consider a debt […]

Aid Tsunamis

Waves of foreign assistance could tide over some of Sri Lanka’s macro economic troubles according to analysts. Waves of foreign assistance could tide over some of Sri Lanka’s macro economic troubles according to analysts. The Central Bank expects the balance of payments to show a surplus this year from a deficit of over US$ 200 […]

Sri Lanka Tsunami – Aid Drip

Initial WHO estimates say that Sri Lanka will need US$ 20 mn to meet immediate health needs over the next three months, in all districts affected by last month’s tsunami.Initial WHO estimates say that Sri Lanka will need US$ 20 mn to meet immediate health needs over the next three months, in all districts affected […]

Digging Deep

Visiting World Bank President James D Wolfensohn down played possibilities of writing off US$ 600 mn worth of interest payments due from Sri Lanka, but said the island nation should focus on getting grant assistance to rebuild the tsunami hit areas.“We are considering debt relief, about US$ 600 mn is due from Sri Lanka this […]

U.S. Delays Decision on Suspending Tsunami-Nation Debt Payments

The U.S. government will not back European-led calls for a suspension of debt repayments by tsunami- stricken countries until it determines whether that’s in the best interests of the nations involved, a U.S. Treasury spokesman said. The U.S. government will not back European-led calls for a suspension of debt repayments by tsunami- stricken countries until […]

Top trade chamber lobbies the Treasury to let it bring in duty free relief

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce is lobbying the Treasury to be included in a list of agencies allowed to bring in duty free relief shipments to help tsunami victims.The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce is lobbying the Treasury to be included in a list of agencies allowed to bring in duty free relief shipments to help […]

Chatting Away

Sri Lanka Telecom is minting foreign exchange revenue, due to a heavy flow of international voice and data calls to pick up the latest news since the tsunami struck on Boxing Day.Sri Lanka Telecom is minting foreign exchange revenue, due to a heavy flow of international voice and data calls to pick up the latest […]

Shifting Home

Sri Lanka’s top trade chamber has asked its private sector members to ‘adopt’ transit refugee camps, supporting displaced people until they find permanent shelter.Sri Lanka’s top trade chamber has asked its private sector members to ‘adopt’ transit refugee camps, supporting displaced people until they find permanent shelter. “We have asked the private sector to sponsor […]

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