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Central Bank increases funding for businesses affected by COVID-19
Jun 16, 2020 (LBO) – Central Bank has decided to provide funding to Licensed Commercial Banks (LCBs) at the concessionary rate of 1.00 percent against the pledge of a broad spectrum of collateral, on the condition that LCBs, in turn, will on-lend to domestic businesses at 4.00 percent. According to the Central Bank, this is […]
‘s Central Bank further reduces Statutory Reserve Ratio
Jun 16, 2020 (LBO) – The Monetary Board of the Central Bank has decided to reduce the Statutory Reserve Ratio (SRR) applicable on all rupee deposit liabilities of licensed commercial banks (LCBs) by 200 basis points to 2.00 percent, with effect from the reserve maintenance period that commenced on 16 June 2020. According to the […]
Opinion: How Life Insurance can succeed in the post-COVID economy
By Chula Hettiarachchi: The unprecedented global climate of today has taken a heavy toll on life. At no point in time, did we anticipate that a single health pandemic would so significantly shift our focus as a society and leave us assessing where we all fit in this “New Normal”. Now more than ever, individuals […]
Emirates to begin outbound flights from Colombo on 20 June
Jun 16, 2020 (LBO) – Emirates has announced the launch of outward-bound passenger flights from Sri Lanka, starting Saturday 20 June 2020, to facilitate travel for foreign nationals as well as Sri Lankans who need to return to families, jobs or education overseas. The airline currently operates passenger flights to 30 destinations with connectivity for […]
Developers confident Sri Lanka real estate will regain momentum
Jun 16, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s construction sector which ranks as the 5th highest in the nations GDP earnings, after services, manufacturing, agriculture and utilities reports continued interest from local and international buyers as the industry gears towards returning to construction in a COVID-19 affected world. The current pandemic has left several industries drastically […]
‘ stresses: Fitch Ratings
Jun 16, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lankan banks’ operating environment and financial profiles ace escalating risks from the economic fallout of the coronavirus. Fitch Ratings now expects Sri Lanka’s real GDP to contract by 1.3% in 2020, worsening from our earlier forecast of a 1.0% contraction published 24 April 2020 due to the pandemic. Deterioration […]
State Banks must play their bounden role in economic revival: President
Jun 16, 2020 (LBO) – The State Banks should make their bounden contribution to rebuild the economy which is in a perilous state due to COVID – 19 pandemic. It is the responsibility of State Banks to put in place the mechanism to implement the policies of a government. Taking forward the strategy of maintaining […]
South Asia ramps up eco-innovation to curb marine plastic pollution
Jun 15, 2020 (LBO) – The World Bank, Parley for the Oceans, and the South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP) launched today, on World Oceans Day, a $50 million regional project to help South Asia curb its marine plastic pollution and ramp up eco-innovation to reinvent plastic use and production. The agreement was signed virtually […]
Sri Lanka Missions facilitate to regularise visa status of local in Italy
Jun 15, 2020 (LBO) – Amidst the present uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the context of the strong bilateral relations that have continued over the years, the Sri Lankan community members in Italy have been provided the opportunity, to regularise their stay through the Sanatoria, declared by the Italian Government, as one of […]
Jaffna’s Institute of Medical Sciences bringing medical careers and care to the Northern Province
By Jekhan Aruliah During the 2020 COVID-19 “Corona” Virus pandemic we really loved our health workers. We all loved them because COVID-19 hit everyone. Not through infection but through curfews. Businesses closing, shopping & socializing banned, incomes lost, economic hardship, and the stress of being locked in with our loved ones. Diseases are usually suffered […]
‘s future direction for raising debt in international markets
By Shamika Ramanayake: National debt and fiscal stability are two stretch-words often reverberating over during these pandemic/crisis times. As governments all around the world are pushing their boundaries to salvage national economies and avoid damaging spillover effects, especially on vulnerable sections such as small & medium business holders, entrepreneurs, labour markets, etc., such measures are […]
SEC Chairman calls on Central Bank Governor
Jun 14, 2020 (LBO) – The Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Viraj Dayaratne PC, paid a courtesy call on Professor W.D. Lakshman, Governor of the Central Bank recently. He was accompanied by Director-General of the SEC, Chinthaka Mendis. This meeting provided an opportunity for the Governor and the Chairman to share and […]