Sri Lanka eco summit to discuss SOE reform implementation weaknesses

Aug 26, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) has been the topic of debate for many years now. Discussions around it have covered improving profitability, service and governance while examining the root causes for the continued losses incurred by SOEs. Some of the solutions for reforms are well known, but its implementation has […]

‘s most powerful AI processor

Aug 26, 2019 (LBO) – Huawei officially launched the world’s most powerful AI processor, the Ascend 910 as well as an all-scenario AI computing framework, MindSpore. “We have been making steady progress since we announced our AI strategy in October last year,” said Eric Xu, Huawei’s Rotating chairman. “Everything is moving forward according to plan, […]

Sri Lanka vehicle registrations rebound in July 2019

Aug 26, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s vehicle registrations saw a rebound across the board in July from the lows of June since, limping back to normalcy post Easter Sunday bombings. Total motor cars recorded 2,584 units in July significantly up from 1,580 units in June but significantly down from 7,162 units 12 months ago. […]

Virtusa to automate SLT backend services & revamp service offerings to customers

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), the national ICT and digital solutions provider entered into a landmark agreement with Virtusa Private Limited, a global provider of digital strategy, digital engineering, and IT outsourcing services, heralding a radical transformation in customer experience for SLT’s valued customers in the coming weeks and months. The signing of this memorandum of […]

Foreign institutional bond selling spikes amid CBSL rate cuts

August 24, 2019 (LBO) – The 2018-2019 foreign exodus from Sri Lanka’s government bond markets has picked up speed in recent weeks with total net outflows for the 2018-2019 period now totalling over Rs200bn (US$1.1bn). In the last week alone foreign institutions withdrew a net US$72mn from Sri Lanka’s treasury bond markets amid a second […]

‘s revises its growth forecasts for 16 Asian economies

Aug 23, 2019 (LBO) – Moody’s Investors Service in a newly released report has revised downwards its GDP growth forecast for 16 economies in Asia Pacific. Of the 16, Hong Kong and Singapore have shown particularly weak expansions this year, with very large deteriorations in real GDP growth when compared to the first half of […]

Central Bank to announce timeline for banks to reduce market lending rates

Aug 23, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank with the expectation of reducing all market lending rates in line with the reduction already observed in deposit interest rates, will announce specific timelines and measures shortly in consultation with relevant stakeholders. The Central Bank said that it will monitor the developments in market lending rates […]

Central Bank decides to reduce SDFR & SLFR by 50bps; SRR unchanged

Aug 23, 2019 (LBO) – Monetary Board of the Central Bank has decided to reduce the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) by 50 basis points to 7.00 percent and 8.00 percent, respectively. Statutory Reserve Ratio (SRR) unchanged. The Board said it arrived at this decision following a careful […]

CA Sri Lanka to break gender barriers in boardrooms with new directory

Aug 22, 2019 (LBO) – In a landmark initiative aimed at breaking gender barriers across boardrooms, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka recently launched the ‘Board Ready Female Members Directory’ which promotes more female representation. The directory which features a list of female Chartered Accountants who possess extensive experience and are board ready, […]

Sri Lanka Army Commander to reorganize all military intelligence units

Aug 22, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s new Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva says that he wants to reorganize military intelligence units and raise them to an elevated level in keeping with strategies of international armies. The new Commander of the Army in his message on assumption of office as the 23rd Commander vows […]

‘s Basel III sub-debt final A+(lka)

Aug 22, 2019 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings Lanka has assigned Hatton National Bank’s proposed Sri Lanka rupee-denominated Basel III-compliant subordinated debentures a final National Long-Term Rating of ‘A+(lka)’. The rating agency said the final rating is the same as the expected rating assigned on 5 March 2019 and follows the receipt of documents conforming to […]

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