Category: Economy
Fitch Affirms Sri Lanka at Restricted Default; Policy Uncertainty Following Elections
Fitch Ratings has affirmed Sri Lanka’s LongTerm Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘RD’ (Restricted Default) and Long-Term Local-Currency IDR at ‘CCC-‘. Fitch typically does not assign Outlooks to issuers with a rating of ‘CCC+’ or below. Sri Lanka’s September 2024 Presidential election was won by one of the opposition leaders. “Fitch believes the result […]
‘s Ratings: Political change unlikely to derail reform trajectory but underscores fiscal challenges
Moody’s Ratings suggests that the broad appetite for reforms will remain intact, and the agency does not foresee significant disruptions to the country’s reform agenda or macroeconomic policies, which include ongoing debt restructuring and structural adjustments under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme. Moody’s notes that while the reform agenda is expected to continue, some […]
Looks forward to collaborating with new President & discussing 3rd review timing: IMF Spokesperson
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has expressed optimism about working with President Dissanayake and his administration to build on the progress Sri Lanka has made towards economic recovery. The country has been on a challenging path since facing one of its worst economic crises in 2022. An IMF spokesperson stated, “We look forward to working […]
CBL Global Foods and USAID join forces to transform Sri Lanka’s coconut industry
CBL Global Foods Limited (CBL GFL), a key player in Sri Lanka’s agribusiness sector and a subsidiary of the CBL Group – one of the largest food conglomerates, has partnered with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to enhance the coconut industry through an initiative aimed at boosting productivity and market access for […]
SL Reaches in Principle Agreements for Restructuring Sovereign Debt with External Commercial Creditors
On the 19th of September 2024, Sri Lanka announced that it has reached Agreements in Principle on the restructuring of approximately USD$ 17.5 billion of external commercial debt (as of end 2023). These agreements have been reached with holders of its International Sovereign Bonds, following negotiations with the Ad Hoc Group of Bondholders (“AHGB”), a […]
‘s economy
In the high-stakes world of trade and logistics, corruption at Sri Lanka’s customs, IRD, ports, and airports is not just an inconvenience—it’s a crisis that’s crippling the nation’s export sector. Outdated, manual systems have become breeding grounds for corruption, where bribery and inefficiency rule, bleeding exporters dry and stifling economic growth. The country stands at […]
Sri Lanka’s Industries call for reduction in water tariffs to boost competitiveness
A collective of trade associations including the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Sri Lanka (FCCISL), the European Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka (ECCSL), the Exporters Association of Sri Lanka (EASL), the International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka (ICCSL), and the National Chamber of Exporters (NCE), […]
Sri Lanka’s July 2024 Exports Surge to USD1 Bn, Marking a 6.58-pct Year-on-Year Increase
As per the provisional data released by the Sri Lanka Customs, the merchandise export performance in July 2024 amounted to US$ 1,087.6 million, recorded an increase of 6.58 % compared to the month of July 2023. This was mainly due to the increase in earnings from export of Apparel & Textiles, Tea, Coconut based products, […]
”s “real” agenda
In the latest series of the RIUNIT podcast hosted by Roshan Madawela, distinguished economists Prof. Howard Nicholas and Prof. Jayati Ghosh, delve deeply into the rapidly changing economic and geopolitical environment, examining both local and global economic orders. By questioning popular narratives, they provide insightful analysis and perspectives on the complex forces shaping our world […]
Advocata calls for urgent reforms to address inefficiencies plaguing Sri Lanka’s SOEs
The Advocata Institute launched its latest report, “Getting the State Out of Business: The Compelling Case for Privatisation of State-Owned Businesses,” which featured a high-profile panel discussion, calling for urgent reforms to address the inefficiencies plaguing Sri Lanka’s state-owned enterprises (SOEs). The event featured a keynote address by Mr. Suresh Shah, Director General of the […]
CA Sri Lanka Facilitates a Deep Dive into IMF Tax Reforms and Their Implications
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) issued a comprehensive report following its second review of Sri Lanka’s Extended Fund Facility on 12 June 2024, which sparked lively debates among economists, policymakers and the general public, especially with regard to the revenue proposals. To facilitate a deeper understanding and gather diverse perspectives, a discussion forum was held […]
FIU enters into a MoU with Registrar General’s Department
Financial Intelligence Unit of Sri Lanka entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Registrar General of the Registrar General’s Department The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of Sri Lanka entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Registrar General of the Registrar General’s Department on August 06, 2024, at the Central Bank of Sri […]