Category: Economy
Dollar strengthening combines with political uncertainty in Sri Lanka: Moody’s
May 28, 2018 (LBO) – Strengthening of the Dollar in Sri Lanka has combined with domestic political uncertainty, weighing on the rupee, Moody’s Investors Service said.Moody’s said country-specific factors like in Sri Lanka have played a role in tightening financing conditions. Tightening financing conditions reflect various factors, including the appreciation of the US dollar. Moody’s, […]
VAT to be reduced by 2.5-pct by 2020 : Fin Min
May 25, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will reduce Value Added Tax (VAT) by 2.5 percent in 2020 in order to relieve masses of the burden of indirect taxes, Minister MangalaSamraweera said. “It is the poor people who mostly pay taxes to the government by way of indirect taxes. We should relieve them of this […]
Finance Minister appoints Ranel Tissa Wijesinha as new Chairman of SEC
May 24, 2018 (LBO) – Finance and Media Minister has appointed Ranel Tissa Wijesinha as the new Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka with effect from today.The other members appointed to the Board of the SEC are as follows: Chandrakumar Ramachandra Jayantha Fernando Arjuna Herath Rajeev Amarasuriya Manjula Hiranya de Silva
Sri Lanka tea exports up in April 2018, Low grown production down
May 24, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tea exports for the month of April 2018 showed a gain of 0.7M/kgs when compared with the same period last year while bulk tea and tea bags show a marginal decrease, a new report shows. “When analyzing the total revenue realized of 17.1 billion rupees for April 2018, […]
Central Bank to create intervention rules for foreign exchange market
May 23, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank is to introduce several rules, the officials need to follow when they are intervening in the foreign exchange market, Central Bank Governor Indrajit Coomaraswamy said. Speaking at a recent event, Coomaraswamy, however, said Central Bank’s intervention in the forex market will only be limited to smooth […]
Fin Min says Sri Lanka economy on stable footing; Challenges MR for TV debate
May 23, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Finance Minister challenging former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to an open television debate on the economy said that sound macroeconomic fundamentals exist for stronger growth in the island. Addressing media on Tuesday he said that the islands economy has been strengthened with tax revenue, exports and foreign direct investments growing substantially […]
Sri Lanka Central Bank clarifies on external debt and reserves
May 23, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central bank issuing a statement has clarified a misleading news item has been disseminated in relation to Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves and external debt servicing. “The contents of the news item portray a misleading picture of the country’s external position,” it said. The full statement follows: External Debt […]
SL – China FTA would result in higher gains for Sri Lankan exports: Study
May 22, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka – China FTA would result in higher gains for Sri Lankan exports compared to products imported from China which are already entering Sri Lanka duty free, a recent study showed. The study carried out by the Economics Research Team of Verité Research, however, noted that the analysis is […]
Sri Lanka inflation slows to 1.6-pct in April, lowest since Feb 2016
May 22, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s headline inflation measured by National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) has decreased to 1.6 percent in April, lowest since February 2016, from 2.8 percent in March 2018. The decline in the year-on-year inflation in April 2018 was mainly driven by the higher base resulted by the increase in prices […]
ADB, Sri Lanka sign USD210Mn loan for Mahaweli water security investment program
May 18, 2018 (LBO) – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Sri Lanka signed a US 210 million dollar second tranche loan agreement for the Mahaweli Water Security Investment Program, the Finace Ministry siad. The programme will assist Sri Lanka complete its on going drive to deliver surplus water from the Mahaweli […]
IMF to complete its 4th review on June 1 as SL introduced fuel price formula
May 18, 2018 (LBO) – IMF Communications Department on Thursday announced that their board is scheduled to discuss Sri Lanka’s completion of its fourth review on June 1. At an IMF press briefing held in Washington, Gerry Rice of the communications department told reporters that the fuel pricing mechanism would benefit Sri Lanka and the […]
Laugfs Gas urges Govt to introduce transparent mechanism for LPG pricing
May 18, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s liquid petroleum gas (LPG) prices should be adjusted using a pricing mechanism that is transparent, impartial and fair, Laugfs Gas said issuing a statement. There have been significant changes in the LPG prices in the international market, which has had a detrimental impact on the local LPG industry, it said. […]