Category: Economy
LKR depreciation unwarranted; Reserves to reach US$ 11Bn by June 2018 :CB
May 17, 2018 (LBO) – The Central Bank of Sri Lanka says the underlying fundamentals do not warrant the current pressure on the Sri Lanka rupee. The rupee closed at 158.20/40 rupees against the US dollar in the spot market Wednesday after hitting a low low of 158.80 rupees earlier in the day. “Gross external […]
Sri Lanka among 23 countries vulnerable to Chinese debt distress: Study
May 16, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has been classified as a highly vulnerable country to debt distress of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in a recent study published by the Center for Global Development.The policy paper has identified 68 countries that fall under the scope of BRI based on reports from Chinese quasi-official […]
‘t accept 6.5-pct fare hike
May 16, 2018 (LBO) – The Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) and Inter-Provincial Private Bus Association (IPPBA) said it cannot accept the Cabinet approved bus fare increase and that it would launch an islandwide bus strike from by midnight Wednesday. The two association said that the 6.56 percent bus fare increment was not acceptable and are […]
Sri Lanka among most exposed countries to an interest rate shock: Moody’s
May 14, 2018 (LBO) – Moody’s Investors Service said the probability of an interest rate shock tends to be higher for Sri Lanka as the country is most exposed to a higher cost of debt that feeds mostly through weaker debt affordability.“The sovereigns most vulnerable to an interest rate shock are generally low rated, with […]
Iranian companies to provide tech and engineering services to Sri Lanka
May 14, 2018 (LBO) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that relations between Iran and Sri Lanka will be developed in all fields, stressing that the two countries have reached good agreements in economic fields of mutual interest to both. He said that Iranian companies are ready to provide technical-engineering services to Sri Lanka. “Relations between […]
Sri Lanka GDP will grow at 3.7-pct in Q1
May 14, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s will grow at 3.7 percent in the first quarter of 2018, althought this below the islands potential, the Governor of the Central Bank said. “The growth will be supported by the services sector, but is still below potential,” Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy, Central Bank Governor told reporters in Colombo recently. The Monetary […]
ADB approves USD 100Mn additional funding to enhance job skills in Sri Lanka
May 11, 2018 (LBO) – The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) has approved a US 100 million dollars results-based loan as additional financing for the Government of Sri Lanka’s efforts to develop skills to meet labor demands, support economic diversification, and enhance productivity in the country. “Sri Lanka has achieved universal primary and high secondary enrollment […]
Sri Lanka gross official reserves improved to USD9.9bn by end April
May 11, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s gross official reserve position had improved to 9.9 billion US dollars by end April, the record highest level in history with the successful issuance of the international sovereign bond in April and foreign exchange purchases by the Central Bank from the domestic market. So far during the year, the exchange […]
Central Bank maintains policy interest rates unchanged
May 11, 2018 (LBO) – Monetary Board of the Central Bank at its meeting held on 10 May 2018 has decided to maintain policy interest rates at their current levels.Accordingly, the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) remain at 7.25 per cent and 8.50 per cent, respectively. The Board’s decision aims […]
Sri Lanka to revise fuel price every two months
May 11, 2018 (LBO) – Fuel prices in Sri Lanka will be revised every two months under a new cabinet approved pricing formula, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said. “We will be reviewing according to the Platts Singapore benchmark prices,” he told reporters in Colombo. “This means the price could either increase or decrease.” Sri Lanka […]
Sri Lanka hikes petrol, diesel prices: Cabinet approves fuel pricing formula
May 10, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has increased the prices of petrol and diesel following a cabinet decision to approve a fuel pricing formula. Petrol (92 octane) will increase to 137 rupees and petrol (95 octane) will be increased to148 rupees. Auto diesel will go up to109 rupees while super diesel will be sold at […]
‘s agricultural sector
May 10, 2018 (LBO) –The European Union has launched a 810 million rupee project to support the modernization of Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector. The project “Support to the modernisation of the agriculture sector in Sri Lanka” will be implemented by Ecorys. A technical assistance team will assist the Government in making the agriculture sector more […]