Category: Economy
Sri Lanka to postpone SVAT abolition till end 2017
June 22, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s cabinet approval has been granted to postpone the abolition of SVAT system until the end of this year. Accordingly, the SVAT abolition will take effect from 01 January 2018 after the necessary legislation is passed through Parliament. This decision has been taken in order to give sufficient time […]
Central Bank expected to keep key rates unchanged: First Capital
June 21, 2017 (LBO) – The Central Bank of Sri Lanka is expected to keep key interest rates unchanged in its monthly monetary policy announcement on Friday, with slower first quarter growth and a deceleration in inflation contributing to the decision, First Capital Research said in a pre-policy research note. GDP growth for the first […]
Auditor General’s opinion creates chaos in Parliament
June 20, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Parliament on Tuesday referred the controversial annual report of the Finance Ministry to the Committee on Public Finance amid chaos in Parliament. The Auditor General, expressing his view on the finance ministry accounts of 2016, said that he is not been able to obtain sufficient and appropriate audit […]
Infrastructure must be developed alongside admin, legal frameworks: Finance Minister
June 20, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka wants to boost investments to make the country an export driven economic and financial hub of the Indian Ocean, the new finance minister said. “Developing physical infrastructure must be done along with administrative and legal frameworks to ensure required policy or regulatory support to streamline and boost public […]
‘s Central Bank eyes full inflation targeting: Governor
June 20, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is planning to adopt a full inflation targeting framework probably by next year, Central Bank Governor Indrajit Coomaraswamy said. Delivering the keynote address at the launch of the Oxford Business Group’s 2017 report on Sri Lanka Monday, Coomaraswamy said this step will enhance greater transparency and predictability for […]
Finance Minister meets S. Korean Deputy PM at AIIB meeting
June 19, 2017 (LBO) – Minister of Finance and Media Mangala Samaraweera held discussions with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance of the Republic of Korea, Kim Dong-yeon on Saturday, the Finance Ministry said. Samaraweera and Kim Dong-yeon discussed issues of mutual interest and underscored the importance of closer bilateral relations […]
Sri Lanka plans trade, business delegation to Bangladesh
June 16, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce plans a trade and business delegation visit to Bangladesh next month, on the back of a three-fold rise in trade between the two countries, a statement said. “Bilateral trade between the two countries tripled since 2010 but there is unexplored potential,” said Minister […]
Sri Lanka economy grew 3.8-pct in first quarter of 2017
June 15, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s statistics office says economic growth rate for the first quarter of 2017 has been estimated as 3. 8 percent. The GDP for the first quarter of 2017 was 2,161,770 million rupees against 2,082,544 million rupees reported for the same period last year. “Severe drought condition prevailed mainly in […]
Sri Lankan banks likely to come under capital pressure from Basel III: Fitch
Jun 07, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lankan banks are likely to come under increased capital pressure from Basel III-related requirements, Fitch Ratings said in a statement. “We expect most banks will have to raise capital to meet the higher requirements, particularly if they are pursuing rapid growth,” it said. “The sector’s capital needs could be […]
Sri Lanka trade gap widens 34-pct in March
June 07, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s trade gap has widened 34.1 percent to 827.5 million US dollars in March from a year earlier, official data from the Central Bank showed. The cumulative trade deficit in the first quarter of 2017 has increased 35 percent to 2,505 million dollars from the same period last year. […]
Sri Lanka growth to accelerate to 4.7-pct in 2017: World Bank
June 05, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s growth is forecast to accelerate to a 4.7 percent rate in 2017 and 5 percent in 2018, a new World Bank report says. According to the World Bank’s June 2017 Global Economic Prospects growth will happen as international financial institution programs support economic reforms and boost private sector competitiveness. […]
Sri Lanka vehicle registrations drop in April: JB Securities
Jun 02, 2017 (LBO) – Total vehicle registrations in Sri Lanka fell to 33,438 units in April from 40,021 in March, with declines in all major categories except three-wheelers and tractors, JB Securities said in a research note, likely affected by the holiday season. Three-wheelers observed a 12 percent growth, month-on-month, to 1,452 units in […]