Sri Lanka to improve public transportation in 2017: Fin Min

Dec 23, 2016 (LBO) – Several steps have been taken to improve public transportation with the building of new roads, upgrading railway, deploying priority bus lanes and building light rail, Sri Lanka’s finance ministry said on Friday. Plans are underway to construct two new roads, one between New Kelani Bridge and Athurugiriya and, the second […]

Strong safeguards must accompany Asia’s infrastructure drive: ADB

Dec 21, 2016 (LBO) – Asia’s spending on growth-boosting infrastructure is set to get a tailwind from development financing while the safeguard systems used by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other development banks as conditions for their loans are under international scrutiny. More financing for infrastructure is becoming available from established and new lenders […]

India taking steps to promote digital, mobile transactions

Dec 21, 2016 (LBO) – India is taking steps to promote digital and mobile transactions in the country after its demonitisation program. After the cancellation of legal tender basis of old 500 rupee and 1,000 rupee notes there has been a surge in use of credit and debit cards, mobile phone applications and e-wallets in […]

‘s Lagarde guilty of negligence

Dec 20, 2016 (LBO) – A French court has found International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde guilty of negligence in allowing the misuse of public funds, during her term as French finance minister. The judges did not question Lagarde’s decision to seek an out-of-court settlement with tycoon Bernard Tapie, but they said her failure to […]

‘s festive demand for rice: Ministry

Dec 20, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce will increase supply of freshly milled rice to meet a surge in demand during the festive season, a statement said. Sri Lanka will import 10,000 tonnes of rice, and buy 20,000 tonnes of paddy (both White Rice and Nadu) from the Paddy Marketing […]

Sri Lanka govt revenue up 23-pct: Finance Ministry

Dec 19, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Finance ministry says that state revenue has increased by 23 percent during the first nine months of this year compared with the same period in 2015. “Accordingly, the state revenue in the first nine months of 2016 rose to 1,180 billion rupees from the 959 billion rupees earned […]

‘s

Dec 19, 2016 (LBO) – Moody’s Investors Service says that Sri Lanka’s (B1 negative) program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has helped stabilize the balance of payments and established an ambitious roadmap to fiscal consolidation and structural reform. The investors service however says sustained implementation of reforms will be challenging. The 2017 budget confirms the […]

‘s visit

Dec 19, 2016 (LBO) – Malaysia and Sri Lanka will consider the possibility of free trade agreement, a joint statement said, after the official visit of President Maithripala Sirisena to Malaysia. President Maithripala Sirisena was on a visit to Malaysia last week at the invitation of Malaysia’s Prime Minister Abdul Razak, during which five memoranda […]

US Millennium Challenge selects Sri Lanka for 5-Year grant

Dec 16, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has been selected for the US Millennium Challenge Corporation’s (MCC) new five-year grant compact which aims at encouraging economic growth and reduce poverty. At its quarterly meeting on December 13, 2016, the MCC’s Board of Directors selected Sri Lanka, Burkina Faso and Tunisia for these new MCC compacts, […]

‘s economy grew 4.1-pct in third quarter

Dec 15, 2016 (LBO) –  Sri Lanka’s economy grew 4.1 percent in the third quarter of 2016 with strong growth construction, a statement said. “During the third quarter of 2016, industrial activities recorded a significant increase in overall growth rate, at 6.8 percent, while the services activities have grown by 4.7 percent, compared to the […]

ADB Maintains Stable Outlook for Asia Despite Global Uncertainties

Dec 14, 2016 (LBO) – Economic growth in developing Asia remains broadly stable, but a slight slowdown in India has trimmed the region’s growth outlook for 2016, says a new Asian Development Bank (ADB) report. In a supplement to its Asian Development Outlook 2016 Update report, ADB has downgraded 2016 growth to 5.6 percent, below […]

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