Category: Economy
Sri Lanka nation wide inflation declines to 5.8-pct in July 2016
Aug 22, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s consumer prices as measured by National Consumer Price Index declined to 5.8 percent in July from the 6.4 percent inflation reported a month earlier on yearly basis, data from the state statistics office showed. In July, contribution to the inflation from food group and non-food group are 3.0 […]
Correction: Fitch downgrades NDB, affirms 8 banks, revises outlook on DFCC, Sampath
(Correction: This announcement replaces the version published on 22 June 2016 to correct the Support Rating of DFCC Bank PLC to ‘5’ instead of ‘4’ and the rating action on the Support Rating to “downgrade” instead of “affirmed”) Aug 19, 2016 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings says it has downgraded Sri Lanka’s National Development Bank PLC’s […]
Sri Lanka’s tax collection up by Rs100bn in 1H 2016
Aug 18, 2016 (LBO) – Tax revenue in Sri Lanka’s government has increased by 100 billion rupees for the first half of this year, co-cabinet spokesman Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka said. Karunathilaka said Finance Minister has informed the cabinet that the total tax revenue has increased by about 20 percent in the first six months. Tax […]
Ceylon Chamber calls for private sector input on FTAs
Aug 18, 2016 (LBO) – With the Sri Lankan government working towards a series of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has called for companies to submit substantive inputs on trade policy matters. With these inputs the private sector can “strengthen its representations with trade negotiators,” the Ceylon Chamber said in a […]
Poll at Economic Summit: strong support for PPPs; freeing up trade
Aug 15, 2016 (LBO) – Participants at the recently concluded Sri Lanka Economic Summit are optimistic about the government’s ability to deliver economic results in the next four years, but are critical of the progress made so far and have mixed views about Budget 2017, according to a survey conducted at the event. The Ceylon […]
Sri Lanka sovereign yield falls to 5.57 pct, strong foreign interest
Aug 15, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s 10-year sovereign bond yield dropped to 5.57 percent on Monday from initial coupon of 6.825 percent indicating strong demand from international investors for emerging market bonds. The 5-year sovereign issue has similarly fallen to 4.75 percent from 5.75 percent, with ICBC Standard Bank and Mashreq Bank of Qater […]
Indian officials to visit in two weeks for ETCA talks
Aug 15, 2016 (LBO) – A delegation from India is due to arrive in Sri Lanka within the next few weeks for discussions on the proposed Economic and Technology Co-operation Agreement (ETCA). The Deputy High Commissioner for India to Sri Lanka Arindam Bagchi said this at the Sri Lanka PLAST 2016 Expo held at the […]
Sri Lanka blocks sale of freehold land in USD1.4 bln Chinese deal
Aug 15, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government on Friday agreed a new version of its $1.4 billion real estate agreement with China after changing the terms and blocking the outright sale of land – part of a project covering a square mile right next to the capital’s port, Reuters reported. Since coming to power […]
Sri Lanka to develop labour, attract workers overseas: PM
Aug 12, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that it is time for a new human resource policy to go hand in hand with the economic development plan which will be outlined soon. “Skilled human capital is essential to harness the key advantages of Sri Lanka like the strategic geographic location, […]
Sri Lanka gets USD128mn ADB loan for water and waste water management
Aug 11, 2016 (LBO) – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will give a 128 million US dollar loan for a greater Colombo water and wastewater management improvement investment program to assist achieve providing safe water and full sanitation coverage. “The investment program will improve Colombo city dwellers’ quality of life and will cater to the […]
Sri Lanka expects USD671mn BOP surplus for 2016: Finance Minister
Aug 11, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake told Parliament Thursday that the government expects 671 million US dollars worth surplus in the overall balance of payment account for 2016. Karunanayake said the government forecasts around 11,374 million US dollars of foreign exchange earnings and 10,703 million US dollars foreign exchange payments […]
Sri Lanka adopts Swiss procedure to handle unsolicited proposals
Aug 11, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s cabinet on Tuesday decided to include the “Swiss challenge” procedure in the government procurement guidelines to be followed on unsolicited proposals. A Swiss challenge is a form of public procurement which requires an authority which has received an unsolicited bid to publish the bid and invite third parties […]