Category: Economy
Sri Lanka’s debt higher than B, BB rated countries, Fitch data shows
June 21, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s current debt levels are higher than its ‘B’ median peers or the previously rated ‘BB’ median, data from the ratings agency Fitch shows. Sri Lanka’s external funding requirement too is high compared to peers, although it performs better in certain governance metrics and HDI indices. Supporting the rating, […]
”s rating to negative from stable
June 20, 2016 (LBO) – Moody’s Investors Service has today affirmed the government of Sri Lanka’s foreign currency issuer and senior unsecured sovereign ratings at B1 and changed the outlook to negative from stable. Two key drivers underpin the change in outlook to negative from stable, Moody’s Investors Service said. 1) Our expectation of a further weakening in […]
Meeting IMF criteria key to improve ratings: Fitch Ratings
June 17, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka still needs to refinance close to 3 billion US dollars for the rest of 2016 and remains vulnerable to shifts in investor sentiment, Fitch Ratings said. Delivering a presentation at a forum, Associate Director of Fitch APAC Sovereigns Sagarika Chandra emphasized that progress on IMF program criteria will […]
Türk Exim Bank to allocate USD350mn credit line to Sri Lanka
June 16, 2016 (LBO) – Türk Exim Bank is to allocate a credit line of 350 million US dollars to the Sri Lankan government with a view to further enhancing relations through financial cooperation. A MoU between Sri Lanka and Turkey will be signed in the near future in this regard, the Foreign Minister Mangala […]
‘s business chamber calls for awards applications
June 16, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Women’s Chamber of Industry & Commerce (WCIC) has called for applications for the ‘Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.’ In its 9th year, the awards will recognize high flyers in micro, small, medium and large industry categories, as well as new categories: Woman Exporter of the Year, Most […]
Sri Lanka GDP expands 5.5-pct in first quarter 2016
June 15, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s economy expanded 5.5 percent in the first quarter of 2016 from a year earlier, led by industry and services, the state statistics office said. In the first quarter of 2016, gross domestic product reached up to 2,088,024 million rupees against 1,978,609 million rupees recorded first quarter of 2015. […]
Sri Lanka cabinet approves reintroduction of capital gains tax
Jun 15, 2016 (LBO) – The cabinet committee on economic management has agreed to reintroduce the capital gains tax (CGT) to rectify the increase in the inequality of income distribution, a cabinet proposal said. “The cabinet also approved to draft a new capital gains tax regime,” it said. During the last few decades there has been a […]
Sri Lanka’s NBT should be abolished, minimal exemptions for VAT: IMF
June 15, 2016 (LBO) – International Monetary Fund’s latest staff report has suggested that Sri Lanka should minimize the exemptions provided under the Value Added Tax system, while abolishing the Nation Building Tax. The report has highlighted that the country needs an appropriate registration threshold and the degree of base erosion should be reviewed. Sri […]
Sri Lanka promises to reform Airline, public sector, fuel pricing to IMF
June 15, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has committed to reforming government finances and the public sector, in its letter of intent to the International Monetary Fund. Structural benchmarks include a “resolution strategy” for SriLankan Airlines by September 2016, in which it will take the loss-making airline off its books. Other reforms include enhancing oversight […]
Sri Lanka must get finances in order: IMF
June 14, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka needs to put its fiscal house in order, the International Monetary Fund said, revealing details of the 1.5 billion dollar 36-month support programme. “There is a clear need to put tax revenues on an upward path as part of a growth-friendly phase of fiscal consolidation and debt reduction,” […]
Sri Lanka foreign reserves at USD5.6 billion end May
June 14, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s official reserves were 5.62 billion dollars at the end of May, down from 6.07 billion dollars end of April, Central Bank data showed. Foreign currency reserves were 4.6 billion dollars, and reserves in Gold were 0.8 billion dollars. The IMF’s first disbursement of SDR 119.894 million (168.1 million […]
ADB, Sri Lanka sign USD2mn grant for flood and landslide relief
Jun 13, 2016 (LBO) – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said they would grant US 2 million dollars to finance relief efforts in the country following the recent floods and landslides which claimed around 100 lives and damaged the homes and livelihoods of thousands more. “Considering the scope of the damage in Sri Lanka and […]