Category: Economy
Sri Lanka targets USD5 bn FDI in next three years, Malik to visit China
Jan 18, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is targeting five billion US dollars worth of foreign direct investments (FDI) in the next three years, Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade said. “We are targeting 5-6 billion US dollars in FDI the next three and I am quite optimistic that we will get there,” Malik […]
Sri Lanka’s reconciliation process key to its economic success: UK Minister
Jan 14, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka commitment to reconciliation will be a driver of its future economic development, a visiting Minister said. “It is reconciliation that will, I believe, be the bedrock on which Sri Lanka’s future economic success will be built,” Hugo Swire, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in […]
Finance Ministry delays budget proposals on VAT & NBT
Jan 13, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Finance Ministry has suspended implementing the budget proposals on VAT and NBT until the relevant legislative enactments are passed by Parliament. However, considering the cost of living impact, restriction on the exempt supplies applicable on wholesale and retail trade (deemed VAT) is removed with effect from 01.01.2016, the […]
Obama gives last state of the union address
Jan 13, 2016 (LBO) – U.S. President Barack Obama gave his final state of the union address on Tuesday attempting to bridge an optimistic assessment of the nation’s progress with public anxiety over terrorism abroad. In a wide-ranging speech Obama painted a hopeful portrait of the nation after seven years in office. “As frustration grows, […]
Medium term growth prospects for Sri Lanka market: CT CLSA
Jan 12, 2016 (LBO) – The Sri Lankan economy is forecast to grow 6 percent 2016 with fiscal proposals to stimulate manufacturing, export and construction offering growth prospects in the medium term, CT CLSA Securities said in its Sri Lanka Outlook 2016 report. “The 2016E fiscal proposals to stimulate manufacturing, export and construction sectors are […]
An investor to park USD1 bln in dollar deposits, says Finance Minister
Jan 12, 2016 (LBO) – An investor has promised to park 1 billion dollars in dollar deposits in Sri Lanka to help the island nation defend its currency, according to a media report quoting the finance minister. The investor was Belgian and was working with a Sri Lankan partner, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake told Reuters. […]
Sri Lanka foreign reserves at USD7.3 bln end Dec
Jan 11, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s official foreign reserves was slightly higher at 7.29 billion dollars at the end of December, up from 7.28 billion dollars at the end of November, figures released by the Central Bank shows. This figure is down from 8.21 billion dollars in foreign reserves at the end of 2014. […]
Norway pledges support for recently resettled communities in Sri Lanka
Jan 08, 2016, (LBO) – The Government of Norway and UNDP Sri Lanka are partnering to improve access to justice and livelihood opportunities of the recently resettled communities in the Jaffna District, a statement said. Country Director of the United Nations Development Programme [UNDP] in Sri Lanka, Joern Soerensen and Ambassador of Norway to Sri […]
Sri Lanka can’t continue as low income country: PM
Jan 08, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka should take note of global economic conditions and its own shortcomings which will enable the island to become a high income nation in the region, Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe said. “Sri Lanka has a unique chance to go on a unique journey after the end of a decade’s […]
Stiglitz outlines carbon, inelastic, land, congestion taxes at economic forum
Jan 08, 2016 (LBO) – Renowned economist Joseph Stiglitz, speaking at the Sri Lanka Economic Forum, explained some of the ways the government could raise tax revenue by taxing environmental pollution, inelastic goods, land, consumption and road congestion. “What is the best way to increase tax revenue?” the nobel laureate asked a packed forum of […]
Emerging Asia leverage, capital outflows constrain policy space: Fitch
Jan 08, 2015 (LBO) – Emerging Asia’s private consumption has remained resilient in the face of weaker external demand but investment has slowed down more substantially, particularly in the private sector, Fitch ratings said. The full statement follows Fitch Ratings-Hong Kong-07 January 2016: Fitch Ratings says Emerging Asia’s (EM Asia) private consumption has remained resilient in the […]
Every single day is a lost day, PM declares
Jan 07, 2016 (LBO) – Speaking to a packed house of corporate leaders, government officials, ministers, civil society leaders, diplomats and visiting economists, Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe underscored the need for urgent action to move the nation forward, in response to a question posed by Harvard University’s Professor Ricardo Haussmann. Previously in his […]