Category: Economy
Ceylon Chamber Urges Government to Reconsider SVAT Abolition
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce is urging the Government to reconsider its recent decision to abolish the Simplified Value Added Tax (SVAT) system given the impact it will have on the functioning of the export industry. This comes at a critical time when Sri Lanka has seen a significant dip in exports of over 10% […]
Imposing 30-pct tax on EPF/ETF makes workers paupers as it applies to their savings: Eran Wickramaratne
The present government’s income tax policy to attract an effective tax rate of 30% would require a salary above Rs. 500,000 per month. Probably 90% of the working population draws less than 500,000 per month. This government is now amending the income tax laws to impose a 30% income tax on EPF/ETF. This tax will […]
Sri Lanka’s merchandise exports surpasses USD 1 billion mark in July
Sri Lanka’s merchandise exports increased by 2.18 % to US$ 1,027.2 Million in July 2023 compared to June 2023 as per the provisional data released by the Sri Lanka Customs. However, it is a 11.79 % decrease when compared to the value recorded in July 2022. This declining of merchandise exports is due to the […]
UNDP provides recommendations on realigning & leveraging taxes to achieve SDGs in Sri Lanka
Taxation is intricately linked to gender equality and is a fundamental foundation to address intersectional inequality challenges. Accordingly, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is supporting governments to establish gender-responsive tax systems, which involves carrying out national level diagnostic assessment on tax and gender; through research and capacity building; adapting the Gender Equality Seal for […]
CCC promotes responsible investment practices with webinar on sustainability standards for ESG financing
Aiming to create awareness about the growing significance of sustainable development and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) financing, The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce recently conducted a webinar on ESG Financing and the impact of sustainability standards in the financial sector on access to finance for businesses. The session aimed to enhance the knowledge and understanding […]
CSE and stockbroker firms take lead in attracting Indian firms
“Invest Sri Lanka” is a series of forums organized by the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) in partnership with Stock Broker Firms, to promote foreign portfolio investment into the Sri Lankan Stock Market by showcasing investment opportunities in leading Sri Lankan listed companies. The investor forums have previously conducted in key foreign markets, including the UK, […]
Central Bank launches Web Portal of Regional Development Department
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka Launched the dedicated Web Portal of the Regional Development Department (RDD Web Portal) on 04.08.2023, signifying its strategic orientation towards financial inclusion initiatives. RDD Web Portal was developed with the financial assistance of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a longstanding partner of the Central Bank, in promoting financial inclusion […]
JICA & NPD to improve Effective Public Investment Management for Economic revival of Sri Lanka
On 2nd of August, the detailed discussion on the progress and way forward was held on the ongoing technical cooperation project named, “Project for Capacity Development for Effective Public Investment Management” between Department of National Planning, Ministry of Finance, Economic stabilization, and National policies (NPD), other line ministries and JICA at the 3rd Joint Coordination […]
Driving customer-centric innovation in challenging times
By Sabry Ansar, Director, Head of CE Business – Samsung Electronics, Sri Lanka and Maldives In times of unprecedented challenges, the significance of innovation and adaptability in meeting customer demands becomes paramount. As the Director of Samsung Sri Lanka and Maldives, I worked alongside a dedicated team to recognize the crucial role of understanding customer […]
‘s path to sustainable growth: Embracing a social market economy
● Sri Lanka’s Economic Challenge: A stark contrast between Tamil Nadu’s expected growth of 14% and Sri Lanka’s negative 3.5% this year. ● Ambitious Goal of High-Income Country: President’s vision to achieve high-income status by 2048, requiring 6.5% annual growth from now onwards. ● Bridging the Skill Gap: Concerns over the volume of skilled labor produced in India, […]
CFA Society Sri Lanka hosts CEO forum ‘Rebooting Sri Lanka Economy”
A CEO Forum organised by the CFA Society Sri Lanka (CFASSL) was held in Colombo recently with a focus on ‘Rebooting the Sri Lankan Economy – Post-Domestic Debt Optimisation’. The event was attended by regulators, senior government officials, business leaders, and CFA Charterholders. The forum was aimed at fostering a constructive dialogue among regulators and […]
EU, AFD, and World Bank support Strengthening Public Finance Management in Sri Lanka
The Government of Sri Lanka and the World Bank, European Union (EU) and Agence Française de Développement (AFD) have recently signed financing agreements to help strengthen Sri Lanka’s management of public finances. The grant of EUR 9.8 million for Public Finance Management aims to support improving economic governance, transparency, and accountability in how public finances […]