Sri Lanka firms find ways to battle tough times

Jan 27, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lankan firms can ride out tough times by maintaining a lean culture, grabbing opportunities that are present in such periods and becoming more responsive to customer needs, top executives said. “Whether you are in tough times or not, it is important to have a lean culture,” Hilmy Cader, head […]

Sri Lanka gets Hungarian credit for Colombo water supply

Jan 25, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will sign up export-import credits of 34 million Euros from Hungary to rehabilitate two water treatment plants supplying the capital Colombo, information minister Keheliya Rambukwelle said.The Hungarian Export Import Bank will provide 16.714 million US dollars to rehabilitate a treatment plant in Labugama and 17.383 million to a […]

Sri Lanka BOI appoints new chief

Jan 24, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment said Lakshman Jayaweera, a Sydney based chemical engineer and entrepreneur, had been appointed as its chairman and director general. The appointment of a person with an overseas private sector background will help Sri Lanka attract investment at a time when global foreign direct investments have […]

Sri Lanka sets 25 year minimum age for maids to Saudi

Jan 24, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has set a minimum age of 25 years for women seeking to work as maid in Saudi Arabia and 23 years for another seven Middle Eastern countries, information minister Keheliya Rambukwelle said.Rambukwelle said the government would like to phase out sending women as domestic workers gradually. The requirement […]

‘s finance and economic ministry on trade

Jan 22, 2013 (LBO) – India will begin talks with Sri Lanka’s finance and economic ministry to develop “a framework for a special economic partnership” a joint statement released after a meeting between delegations headed by foreign ministers of the two countries said.“[T]he two sides decided to take several steps to further deepen trade, tourism […]

‘s central bank holds rates, warns against SOE credit

Jan 17, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s policy rate at which liquidity is injected to the market will remain at 9.5 percent following a 25 basis point rate cut last month, the Central Bank said, but warned against rising credit to state enterprises. The Central Bank said the exchange rate has appreciated 5.3 percent against […]

Sri Lanka growth to pick up to 6.8-pct in 2013: World Bank

Jan 16, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s economic growth will pick up to 6.8 percent in 2013 helped renewed external demand, better agriculture output, the World Bank said in a report on global economic prospects. Energy subsidies were also high in India. India’s rupee weakened over the past year amid central bank intervention. Large volumes […]

Sri Lanka business chambers warn against CJ impeachment

Jan 10, 2013 (LBO) – A move by Sri Lanka’s ruling coalition to impeach chief justice Shirani Bandaranaike through a controversial process which was decided as illegal by courts will harm the country, key business chambers said. She has denied the charges and expressed willingness to face a tribunal where rules of natural justice prevailed […]

Sri Lanka foreign holder ceiling on gilts to stay: CB Governor

Jan 07, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is keeping a ceiling on foreign holdings of Treasuries at 12.5 percent of outstanding for 2013, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said.Rupee bonds sold in the secondary market are cleared through the domestic monetary base, putting pressure on the domestic credit and through that on the exchange rate […]

Sri Lanka entering 2013 with better prospects: Treasury Secretary

Jan 05, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is entering 2013 with an improving external environment, a stable exchange rate and favourable weather for agriculture, compared to last year, Treasury Secretary P B Jayasundera said.“Though there have been severe floods, the damage has been minimal as far as production activities are concerned,” Jayasundera told reporters. “All […]

Sri Lanka to get US$290mn soft loan from Korea

Jan 05, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will get up to 290 million US dollars from Korea for renewable energy and infrastructure under a framework agreement signed last week, the Korean embassy in Colombo said.The Government of Korea had recently given 70 million US dollars to the Sri Lankan Government as grants from KOICA assistance […]

Sri Lanka to charge retrospective taxes on converted vehicles

Jan 04, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is set to charge millions of rupees of taxes on a retrospective basis from owners of pick-up trucks and jeeps who have converted them under existing rules, according to a new cabinet decision.In free countries with strong constitutional guarantees of liberty to citizens, so called ex post facto […]

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