Category: Economy
Sri Lanka revenue reform a step toward stronger finances: Fitch
Nov 16, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s budget 2017 proposed tax hikes will strengthen the revenue base although some of the revenue assumptions look optimistic and pose risks to projections, the Fitch rating agency said. “Sri Lanka’s budget for 2017 is broadly in line with the targets set out under its IMF programme, and contains […]
Sri Lanka foreign reserves drop by USD395mn in Oct: Central Bank
Nov 11, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s official reserves dropped 394.6 million US dollars to 6.1 billion dollars in October, down from 6.5 billion dollars at the end of September, official Central Bank data showed. Foreign currency reserves were 5.1 billion US dollars and reserves in Gold were 0.91 billion US dollars. Central Bank has […]
Sri Lanka to introduce new law protecting foreign reserves
Nov 11, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has proposed to introduce a new Foreign Exchange Act to protect foreign reserves from irregular transactions. Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake told Parliament yesterday that the current Exchange Control Act will be repealed for this purpose. An Investment Inflow Management Act will be introduced to facilitate the inward remittance […]
Education a priority, free tablets for students: Budget
Nov 11, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will prioritize education and give free tablet computers to students and teachers in 2017, the government said in budget proposals for next year. Almost 175,000 A Level students and 28,000 teachers will receive tablet computers in 2017, for which five billion rupees has been allocated. Sri Lanka has […]
Sri Lanka budget 2017: tax and revenue proposals
Nov 11, 2016 (LBO) – Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake in his Budget 2017 speech in parliament Thursday proposed several measures to improve government revenue. “To increase the direct tax component to 40 percent from around 20 percent at present and gradually reduce the indirect taxes to 60 percent from around 80 percent in the medium term,” […]
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Budget 2017 *** Live Coverage ***
* Finance Minister concludes budget speech * Committee of private and public sector to ensure budget implementation * Corporate income tax to be revised to a 3-tier structure 14%, 28% and 40%. WHT increased from 10% to 14% * Tax incentive for exporting of vehicles * Income tax to be streamlined * Reduce indirect taxes […]
Sri Lanka economy expected to grow 6.3-pct in 2017: CB
Nov 10, 2016 (LBO) –Sri Lanka’s economic growth is likely to be around 5 to 5.5 percent this year and expected to increase to 6.3 percent in 2017 and to grow further thereafter at an annual rate of 7 percent or above, the Central Bank said. Releasing its half yearly publication, ‘Recent Economic Developments: Highlights […]
Sri Lanka govt approves phase 2 of Central Expressway, only single bidders
Nov 09, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s cabinet has given the nod to build the second section of Central Expressway which runs from Mirigama to Kurunegala for 39.29 kilometers. The contract in this regard has been divided into four (04) packages and only one set of bidders submitted proposals for each of four civil work contract packages. […]
Budget 2017 will rectify all anomalies: Finance Minister
Nov 09, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Minister of Finance said that the 2017 Budget will be a pro-growth budget which will focus on the deficiencies for the last several years. “Accordingly the budget would have proposals to rectify all the anomalies that are there to deal with export sector to create job,” Ravi Karunanayake, […]
Budget 2017 will bring change to Sri Lanka: Ravi K
Nov 08, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Budget 2017 will reduce cost of living and strengthen investments, the Finance Minister said. “Steps have been taken in the forthcoming budget to reduce cost of living while measures have been taken to strengthen investment in the country,” Ravi Karunanayake, Finance minister said following meetings with two former […]
India, Sri Lanka hold ministerial talks on fishermen
Nov 07, 2016 (LBO) – India and Sri Lanka have held ministerial level talks to find solutions to fishermen’s issues. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Radha Mohan Singh met with the Sri Lankan Minister for Foreign Affairs Mangala Samaraweera and Minister for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Mahinda […]