Category: Economy

Feb 22, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s loans from commercial banks to private businesses expanded in December 2009 continuing a credit recovery that started in September, the latest official data shows. Central bank credit to government which fell to a low of 69. 9 billion rupees in September had risen to 109 billion rupees in […]

Feb 21, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s revenue office will stop refunding value added taxes (VAT) to 1725 firms on the grounds that they have not submitted documents on time, a media report said. A VAT regime works effectively when there is a flat rate (such as 20 percent) and all sectors are included. The […]

WASHINGTON, February 18, 2010 (AFP) – The US Federal Reserve said Thursday it was increasing the interest rate it charged on emergency loans to banks in a move to normalize lending after radical measures to jolt the economy from recession. “The modifications are not expected to lead to tighter financial conditions for households and businesses […]

Feb 17, 2010 (LBO) – A Chinese economic delegation from its Yunnan province is visiting Sri Lanka to study the economic and investment climate in Sri Lanka, the Board of Investment said. The island’s investment promotion agency said in a statement the 15-member delegation consists of senior Chinese economists and researchers. The BOI statement quoted […]

Feb 16, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has held policy rates steady in February as inflation accelerated, the budget deficit expanded and excess bank reserves were created through a ‘quantity easing’ exercise as debt was monetized. Central Bank said it was holding its main ‘reverse repo’ policy rate through which money is being injected to […]

Feb 15, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s budget deficit has hit an estimated 8.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in the first ten months of the year, despite a recovery in revenues as expenses grew at a faster pace, the latest data showed. Up to October the government was able to borrow domestically without […]

BRUSSELS, February 15, 2010 (AFP) – European Union nations decided Monday to withdraw preferential trade benefits from Sri Lanka due to “significant shortcomings” on human rights issues, the EU Commission announced. Sri Lanka gains about 150 million dollars annually due to preferential tariffs, according to trade estimates. The island’s clothing industry is the main beneficiary, […]

Feb 11, 2010 (LBO) – The International Monetary Fund is looking at the direction of fiscal reforms to be set by a budget in April to continue its program in Sri Lanka, an official said ahead of a mission due in the island this month. Sri Lanka went for a program with the IMF in […]

Feb 09, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has wrapped up a 300 million US dollar loan to buy “armaments and dual purpose technology” from Russia during a visit by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, a media report said. Russia and China have been the main arms suppliers to Sri Lanka during a 30-year war with Tamil Tiger […]

Feb 08, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will appoint a dredging contractor to bring up three million cubic metres of sea sand to supply the domestic market which is running out of river sand and also for export. Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Company (SLLR & DC), a state agency, holds the sole rights […]

LONDON, February 7, 2010 (AFP) – Britain is to cut the number of visas it hands out to foreign students in a bid to stop people breaking the rules by working illegally, officials said Saturday. The change, which comes after Prime Minister Gordon Brown ordered a review of the system at the end of last […]

Feb 05, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s ‘apparent lack of urgency’ to stop rising inflation and post election spending may put pressure on a deal agreed with the International Monetary Fund, Standard & Poor’s, a rating agency has said. President Mahinda Rajapaksa, re-elected with a stronger mandate, had a “unique opportunity” to “implement comprehensive fiscal […]