Category: Economy
IMF wants Sri Lanka to raise income tax, VAT rates, minimize exemptions & adopt cost-recovery energy pricing
IMF Executive Board encourages Sri Lankan authorities to reform state-owned enterprises and adopt cost-recovery energy pricing while raising income tax and VAT rates and minimizing exemptions, complemented with revenue administration reform. Concluding the 2021 Article IV Consultation with Sri Lanka, the Executive Directors agreed that a tighter monetary policy stance is needed to contain rising […]
Ceylon Chamber seeks urgent action to restore electricity and fuel supply to avoid economic standstill
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce notes with serious concern the adverse effects brought on its members and all sectors of the economy in general as a result of the ongoing interruptions to the supply of electricity coupled with frequent disruptions to the availability of fuel. The Chamber is of the view that these issues are […]
Sri Lanka’s exports increased by 13-pct in January 2022
Sri Lanka’s merchandise exports increased by 13% to US$ 1,062.63 Million in January 2022 compared to January 2021 as per the data released by the Sri Lanka Customs. Further, it is a 5.7% increase when compared to January 2020. Table 1: Merchandise Export Performance Values in US$ Mns Exports of Goods Jan 2020 […]
Opinion: Role of divestments in overcoming present economic challenges
By Imesha Dissanayake The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) has very ambitious plans for the country’s economic transformation including an economic growth expectation of more than 6% during five-year period of 2022-2027. The national budget announced in 2022, forecasts public investments to be at 5.1% of GDP. A similar figure was announced during the last […]
Time for home-grown solutions is over; Seek international support immediately: Harsha
The country is in complete disarray today. Fuel is rationed at pumps, daily power cuts across the island, shortage of dollars to import essentials including medicine, food is to be rationed next, a current Parliamentarian and former Minister said. “Collapse is imminent if we continue to go this way, it is almost similar to a […]
EPF & ETF will not be subjected to Surcharge Tax: Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa
Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa has informed the Cabinet of Ministers that the Employees Provident Fund and the Employees Trust Fund are not included in the 2022 budget proposal regarding the imposition of a 25% surcharge tax on individuals and companies with a net profit of over Rs. 2000 million for the year 2021. Finance Minister […]
Ceylon Chamber of Commerce requests Government to reconsider Surcharge Tax Bill
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce earnestly requests the Government to reconsider some of these provisions before it is submitted for approval by Parliament and extends its support to develop alternative proposals to ensure the revenue targets are met. Full Statement The membership of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce notes serious concerns on the provisions of […]
We stand ready to discuss options if Sri Lanka requests financial support: IMF
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reiterates that they are standing ready to discuss options if Sri Lanka requests financial support. Speaking to journalists at Washington DC headquarters, Gerry Rice of the Communication Department confirmed that they have not yet received a request for financial support from the Government of Sri Lanka. “We have not received […]
Central Bank launches National Remittance Mobile App
The Central Bank initiated a National Remittance Mobile Application branded as “Lanka Remit” providing Sri Lankans working abroad direct access to the existing remittance channels, as well as facilitate their ability to choose more convenient and cost-effective remittance channels to send money to Sri Lanka. Bank of Ceylon, People’s Bank, Sampath Bank, Hatton National Bank, […]
Opposition SJB opposes imposing 25-pct tax on EPF funds, says Eran
The Opposition is totally opposed to levying a 25% tax on the EPF Fund, said Parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne at a press conference held at the Opposition Leader’s Office yesterday. “This Government has decided in an unprecedented manner to impose a 25% surcharge on the income of the Employees Provident Fund. EPF has never been taxed […]
“Opposition calls on Govt for urgent dialogue with them,” MP Harsha
Opposition parliamentarians have urged President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to initiate a dialogue with them to better understand the current economic issues facing the nation and find solutions together. “We are all in this together,” Dr. Harsha De Silva, an opposition member of parliament said addressing a media briefing yesterday. “The Governor of the Central Bank reiterates […]
“Growing sense of insecurity among people despite years of development growth,” UN report
Global development progress does not automatically lead to a greater sense of security, according to a new United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report on human security released Thursday. New data and analysis in the report, New Threats to Human Security in the Anthropocene, shows that people’s sense of safety and security is at a low […]