Category: Economy
Sri Lanka promises to reform Airline, public sector, fuel pricing to IMF
June 15, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has committed to reforming government finances and the public sector, in its letter of intent to the International Monetary Fund. Structural benchmarks include a “resolution strategy” for SriLankan Airlines by September 2016, in which it will take the loss-making airline off its books. Other reforms include enhancing oversight […]
Sri Lanka must get finances in order: IMF
June 14, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka needs to put its fiscal house in order, the International Monetary Fund said, revealing details of the 1.5 billion dollar 36-month support programme. “There is a clear need to put tax revenues on an upward path as part of a growth-friendly phase of fiscal consolidation and debt reduction,” […]
Sri Lanka foreign reserves at USD5.6 billion end May
June 14, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s official reserves were 5.62 billion dollars at the end of May, down from 6.07 billion dollars end of April, Central Bank data showed. Foreign currency reserves were 4.6 billion dollars, and reserves in Gold were 0.8 billion dollars. The IMF’s first disbursement of SDR 119.894 million (168.1 million […]
ADB, Sri Lanka sign USD2mn grant for flood and landslide relief
Jun 13, 2016 (LBO) – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said they would grant US 2 million dollars to finance relief efforts in the country following the recent floods and landslides which claimed around 100 lives and damaged the homes and livelihoods of thousands more. “Considering the scope of the damage in Sri Lanka and […]
IFC looks to fund Sri Lanka infrastructure, tourism and energy
Jun 13, 2016 (LBO) – The International Finance Corporation, a part of the World Bank group, said they are focusing on financing financially viable projects in Sri Lanka, and highlighted potential areas such as infrastructure, tourism, agribusiness, energy and also finance. “The project IFC gets involved should be viable and also should have a development […]
IMF confirms Sri Lanka has additional Rs1.3 trillion liabilities
June 09, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government has been informed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that they have identified 1.3 trillion rupees (8.9 billion dollars) of additional liabilities as at the end of 2015. Prime Minister told Parliament that the fiscal affairs department of the IMF, with the help of treasury officials, recently […]
Sri Lanka to introduce capital gains tax & remove exchange control: PM
June 09, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government will remove exchange control regulations before the end of this year with improved inflows coming into the country, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said. Speaking at the debate of the no-confidence motion against Finance Minister, the Premier said the proposal will be implemented with the 2017 budget proposals. […]
Sri Lanka approves funds for reservoirs and Southern roads
Jun 08, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s cabinet has approved several reservoir and road development projects including the lower MalwathuOya reservoir and roads under the Southern transport projects. “The proposed lower MalwathuOya reservoir project will directly benefit people in Anuradhapura, Vavuniya, and Mannar districts and will facilitate 12,425 hectares of land under the Yoda Wewa and […]
Sri Lanka exports, imports decline; trade gap shrinks in February
June 07, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s exports fell 1.7 percent to 887.7 million US dollars in February, while imports fell at a faster 5.9 percent to 1,439.3 million US dollars from a year earlier, official data showed. The trade gap has shrank 11.9 percent to 551.7 million US dollars from a year earlier. On […]
Sri Lanka eyes 10 to 20 year sovereign bond issue
June 07, 2016 (LBO) – Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake told reporters today that the government is looking at a sovereign bond issue with a tenor of 10 to 20 years. Without revealing particulars, Finance Minister said the exact information on the bond issue will be announced in the coming days. Karunanayake also revealed that the […]
‘s comments, jobs report
June 07, 2016 (LBO) – U.S. interest rates may rise gradually after comments from Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen on Monday, along with a surprisingly weak jobs report released on Friday. Yellen she said Friday’s jobs report was “disappointing” and “on balance, concerning,” but cautioned against placing too much significance on one economic report. The […]
Asia stocks hit 5-week high after cautious Yellen
June 7 (Reuters) – Asian shares hit a five-week high on Tuesday after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said U.S. interest rate hikes are likely on the way, held back any reference to the timing. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.5 percent while Japan’s Nikkei average firmed 0.2 percent. The Fed […]