Category: Economy
Central Bank responsible for taking legal action on forensic audit: President’s Secretary
Feb 21, 2020 (LBO) – Secretary to the President, P B Jayasundera has informed COPE Chairman and JVP Parliamentarian Sunil Handunnetti that it is the responsibility of the Central Bank to take legal action on the forensic audit report. Handunnetti wrote to the President last month requesting that the law be implemented based on the […]
Poll: Business impact on Sri Lanka from Novel Coronavirus
By the Economic Intelligence Unit of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce: The outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is having its toll on the global economy with many economists now expecting a larger impact than the SARS outbreak in 2002-03. The outbreak is lowering China’s GDP growth expectations in the first quarter to 4.5%, a […]
Sri Lanka’s export performance in 2019
Feb 20, 2020 (LBO) – Total exports of the country recorded US$ 16.14 Bn in 2019, which comprised of US$ 11.94 Bn Merchandise exports and USD 4.2 Bn of Service exports. The Service exports include `ICT/BPM, Construction, Financial Services and Transport Services include an estimated figure for the last quarter of the year. Export value […]
Sri Lanka foreign reserves show signs of depletion: First Capital Research
Feb 19, 2020 (LBO) – First Capital Research expects Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves to fall to around 7 billion US dollars by June this year due to the debt repayments despite the 1 billion dollar Chinese Loan. Launching the Strategy Report 2020, Head of Research at the First Capital Holdings, Dimantha Mathew emphasized that a […]
Sri Lanka trade deficit widens in Dec 2019
Feb 18, 2020 (LBO) – The deficit in the trade account widened in December 2019 to US dollars 784 million, from US dollars 701 million in December 2018, led by a decline in exports and a growth in imports on a year-on-year basis, the monthly external report said. However, on a cumulative basis, the trade […]
National Salaries Commission established to formulate national policy
Feb 14, 2020 (LBO) – A National Salaries Commission has been established to provide guidance and assistance to the Government in formulating and executing a National Salaries Policy. The Commission has been established by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in accordance with the powers vested upon him under Article 33 of the Constitution. With the establishment of […]
Sri Lanka performs poorly on economic freedom: Focus on open trade crucial: Advocata
Sri Lanka currently ranks 104 out of 162 countries for Economic Freedom (Economic Freedom of the World Index, 2019). This is a 7 step drop from last year’s ranking, 97. The President, in his Independence day address to the nation promised “I not only respect your freedom, but I will work towards improving it and […]
Sri Lanka economy on the mend in 2020 : Will look at new IMF deal
Feb 11, 2020 (LBO) – A revival in economic activity can be expected in 2020 with the support of better fiscal and monetary measures with Sri Lanka also looking at a fresh deal with the IMF, a senior official said. Speaking at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Outlook launch for 2020 the Central Bank […]
Effective Leadership for the New Digital Age
Leaders in this new age need to inspire, engage and lead with optimism. Digital leadership is about empowering others to lead and creating self-organized teams that optimize their day-to-day operations. Leadership is no longer hierarchical – it needs participation, involvement and contribution from everyone.
Primary deficit will widen to 1.9-pct of GDP with new tax cuts & exemptions: IMF Mission
Feb 08, 2020 (LBO) – IMF staff concluding a visit to Sri Lanka said that the country’s primary deficit could widen further to 1.9 percent of GDP in 2020, due to newly implemented tax cuts and exemptions, clearance of domestic arrears, and backloaded capital spending from 2019. The mission reminds that fiscal prudence remains critical […]
Sri Lanka official reserves at USD7.5bn by end January
Feb 07, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s gross official reserves were 7.5 billion US dollars (USD7,526mn) by the end of January, down from 7.6 billion US dollars in December, the latest Central Bank data showed. By the end of January, the foreign currency reserves were 6,516.2 million dollars while the reserve position in the IMF […]
Colombo consumer price based inflation increased to 5.4-pct in January
Feb 01, 2020 (LBO) – Headline inflation as measured by the year-on-year change in the Colombo Consumer Price Index increased to 5.4 percent in January 2020 from 4.8 percent in December 2019, Statistics Department data showed. This was driven by the monthly increase of prices of items in both Food and Non-food categories. Food inflation […]