Category: Economy
Sri Lanka to integrate SMEs into formal sector to facilitate their growth : Fin Min
Oct 09, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Minister of Finance said the government aims to integrate small and medium scale enterprises into an official sector and establish hard and soft infrastructure frameworks to facilitate their growth. “Every country in the world has identified the importance of SMEs in their economies as a practical instrument in achieving […]
Palm Oil industry rejects vilification of crop as “baseless and unscientific”
Oct 08, 2018 (LBO) – The vilification of oil palm in Sri Lanka on the grounds of the crop’s purported adverse impact on the environment is completely unjustifiable, given that the extent of land under oil palm is just 1.1 per cent of the extent under traditional crops – tea, rubber and coconut, an industry body […]
‘s exports to South Asia Region: WB
Oct 08, 2018 (LBO) – If trade barriers are overcome, trade within South Asia can increase three-fold, from 23 billion US dollars to 67 billion US dollars, suggests a World Bank report. “Sri Lanka has the potential to more than double its exports to South Asia,” the new ‘A Glass Half Full: The Promise of […]
‘s stock/bond markets approach $ 500mn for 2018
October 8, 2018 (LBO) – Net foreign selling of Sri Lanka’s stocks and bonds is nearing US$500 million dollars for 2018. The outflows have been a significant factor in the devaluation of Sri Lanka’s currency and declining foreign reserves. Year to date in 2018, net foreign selling of Sri Lanka’s stocks and government securities stands […]
Sri Lanka targets USD2.5Bn FDI in 2018
Oct 05, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is targeting 2.5 billion US dollars worth of foreign direct investments (FDI) for 2018 from 1.63 billion US dollars in 2017, a senior official said. “Our target is 2.1 billion US dollars and we are trying to stretch it to 2.5 billion US dollars,” Mangala Yapa, member, Board of Directors, Board […]
President, NEC hold discussions on devaluation of rupee and economy
Oct 05, 2018 (LBO) – Special attention was drawn at a discussion regarding the promotion of Sri Lanka’s export sector and managing the devaluation of the rupee by the National Economic Council, headed by President Maithripala Sirisena. The NEC gathered under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat, Wednesday with the participation […]
Sri Lanka tea prices marginally up in Sept 2018
Oct 04, 2018 (LBO) – Auction average for the month of September 2018 totalled Rs.537.77 compared to Rs.534.02 of August 2018 showing a marginal increase of Rs.03.75 month on month, a new report said. “However in comparison to September 2017 average of Rs.635.40 it shows a substantial decrease of Rs.97.63,” Forbes & Walker Tea Brokers said […]
‘s consumer durable retailers
Oct 03, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s consumer durable retailers’ operating cash flow is likely to weaken following new government regulations that impose a 100 percent cash margin on the import of most types of consumer durables, Fitch Ratings says. The credit profiles of rated retailers, such as Singer (Sri Lanka) PLC (A-(lka)/Stable) and Abans […]
Govt. expenditure for 2019 Rs.4,376Bn : Budget deficit 4.1-pct
Oct 02, 2018 (LBO) – As per the Appropriation Bill, which was presented to the Cabinet recently by Finance and Media Minister, Mangala Samaraweera, next year’s annual state expenditure will be 4,376 billion rupee.The budget deficit will be 644 billion rupees, 4.1 percent of Gross Domestic Product, the Finance Ministry said issuing a statement. The Government […]
Sri Lanka reserves at USD7.3bn; used only USD184mn YTD to defend rupee
Oct 02, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank says the country currently has 7.3 billion US dollars worth foreign reserves and expects to close this year with around 8.3 billion dollars of reserves. Senior Deputy Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said that at the beginning of this year they expected to end the year with close […]
Sri Lankan rupee depreciates 9.7-pct YTD; CB says observed stabilizing exchange rate
Oct 02, 2018 (LBO) – Recent measures are expected to ease the excessive demand for foreign currency and therefore the pressure in the domestic foreign exchange market as already observed in the stabilizing exchange rate, the Central Bank said releasing its monetary policy review. In line with several other peer countries such as India, Philippines, […]
Central Bank of Sri Lanka maintains policy interest rates at current levels
Oct 02, 2018 (LBO) – Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, at its meeting held on 01 October 2018, has decided to maintain policy interest rates at their current levels. Accordingly, the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) of the Central Bank will remain at 7.25 […]