Category: Economy
SAARC looks to go high tech to boost regional trade : Minister
Oct 15, 2018 (LBO) – Despite low trade within the region, there is potential for using information and communication technologies to contribute to social and economic progress across South Asian countries, Minister of Industry and Commerce said. “Despite the challenges, the e-commerce and related sectors in the South Asian countries offer huge business and investment […]
Central Bank introduces whistleblowing policy & code of conduct for employees
Oct 15, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank said a whistleblowing policy and a new code of conduct for all employees have been introduced as part of the execution of recommendations included in the bond commission report. Releasing a statement on the progress they made with regard to the recommendations of the bond commission […]
Sri Lanka introduces national standard for mobile QR code payments
Oct 12, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank has introduced a National Quick Response (QR) Code Standard for local currency payments with the aim of establishing a standard for payments carried out through mobile phones. The Central Bank said this new standard called LANKAQR came into effect from this week. All Licensed Banks, Licensed […]
Central Bank says Cabraal’s comments on rupee depreciation misleading
Oct 12, 2018 (LBO) – Central Bank says the allegations made by former Governor Nivard Cabraal in a recent newspaper article that the Central Bank has neglected its statutory duty and the recent depreciation of the rupee could have been better managed are misleading. “The exchange rate pressure that is currently observed is not limited […]
Sri Lanka revises fuel prices: Diesel not increased
Oct 10, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government increased the prices of petrol and super diesel with effect from midnight Wednesday. Issuing a statement the Ministry of Finance said the price of 92 octane petrol will be increased by six rupees to 155 rupees a litre.95 octane petrol will go up by eight rupees to […]
Price controls dominate political debate but may not help consumers: Report
Oct 10, 2018 (LBO) – A new report by The Advocata Institute, titled “Price Controls in Sri Lanka: Political Theatre” finds that consumer price controls lead to unintended outcomes including lower quality.Politicians have imposed price controls on a variety of items in the belief that capping prices will lower costs but our survey shows that […]
Sri Lanka FM interview ahead of IMF and WB annual meet on global trade, economy
Oct 10, 2018 (LBO) – Global finance and reserve bank chiefs will gather this week in Bali, Indonesia for the annual gathering of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank amid rising concern over trade war and risks of global economic crisis.Sri Lanka’s Minister of Finance and Communications, Mangala Samaraweera is chair of the Groups […]
Sri Lanka earnings from tourism up: Workers’ remittances decline marginally in July 2018
Oct 09, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s external sector recorded a moderate performance in July 2018. The trade deficit continued to widen in July 2018 (year-on-year) with higher import expenditure despite export earnings surpassing US dollars 1 billion during the month. Earnings from tourism recorded a modest growth while workers’ remittances declined marginally, on a […]
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 […]