Category: Economy
Sri Lanka restricts vehicle imports for MPs, Ministries, state sector employees & others
Sept 29, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government in order to ease the pressure on the Sri Lankan rupee has decided to take the following measures temporarily effective from midnight today (29). – Issuing of Vehicle permits to Members of Parliament will be suspended for a period of one year. – Importation of vehicles for […]
Opinion: Central Bank intervention likely to exacerbate foreign selling of Sri Lanka bonds
September 29, 2018 (LBO) – The main subject of discussion on the Colombo cocktail circuit has been the Sri Lanka Rupee (LKR) and its significant recent weakness against the U.S. dollar (USD). The LKR seems to have halted its slide, hovering just under Rs170 to the dollar. This recent price stability in the LKR is […]
IMF staff mission concludes visit to Sri Lanka; stresses on reforms
Sept 28, 2018 (LBO) – Authorities should accelerate reforms to strengthen the Sri Lankan economy’s resilience to domestic and external shocks, given still significant vulnerabilities, concluding a recent visit, an IMF staff mission said. The IMF staff mission led by Manuela Goretti said the authorities should sustain reform efforts to support trade, investment, and inclusive […]
ADB provides USD300Mn for elevated highway
Sept 28, 2018 (LBO) – The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) has approved a US 300 million dollar loan to help in the construction of about 5.3 kilometers (km) of elevated toll highway with related facilities between the New Kelani Bridge (NKB) and Galle Face in central Colombo in Sri Lanka. The new highway is expected […]
Sri Lanka launches first social impact funds to support social entrepreneurs
Sept 27, 2018 (LBO) – Two Memoranda of Understanding were signed today in New York, launching Sri Lanka’s first social impact funds aimed at supporting social entrepreneurs access innovative financing, to help achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.The signings were witnessed by Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana and Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator, at a special […]
Collapse of rupee and yahapalana govt.’s economic mismanagement: MR
Sept 26, 2018 (LBO) – The Rupee has depreciated steadily against the US Dollar ever since the yahapalana government came into power – a trend which has now accelerated alarmingly. The value of the US Dollar which was Rs. 131 at the end of 2014 when I left office is now over Rs.170 and continuing […]
Appropriation Bill to parliament second week of October
Sept 25, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s cabinet has approved the Appropriation Bill proposed by Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera, to be presented in Parliament during the second week of October, a statement said. The Appropriation Bill estimates, the total expenditure for 2019 without budget proposals is 4,376 billion rupees, the latest statement on cabinet decisions said. […]
“Sri Lanka Socio-Economic Data – 2018”, now available
Sept 24, 2018 (LBO) – “Sri Lanka Socio-Economic Data – 2018”, the annually published data folder of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, is now available for public information. The current data folder is the 41st volume of the series. This easy- to- carry data folder contains information categorized under 14 topics, namely, Country Profile; […]
‘s rupee hits record lows as Central Bank hold rates
Sept 21, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s rupee hit an all time low of 168.65/169.00 to the US dollar at the close of day Thursday down from 167.10 the day before as the Central Bank of Sri Lanka held rates. Sri Lanka’s Minister of Finance Mangala Samaraweera releasing a statement said that Sri Lanka has been […]
World Bank says action needed to prevent impacts from climate change in Sri Lanka
Sept 20, 2018 (LBO) – Rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns pose a threat to Sri Lanka and could reduce GDP and living standards, a new World Bank report says. The report South Asia’s Hotspots: The Impact of Temperature and Precipitation Changes on Living Standards flags that almost half of South Asia’s population now lives in vulnerable […]
‘s fruits and vegetables
Sept 20, 2018 (LBO) – A Memorendem of Understanding has been signed between the Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs and the Government of India, to commence the construction of the largest cold storage in Sri Lanka for vegetables and fruits. According to the MoU signed at the Indian High Commission in Colombo, with […]
Cabinet nod for 500MW LNG plant in Kerawalapitiya
Sept 20, 2018 (LBO) – – The Ceylon Electricity Board has been given cabinet approval to sign an agreement with India’s NTC to build and 500 Meggawatt liquefied natural gas power plant, a cabinet statement said. The new LNG plant will be built in Kerawalapitiya and is an agreement between the two governments. The cabinet proposal was […]