Category: Economy
‘s female unemployment on the rise
Aug 06, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s unemployment in the first quarter of 2018, rose to 4.5 percent, up from 4.1 percent a year earlier, with female unemployment up to 7.4 percent in the quarter from 6.5 percent in 2017, official data shows. The estimated economically active population is about 8.3 million in the first quarter 2018. Of […]
Sri Lanka keeps rates unchanged
Aug 03, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has decided to keep policy rates unchanged with the aim of stabilising inflation at mid-single digit levels in the medium term, thereby contributing to a high and sustainable growth trajectory of the island economy. “In arriving at its decision, the Board carefully considered the current and expected domestic […]
Finance Min calls for new regulatory body for Microfinance industry
Aug 03, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Finance Minister said that he is proposing the establishment of a new microfinance regulatory authority together with mandatory registration for the companies and amendments to the Act. “This is a national tragedy. It needs to be addressed in layers,” Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Finance told reporters in Colombo, Thursday […]
Govt nod to call for bids in Mannar, Cauvery basins for oil exploration
Aug 01, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s cabinet of ministers has given the go ahead to call for bid from international companies to explore oil and gas deposits in the north-western Mannar and Cauvery basins, a statement said. Experts have revealed that initial studies on offshore exploration, development and production activities in the two basins have […]
Damro’s opens Rs 12.5Bn Marino Mall and hotel in Colombo
Jul 31, 2018 (LBO) – Damro Group opened the 12.5 billion rupee Marino Mall and Beach Hotel in Colombo 3, adding 289 star class rooms to Colombo’s hotel inventory, Monday. “We have invested over Rs 12.5 billion to build and open this hotel with 289 rooms including two suites,” Damitha Ramanayake, chairman and founder of Damro Group […]
”s ratings at B1; maintains negative outlook
July 26, 2018 (LBO) – Moody’s Investors Service has today affirmed the Government of Sri Lanka’s foreign currency issuer and senior unsecured ratings at B1 and maintained the negative outlook. Moody’s Investors Service said the decision to affirm the rating at B1 reflects Sri Lanka’s progress in implementing the planned reform program, which entails fiscal consolidation and […]
Opinion : Financial reporting and the impact on capital market development
By Nandika Buddhipala Introduction The origination of financial reporting can be closely connected to the requirement to collect and record data which evolved into a stage where the capacity of the human brain was not sufficient to accommodate and memorize the evolving volume of data and transactions. Interestingly the existence of record keeping can be […]
USD 100Mn World Bank aid to modernize the education system in Sri Lanka
Jul 25, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka signed a US 100 million dollas credit agreement with the World Bank to support Sri Lanka’s efforts to strengthen and modernize the general education system in the country, the Finance Ministry said. The General Education Modernization Project (GEM)will modernize and diversify the curriculum of general education in keeping with the transformation […]
USD25.6 million contribution from Wathupitiwela EPZ to export earnings
Jul 25, 2018 (LBO) – The BOI’s Wathupitiwela Export Processing Zone (WEPZ) has contributed US 25,599,216.25 dollars (US$ 25.6 Mn) in export revenue as at end of March 2018, a statement said. WEPZ is located in the Gampaha District, about 42 Km away from Colombo.It was established in 1998 on a land area of 123.17 […]
Cabinet nod for Govt. to write off microfinance debt
Jul 25, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government approved a Cabinet paper to write off non-consumption loans up to 100,000 rupees given to women by all registered finance companies. “This scheme of relief initially will be limited to women who have obtained microfinance loans for non-consumption purposes in 12 drought-affected districts, the Finance Ministry said in […]
Sri Lanka June inflation marginally up at 2.5-pct
Jul 24, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) for the month of June 2018 was up at 2.5 percent in June 2018 from a year ago, data from the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) shows. The NCPI for all items for the month of June 2018 was 126.5, an increase […]
Sri Lanka to launch electric three wheelers by 2020
Jul 24, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka together with Japan Sri Lanka Comprehensive Partnership secretariat and T-PLAN has built an electric three-wheeler. “I am indeed encouraged by the electric three-wheeler developed by Japan Sri Lanka Comprehensive Partnership secretariat and T-PLAN,” Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Finance said. “It is considered to have incorporated some of the cutting-edge technology […]