Category: Economy
‘s govt gets USD 50Mn loan from OPEC fund for international development
Jul 09, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government signed a loan agreement for obtaining financial assistance of US 50 million dollars from OPEC fund for International Development (OFID) for implementation of technological education development programme Under current portfolio, OFID provides financing for road and irrigation sectors. The lines and working pattern of our workforce is bound […]
‘s women entrepreneurs finance initiative
Jul 09, 2018 (LBO) – The Asian Development Bank has signed an grant agreement of US 9.5 million dollars for the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We – Fi) to support the ongoing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Financial inclusion for SMEs is important to realize the development objectives of the Government such as promoting exports, […]
Sri Lanka gross official reserves improve to USD 9.2 bn by end June
July 06, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s gross official reserve position is estimated to have improved to around 9.2 billion US dollars by end June 2018, compared to 8.0 billion dollars at end 2017. The reserves include international sovereign bond issued in April, the receipt of the fifth tranche from the IMF, receipts from the […]
Central Bank maintains policy interest rates at current levels
July 06, 2018 (LBO) – Monetary Board of the Central Bank, at its meeting held on 05 July 2018, has decided to maintain policy interest rates at their current levels.Accordingly, the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) remain at 7.25 per cent and 8.50 per cent, respectively. The Board’s decision is […]
Perpetual Treasuries suspension of business extended by 6 months
July 05, 2018 (LBO) – Monetary Board of the Central Bank acting in terms of the regulations made under the Registered Stock and Securities Ordinance and the Local Treasury Bills Ordinance, has decided to extend the suspension of Perpetual Treasuries Limited (PTL). Accordingly, PTL will be further suspended from carrying on the business and activities of […]
Sri Lanka continues upward trend in tourist arrivals: June up 19.0-pct
Jul 05, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tourist arrivals was up 19.0 percent to 146,828 in June 2018 from an year ago driven by the islands two largest source markets India and China, official data shows. Almost 98 percent of tourists travelled by air to Sri Lanka. As at 31st June 2018, 1,164,647 tourists had visited Sri Lanka […]
No backward calculation to obtain GDP with pre-decided deflators: Stats Office
July 03, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s statistics office rejecting the recent claims on the GDP estimates said it is almost impossible to carry out backward calculations to obtain GDP with pre-decided GDP deflators. Releasing a statement, Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) said it is also not an internationally accepted practice of estimating national […]
Sri Lanka private sector to facilitate skills supply in tourism sector with launch of TSC
Jul 02, 2018 (LBO) – The Private Sector Tourism Skills Committee (TSC) launched Tourism Workforce Competitiveness Road-map in collaboration with the private tourism industry to take on the challenge of demonstrating to Sri Lanka’s young women and men that a career in the fast-growing tourism and hospitality industry can be safe, stimulating, well-compensated and full […]
Treasury puts record straight on central government’s outstanding debt
July 01, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s General Treasury says former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal has tried to present a different and distorted viewpoint on the Central Government’s financial statement in an article published recently under the caption “The Government’s Growth Scam”. The full statement issued by Finance Ministry is reproduced below. General Treasury […]
CB Governor defends Deputy Governor from unfounded allegations
June 28, 2018 (LBO) – Central Bank Governor Indrajit Coomaraswamy on Thursday issued a special statement defending his fellow Central Banker Nandalal Weerasinghe. The statement is a reply to former Finance Minister Ravi Karunananyake who has repeated his allegations in the recent days against Senior Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe. “As […]
Tackling challenges through reforms crucial for sustained, equitable growth in Sri Lanka
Jun 28, 2018 (LBO) – The World Bank says that although recent policy measures have contributed to macroeconomic stability in Sri Lanka there are still significant risks stemming from both domestic and external fronts with the balance of risks tilted towards downside. “Sri Lanka faces a number of challenges to sustain future economic growth, create […]
Sri Lanka’s outlook remains stable but is conditional on reforms: World Bank
June 28, 2018 (LBO) – World Bank says a challenging domestic political environment has already taken a toll, slowing down some reforms and complicating the stable medium-term outlook and an impending election cycle which will only elevate this risk. World Bank, releasing its June 2018 edition of the Sri Lanka Development Update said the reforms are […]