Category: Economy and Markets
INSEE Cement’s 360-degree approach eases cement shortage in Sri Lanka
Uninterrupted supply through comprehensive production, imports and logistics optimization reaps positive results Operating at maximum production capacity with optimized distribution channels for a number of weeks, INSEE Cement has successfully helped to mitigate the cement shortage that was prevailing in the local market. INSEE Cement’s concentrated and immediate contingency measures across its entire operation at […]
Anjelo Simmons – Chief Dealer at First Capital Treasuries in conversation with LBO
With the First Capital Treasuries’ (FCT) Initial Public Offering opening on Monday the 6th of December, Lanka Business Online (LBO) spoke to Anjelo Simmons, the Chief Dealer at FCT to find out what makes the company a unique investment opportunity. Given the ongoing positive momentum centred around the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and propelled by […]
Rs.10 per dollar incentive for inward workers’ remittances converted into rupees: CBSL
The Monetary Board of the Central Bank has decided to pay an incentive of Rs. 8.00 per US dollar for workers’ remittances, in addition to the existing incentive of Rs.2.00 under the “Incentive Scheme on Inward Workers’ Remittances”, when such funds are remitted through banks and other internationally accepted formal channels and converted into Sri […]
INSEE Cement signs MOU with Hambantota Port to improve supply chain efficiency
The Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) today signed an agreement with INSEE Cement, the leading cement manufacturing company in Sri Lanka, to ensure the efficient transfer of raw materials to their factory in Galle, via the Hambantota Port. This will have a positive impact on the operational efficiency. The agreement was signed between Gustavo Navarro, […]
First Capital Treasuries Apprises Stakeholders of Upcoming IPO
One of Sri Lanka’s leading non-bank primary dealers, First Capital Treasuries PLC, a subsidiary of the Janashakthi Group’s First Capital Holdings PLC hosted prospective investors, industry partners, media representatives and members of the public at an investor forum on its upcoming Initial Public Offering (IPO). First Capital Treasuries released the official prospectus for the IPO […]
CCPI inflation increases to 9.9-pct; annual average rises to 5.3-pct in November
Headline inflation, as measured by the year-on-year (Y-o-Y) change in the Colombo Consumer Price Index, increased to 9.9 percent in November 2021 from 7.6 percent in October 2021. Meanwhile, the CCPI measured on an annual average basis, increased to 5.3 percent in November 2021 from 4.8 percent in October 2021. Inflation was driven by monthly […]
“Dark future looming as foreign reserve drop to USD 1.5Bn, lowest in history” Eran
The opposition alleged in Parliament that foreign reserves have dropped to US 1.5 billion dollars which included the gold reserves of US 300 million dollars. The Govt. did not refute the opposition claim that the available cash reserve was only USD 1.5 billion less than one month’s import payment, lowest in history. He told a […]
Policy interventions require that may be unpopular, says President at Export Awards
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that in the future too many unpopular decisions will have to be taken to overcome the global economic challenges and to keep the country on the path to prosperity. Even though the people criticized these interventions, the country and the people would reap the benefits in the near future, the President […]
National consensus on structural reforms needed to get out of economic crisis: Advocata
Sri Lanka is already in one of the worst economic crises in its history. The reforms are so difficult that no party will want to even contemplate let alone implement them fearing loss of popularity. The longer reforms are postponed, the worse the problem becomes which makes remedies even more difficult to implement. The only […]
Inflation Is a Greater Policy Test for Emerging-Market Sovereigns: Fitch Ratings
Higher inflation is generally credit negative for sovereigns, but presents particular risks for emerging markets (EMs), as they often face higher and more volatile inflation than developed markets (DMs), and are exposed to greater currency instability, says Fitch Ratings. Fitch believes global goods price pressures will ease from early 2022, but inflation could remain elevated […]
CBSL maintains policy rates; further acceleration of headline inflation expected
The Monetary Board of the Central Bank has decided to maintain the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) of the Central Bank at their current levels of 5.00 percent and 6.00 percent, respectively. The Board noted the recent acceleration of inflation, driven mainly by supply disruptions and the surge […]
Sri Lanka’s budget proposals weigh on insurers’ near-term earnings:Fitch
The Sri Lankan government’s proposal to introduce new one-off as well as recurring taxes on companies will likely constrain the near-term profitability of some insurers, Fitch Ratings says. However, we expect the proposals to have only a limited impact on most insurers’ capital positions because of their sound capital buffers accumulated before and during the […]