Category: Economy and Markets
Farm Smart: Developing Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector in the 4IR
Manoj Thibbotuwawa and Nimesha Dissanayaka Rapid population growth has put tremendous pressure on the world’s agricultural systems to provide safe and nutritious food to all. Unfortunately, productivity growth has been hampered by land and water resources degradation and climate change. The economic and social costs of such disruptive drivers imply that the food systems need […]
Real-time online payment facility for BOI customers
Oct 21, 2019 (LBO) – The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka has taken another significant step forward where customers have the convenience of making their payments online directly to BOI, a statement said. This initiative is facilitated via LankaPay Online Payment Platform, a real-time and online payment platform of LankaClear. Such an initiative on […]
ICRA Lanka revises outlook on issuer rating of BoC to negative
Oct 21, 2019 (LBO) – ICRA Lanka Limited, subsidiary of ICRA limited, a group company of Moody’s Investors Service, has reaffirmed the issuer rating of Bank of Ceylon at [SL]AAA. The outlook on the rating is revised to negative from stable. Rationale The revision in outlook factors in BOC’s moderate capitalisation levels with steady decline […]
Sri Lanka FIU to obtain direct access to INTERPOL information system
Oct 18, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) entered into an agreement with INTERPOL National Central Bureau for Sri Lanka (NCB Colombo) recently to obtain direct access to the INTERPOL Information System. Money laundering and terrorist financing are internationally connected financial crimes that could threaten the stability of domestic as well as […]
BOI enters into supplementary agreement with concrete poles manufacturer
Oct 18, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment signed a supplementary agreement with Senaka Zenn (Private) Limited to set up a project to manufacture pre-stressed spun concrete electrical poles, piles and railway sleepers for both local and export markets. The initial investment made by the Company was 10.3 million US dollars. The Supplementary […]
Sri Lanka to set up Public Debt Management Bureau under Finance Ministry
Oct 17, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s cabinet nod has been received to establish a Public Debt Management Bureau under the Finance Ministry with the aim of entrusting the public debt management to a single entity. Accordingly, a five-member Public Debt Management Committee chaired by the Secretary to the Treasury will be appointed to draft […]
Opinion: Cigarette smuggling in Sri Lanka, Hype vs. Reality
By Harini Weerasekera In the run up to elections, Sri Lanka is once again witnessing various news activities highlighting how the government is losing revenue due to increased consumption of illicit cigarettes and beedi. However, the wider government policy on tobacco control is aimed to reduce smoking rates and the related direct and indirect costs […]
LankaPay, JCB International announce commercial roll-out of National card scheme
Oct 16, 2019 (LBO) – LankaClear (Pvt) Limited, the operator of LankaPay, Sri Lanka’s National payment network, together with JCB International Co., Ltd. , the international operations subsidiary of JCB Co., Ltd., announced the commercial roll-out of National Card Scheme (NCS) programme of Sri Lanka, after successfully completing the pilot stage since the announcement of […]
Hemasiri Fernando retires from Chairmanship of People’s Leasing & Finance
Oct 15, 2019 (LBO) – Former Defence Secretary, Hemasiri Fernando has retired from the office of People’s Leasing & Finance with effect from 12 October 2019. People’s Leasing & Finance said in a stock exchange filing that the Non-Executive Non-Independent Chairman and Director, Hemasiri Fernando had no relevant interest in the shares of the company […]
SEC issues cautionary notice to public on investing in offshore companies
Oct 14, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Securities and Exchange Commission says that it has become aware of a growing number of unsolicited phone calls from persons claiming to be agents of international stock broker firms, offering to facilitate investment in shares of companies traded on offshore jurisdictions with a promise of guaranteed high returns. […]
Growth in SA slows down, Sri Lanka growth to soften to 2.7-pct in 2019: World Bank
Oct 14, 2019 (LBO) – Economic growth in Sri Lanka is expected to soften to 2.7 percent in 2019, says the World Bank in its twice-a-year regional economic update. Supported by recovering investment and exports, as the security challenges and political uncertainty of last year dissipate, Sri Lanka’s growth is , however, projected to reach […]
Sri Lanka business registrations can now be done from home
Oct 11, 2019 (LBO) – Opening a new chapter in Sri Lanka’s private sector development, incorporation of a new company is now possible from the comfort of one’s own home. “Name reservation of companies could be obtained online. Company registrations and incorporations could be done online and there is no need for physical attendance at […]