Category: Economy and Markets
Sri Lanka’s Economy, Hare or Tortoise?
By Jekhan Aruliah I was listening to a very eloquent speaker on YouTube. He commented, as our public speakers often do, that we in Sri Lanka are a blessed nation. Blessed with abundant natural assets, our forests and beaches etc, and copious human talents. And yet this blessed nation is chronically poor and in 2022 […]
Real GDP projected to have grown by 5-pct in 2024; gross official reserves at USD 6.1bn by end 2024: CBSL
Sri Lanka’s real GDP is projected to have grown by around 5.0% in 2024, registering the highest annual growth since 2017, the Central Bank said launching its Policy Agenda for 2025. This higher-than-expected growth also provides evidence that deflation in recent months was not due to demand factors but mainly due to supply-side factors, including […]
IRD Publishes Procedure for Withholding Tax on Nonresident Payments in Gazette
The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) announced that a notification specifying the procedure for withholding tax on any payment to a nonresident person, under Section 86 (7) of the Inland Revenue Act, No. 24 of 2017, has been published in the official gazette. This notification outlines the detailed steps and requirements for withholding tax on payments […]
VIDEO: Withholding Tax Hike, A System Inefficiency – Tax Experts
In this insightful discussion, tax experts N. R. Gajendran and Suresh Perera analyze how the new reforms will affect the general public and the broader economy. N. R. Gajendran, highlights that while the government has promised to provide relief to individuals who were unfairly taxed, the practical implementation of this promise is fraught with challenges. […]
Sri Lanka Introduces Landmark Food & Beverage Regulations
The Sri Lankan government has announced new restrictions on marketing food and beverages to children, effective January 1, 2025, under the Food (Labelling & Advertising) Regulations 2022. The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, through its Food & Beverage Steering Committee, was a key partner in shaping these regulations by providing inputs on food science, nutrition, international […]
CSE Announces the appointment of Vindhya Jayasekera as CEO Designate
The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Vindhya Jayasekera as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Designate, effective 1st January 2025. Ms. Jayasekera will succeed the incumbent CEO, Mr. Rajeeva Bandaranaike, who is due to retire during the course of 2025 after serving for 11 years in that capacity. Ms. […]
CCPI-Based Headline Inflation Remains Negative in December 2024
According to the Central Bank’s near-term projections, headline inflation, as indicated by the year-on-year (Y-o-Y) change in the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI, 2021=100), remained in negative territory for the fourth consecutive month, registering a deflation of 1.7% in December 2024, compared to a deflation of 2.1% in November 2024. Non-Food deflation (Y-o-Y) moderated to […]
Sri Lanka’s Green Bonds must demonstrate climate impact measurement: MTI
Sri Lanka is witnessing a significant shift towards sustainable finance with Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) introducing the listing and trading of Green Bonds in 2023. DFCC Bank led the way among financial institutions to issue the first green bond in the country, aimed at funding renewable energy projects particularly in the solar energy sector. This […]
CDS Launches 011 2356 444 as a Dedicated Hotline
The Central Depository Systems (CDS), a subsidiary of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), is pleased to announce the launch of its dedicated hotline, effective from the first week of January 2025. This new initiative is designed to provide stakeholders, including investors and corporate clients, with direct access to CDS for improved query resolution and support. […]
CCC Clarifies Non-Involvement in Media Statements on Finance Ministry & CBSL Directives
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has categorically clarified that it is in no way connected to or involved with the statements recently attributed to “The Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce” regarding directives issued by the Deputy Minister of Finance and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. The Chamber confirmed that no employee or representative of […]
CBL’s Senehasin Jayamaga, wins best sustainability project award at best corporate citizen awards
Ceylon Biscuits Limited (CBL), the proud owner of flagship brand Munchee and a subsidiary of the CBL Group, awarded the Best Sustainability Project Award for its initiative to develop retailer and distributor partners – Senehasin Jayamaga, at the Best Corporate Citizen Awards 2024, organized by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. The accolade highlights CBL’s dedication […]
Opinion: Embracing change, charting a brighter future for Sri Lanka’s plantation industry
By Sunil Poholiyadde, Chairman of the Planters’ Association of Ceylon For 170 years, Sri Lanka’s plantation industry has stood the test of time. Despite continuous upheavals, it has managed to adapt and endure. Over this period, the ownership structure of the industry underwent significant changes—from 124 years of British colonial ownership to the post-independence era […]