Category: Economy and Markets
Sri Lanka signs FTA with Singapore tomorrow
Jan 22, 2018 (LBO) – A Free Trade Agreement between Sri Lanka and Singapore will be signed following bilateral talks between the two nations, Tuesday. Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong is to arrive in Sri Lanka on the invitation of Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena, Monday. Last week, Sri Lanka’s Cabinet approved a […]
‘s economy to grow USD 5Tn by 2025
Jan 22, 2018 (LBO) – Indian economy is set to double to USD 5 trillion in the next 7-8 years as booming consumption of digital services would support addition of about USD 2.5 trillion to the country’s wealth, Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma said today. “It took 70 years for India to become USD 2.5 […]
Hemas Holdings to acquire stationery manufacturer Atlas
Jan 19, 2018 (LBO) – Hemas Holdings has entered into an agreement to acquire 75.1 percent stake of Sri Lanka’s leading stationery manufacturer Atlas for 5.7 billion rupees. Hemas said in a statement that the acquisition of Atlas will increase the group’s presence in the fast-moving consumer goods space.“Atlas will become the third largest business […]
Seat belts, air bags compulsory on vehicles from July: Finance Ministry
Jan 19, 2018 (LBO) – Finance Ministry has decided to postpone the implementation of the budget proposal on introduction of emission standards and safety measures up to July 01, 2018. The decision has been taken after considering the representations made by motor vehicle importers and manufacturers for a lead time to make required adjustments to comply […]
Sri Lanka’s USD500mn development bond oversubscribed
Jan 19, 2018 (LBO) – The issue of Sri Lanka development bonds amounting to 500 million US dollars has been oversubscribed with close to 527 million US dollars of bids received from investors. The Central Bank has received 129.27 million dollars of bids for the two year bond and the bank has accepted 93.15 million […]
Sri Lanka Debt Management Bill receives go-ahead from cabinet
Jan 17, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s cabinet on Tuesday decided to publish proposed Debt Management Bill in gazette and present it in parliament for approval. Cabinet earlier granted approval to draft the law to implement accountability management as a strategy for effective public debt management. Through this new bill Sri Lanka’s public debt sustainability […]
Strengthening Sri Lankan SMEs in exports vital for development: Eran
Jan 15, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s plans to increase the contribution made by smaller-scale businesses to exports and lift foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2018 were both topics of conversation at a meeting held recently between Eran Wickramaratne, state minister of finance, and a team from Oxford Business Group (OBG). During the talks, Wickramaratne […]
Sri Lanka seeks to modify performance criteria; EFF broadly on track: IMF
Jan 12, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s performance under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program has remained broadly on track despite a series of weather-related supply shocks, the IMF said. Following the Executive Board’s discussion of the third EFF review, Mitsuhiro Furusawa, Acting Chair and Deputy Managing Director of IMF, said country’s fiscal performance has […]
Sri Lanka official reserves improve to USD8bn by end 2017
Jan 12, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s gross official reserves have improved to 7,952.58 million US dollars by the end of last year from 7,319.40 million dollars in November 2017, official Central Bank data showed. By the end of 2016, country’s gross official reserves were stood at 6,062.71 million US dollars. Foreign currency reserves were […]
“Enterprise Sri Lanka” to be launched in March: Fin Min
Jan 12, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Government will disburse 60 billion rupees through state and private banks while the Treasury will set aside 5 billion rupees to reimburse interest to banks as part of the Budget 2018’s “Enterprise Sri Lanka” program to create new entrepreneurs. Minister of Finance and Mass Media MangalaSamaraweera said that one of the […]
Governor received bond commission report yesterday: Central Bank
Jan 11, 2018 (LBO) – Central Bank revealed Thursday that the secretary to the President has handed over a copy of the bond commission report to the Governor of Central Bank yesterday. Central Bank said that it has already implemented some of the recommendations, while measures have already been initiated to implement most of the […]
CEAT Kelani to invest Rs3Bn in local tyre industry , Eyes US market
Jan 11, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lankan tyre manufacturer, CEAT Kelani said they will invest 3 billion rupees in the local industry over next two years. Unveiling its masterplan to local media the Indo-Lanka Company said it will set up a new truck bus radial tyreplant while also doubling production of radials and motorcycle tyres and […]