Category: Economy and Markets
Sri Lanka state firms to repay debt, but Treasury guarantees up
Nov 27, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s state energy firms are repaying debt to banks with returning profits, but off-budget bank borrowings under Treasury guarantees are continuing to climb, finance ministry data showed.Loss-making state enterprises that borrow for consumption spending using savings of private citizens have been a key reason for lower domestic investments and […]
Sri Lanka stocks close lower
Nov 27, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka stocks fell for the fourth straight day with diversified stocks losing ground amid foreign selling, brokers said. HNB closed flat at 144.00 rupees and Lanka Orix Leasing Company closed 1.10 rupees higher at 64.20 rupees. Aitken Spence closed 10 cents lower at 108.00 rupees and Aitken Spence Hotel […]
Sri Lanka income tax responds strongly to rate reduction
Nov 26, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s income tax volumes showed the strongest gain following a cut in the rates, in the middle of an economic downturn the reduced most other collections, a finance ministry report showed. Sri Lanka’s income tax collections rose 14.4 percent to 154.7 billion rupees in the first nine months of […]
Sri Lanka chamber forum with legislators on budget
Nov 26, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said it is holding a forum with legislators from key political parties set to take part.Sarath Amunugama from the ruling People’s Alliance, Harsha De Silva from the United National Party, Sunil Handunetti from the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, and Udaya Gammanpila from the Jathika Hela […]
Sampath Bank debentures oversubscribed
Nov 26, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Sampath Bank said a listed debt offer for 5.0 billion rupees had been oversubscribed Tuesday and is closing on the same day.The bank offered 5-year debentures paying an annual fixed rate or with six monthly payments. NDB Investment Bank managed the offer.
Sri Lanka stocks close lower
Nov 26, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka stocks fell for the third consecutive day with diversified and property stocks losing ground amid foreign selling, brokers said. The Colombo benchmark All Share Price Index closed 27.66 points lower at 5,748.01, down 0.48 percent. The S&P SL20 closed 14.25 points lower at 3,168.69, down 0.45 percent. Turnover […]
Sri Lanka budget good for rating: Fitch
Nov 25, 2013 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings said the Sri Lanka’s recent budget would help Sri Lanka’s ‘BB” sovereign rating.Fitch said Sri Lanka has to guard against foreign debt. “The Sri Lankan government also has a significant amount of foreign currency debt,” Fitch said. “At around 33% of GDP this poses a risk to the […]
Sri Lanka stocks close lower
Nov 25, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka stocks closed 0.29 percent lower with diversified stocks losing ground amid low foreign activity on the bourse, brokers said. DFCC closed 2.00 rupees lower at 120.00 rupees and Sampath Bank closed 1.90 rupees lower at 162.10 rupees. Asian Hotels and Properties closed 80 cents lower at 69.00 rupees […]
Sri Lanka opposition slams cronyism in budget, commends restraints
Nov 23, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s main opposition United National Party slammed the ‘cronyism’ displayed in some of the tax cuts but said bringing down the deficit amid lower tax revenues deserved recognition.Opposition legislator Harsha de Silva said some of the duty and tax concessions for luxury branded goods and the value added tax […]
Sri Lanka targets lower deficit in 2014 budget, ups protectionism
Nov 22, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has slapped a series of new taxes to raise revenue and worsen protectionism setting an ambitious state revenue targets for 2014 with more spending and borrowing outlined outside the budget.But state airlines continued to run losses, needing a 200 million US dollar bailout in 2014. The Urban Development […]
Sri Lanka raises telecom levy, ups taxes on foods, removes VAT exemptions
Nov 21, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has raised a tax on telecom services and imposed import taxes on a series of foods and other goods to help favoured businessmen and removed value added tax exemptions. A tax on telecom services which include voice calls has been raised to 25 percent from 20 percent, but […]
Sri Lanka to raise US$1.5bn through international bonds in 2014
Nov 21, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is evaluating lead managers to sell international bonds in 2014 who will advise on the timing and mix of the program, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said. The government planned to build 50,000 high quality houses in estates to replace existing “poor quality” houses, he said. Bids to […]