Category: Economy and Markets
Sri Lanka to set tax of around 10-pct for foreigners leasing land
May 14, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s new restrictions on foreign ownership of property will have provisions that will allow non-nationals investing in the country to lease land with a tax of 5 to 15 percent, senior government officials said.Large investment projects may be given permission to purchase land by special approval. Ferdinando said listed […]
Sri Lanka market interest rates drop after rate cut
May 14, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s market interest rates has eased down with the effective policy rate settling at around 7.8 percent though cash auctions down from around 8.3 percent before a 50 basis point rate cut last week, dealers said. On Tuesday gilt backed overnight repurchase transactions were quoted 8.30/40 percent levels in […]
Sri Lanka stocks close down 0.2-pct, banks retreat
May 13, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s stocks closed down 0.18 percent Monday with bank stocks sliding as domestic investors took profits, brokers said. The Lion Brewery Ceylon closed at 372.00 rupees up 1.90 rupees. Ceylon Tobacco Company was down 0.50 rupees to close at 829.00 rupees. Nestle Lanka closed at 1860.00 rupees up 9.40 […]
Sri Lanka in bid to boost Middle Eastern visitors
May 12, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has promoted wildlife and natural assets in the Arabian Travel Mart in Dubai this month as part of a drive to grow Middle Eastern visitors 60 percent to 90,000 in 2013, the state tourism office said.It is also best part of the year for beach tourism in the […]
Innovation part of corporate DNA: 3M regional chief at Sri Lanka forum
May 11, 2013 (LBO) – Listening to the unarticulated voice of the customers of 3M has helped the firm drive innovation, which is central to its corporate culture, a top regional official of the US-based multi-national said in Colombo. The company makes more than 55,000 products are year, adding new ones continuously. “It’s easy if […]
Sri Lanka has to watch inflation, banks, taxes and draw more FDI: IMF
May 10, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has to watch inflation, bank credit, tax revenues, keep monetary policy tight and avoid guaranteeing bank forex borrowings and instead create an environment for foreign direct investments, the International Monetary Fund has said.The executive board of the IMF in a review of Sri Lanka’s economy said Sri Lanka’s […]
Sri Lanka cuts rates to boost credit – Update
May 10, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has cut its policy interest rate corridor by 50 basis points to 7.0 and 9.0 percent to boost credit, saying inflationary pressures were in check, amidst warnings by the International Monetary Fund to be careful. “[T]here is now a need to stimulate the domestic economy, particularly in the […]
Sri Lanka stocks close up 0.18-pct
May 10, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s stocks closed up 0.18 percent on Friday helped by retail and institutional buying, brokers said. The benchmark Colombo All Share Index closed 11.29 points higher at 6,250.00 up 0.18 percent and the S&P SL 20 Index closed 04.39 points higher at 3,530.90 up 0.12 percent. Turnover was 1.4 […]
‘s forex reserves pick up in March
May 09, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s forex reserves picked up 30 million US dollars to 6,689 million US dollars, ending two months of declines and is estimated to have increased further in April, the Central Bank said.Domestic credit rose partly due to borrowings by state energy firms to subsidize fuel and electricity.The rupee fell […]
Sri Lanka stocks close up 0.14-pct
March 08, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s stock closed up for the third straight day, with index heavy John Keells and banks extending gains, though some profit taking was coming in, brokers said. Lending rates are now high due to heavy government borrowing to finance excessive spending including the hiring of unemployed graduates in a […]
Sri Lanka Treasuries yields edge lower
May 08, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Treasuries yields edged lower across maturities Wednesday with the 12 month yield falling 03 basis points to 11.29 percent, the state debt office said. The debt office offered 12.0 billion rupees of bills for roll over and sold 16.08 billion worth bills. The 3-mont yield fell 02 basis […]
Sri Lanka stocks surge 1.8-pct
Apr 29, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s stock surged up 1.8 percent Monday adding 40 billion rupees to stock values partly helped improved sentiment from a 2.9 billion rupee ceramic sector acquisition, brokers said. Commercial Leasing and Finance gained 0.30 rupees to close at 4.90 rupees The stock exchange said top contributors to the index […]