Category: Economy and Markets
Opinion: The Sri Lankan Rupee has bottomed
February 7, 2019 (LBO) – As the year 2018 drew to a close, the Sri Lankan currency was under attack on several fronts. The trajectory and forecasts of U.S. federal reserve tightening were causing a major exodus from Sri Lanka’s capital markets. The trade deficit was unfavourable due to a credit boom, and GDP growth […]
Haycarb records turnover of Rs.14.3Bn for 9 months ending Dec
Feb 07, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lankan multinational Haycarb PLC reported revenue of Rs. 14.3 billion and profit before tax of Rs. 854 million for the nine months ending 31st December 2018. The profit after tax stood at Rs. 672 million. Haycarb PLC Managing Director, Rajitha Kariyawasan said that the growth in turnover is attributable to […]
BOI inks 4 agreements for Hotel, Fabric manufacture and warehousing and logistics
Feb 07, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment signed agreements for 4 new projects recently. The companies representatives signed the agreements with the BOI. Representing the BOI was Ms. Champika Malalgoda, Director General of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka. One of the Agreement signed was with Arihara Lanka Dream Company (Private) […]
Commercial Bank enables online payment of Ports Authority charges
Feb 06, 2019 (LBO) – Commercial Bank of Ceylon has added the Sri Lanka Ports Authority to its online banking platform, enabling customers to pay their Ports Authority charges in respect to their shipping requirements from anywhere, anytime. To use this online payment option, customers have to key in their 14 digit invoice number issued […]
Sri Lanka Customs chief P.S.M. Charles reinstated
Feb 06, 2019 (LBO) – P.S.M. Charles has been reinstated as the Director General of Customs following the its trade union alliance launching a work-to-rule campaign since January 30 on her removal from office. Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera is said to have withdrawn the proposal to appoint retired navy officer Rear Admiral Shemal Fernando as the […]
Appropriation Bill for 2019 presented in parliament
Feb 05, 2019 (LBO) – The Appropriation Bill for the year 2019 was presented in parliament by Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka, Tuesday. The Cabinet in early January approved the Appropriation Bill for 2019 with an annual expenditure of Rs 4,470 billion with the Ministry of Defence secured the highest allocation of 393 billion rupees. The Ministry of Education […]
CINV and GUAR considering options to wind up The Sri Lanka Fund
Feb 05, 2019 (LBO) – Ceylon Guardian Investment Trust PLC (GUAR) and Ceylon Investment PLC (CINV) has decided to consider options of winding up The Sri Lanka Fund, an open-ended fund incorporated in the Cayman Islands, denominated in US dollars. The fund was relaunched in August 2010 under the management of Guardian Fund Management Limited (GFM) […]
‘s shareholding in JKH approaching 10%, stake valued at close to Rs20bn
February 5, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s richest man, Harry Jayawardena, has increased his shareholding in Colombo Stock Exchange bellwether John Keells Holdings (JKH) to near 10%. The total value of his shareholding is now worth close to Rs20bn.As of December 31, 2018, Jayawardena’s Melstacorp PLC owned 8.4% of JKH. After the quarter ended, the […]
From Toronto to Toddy, a Jaffna Entrepreneur’s Journey
By Jekhan Aruliah When it comes to investment in the North there is far more talk than there is action. A rare example of action is Suganthan Shanmuganathan. Having fled the Sri Lankan Civil War 25 years ago as a teenage schoolboy, Suganthan came back to Jaffna from Canada in 2014 with his wife and […]
Fitch announce re calibration of Sri Lankan National rating scale
Feb 05, 2019 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings said today it will re-calibrate the Sri Lankan National Rating scale to reflect changes in the relative creditworthiness among Sri Lankan issuers following the downgrade of the country’s sovereign rating to ‘B’ from ‘B+’ on 3 December 2018. The full statement follows: Fitch Ratings-Hong Kong/Singapore-04 February 2019: Fitch […]
Google+ requests consumers to save photos & videos before shutdown
Feb 01, 2019 (LBO) – American multinational technology company Google is requesting its consumers to download and save the content shared in their personal Google+ profiles as the company has decided to shut down the service for consumers by April 2019. The company said the decision was taken due to low usage and challenges involved […]
Sri Lanka’s John Keells Holdings profits up 7-pct in 3Q
Jan 31, 2019 (LBO) – Profits attributable to equity holders of the diversified John Keells Holdings group rose 7 percent to 4.8 billion rupees in the December 2018 quarter with revenues increasing 17 percent to 36.5 billion, its interim accounts showed.The Group profit before tax at 5.63 billion rupees in the third quarter is a […]