Category: Economy and Markets
Sri Lanka budget deteriorates up to April
July 02, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s budget deficit has doubled in the first four months of 2012, with current spending growing at twice the rate of tax revenues and leading to unprecedented reliance on bank financing, official data show. Total revenues grew 7.2 percent to 305.5 billion rupees up to April 2012 from a […]
Sri Lanka foreign financiers headed by India up to April 2012
July 02, 2012 (LBO) – India has committed 740. 8 million US dollars out of 1,015 million US dollars of foreign financing to Sri Lanka in the first four months of 2012, including 275. 1 million US dollars as an outright grant, official data shows. The massive grant, which is unusual in Sri Lanka’s recent […]
‘s legal hard liquor production down
July 02, 2012 (LBO) – Legal hard liquor production has fallen 2. 6 percent in the first five months of 2012, from a year earlier, but soft liquor (mainly beer) had risen 12.5 percent the finance ministry said in a report. Sri Lanka had seen a surge in beer sales partly due to stronger tourism […]
Sri Lankan stocks down 0.2-pct, turnover lowest in three years
July 02, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lankan share prices slipped 0.25 percent on Monday, while the turnover plunged to a three year low, on the lack of buying support across the bourse, brokers said. Foreign buying was 35.52 million rupees on sales of 4.48 million rupees. Turnover was dominated by conglomerate Aitken Spence Holdings PLC, […]
‘s inflation accelerates to 9.3-pct in June
June 29, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s consumer prices rose 9. 3 percent in June 2012 from a year earlier, accelerating to a three and a half year high, from 7. 0 percent in May, data from the state statistics office showed. The statistics office said Sri Lanka’s Colombo Consumer Price Index rose 1. 9 […]
Sri Lanka stocks close up 0.20 pct, rupee steady
June 29, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed up 0.2 percent on Friday, while the spot US dollar closed at around 133.70/90 in a day of quiet trading, dealers and brokers said. Colombo’s All Share Price Index gained 9.86 points to close at 4965.77, the Milanka index of more liquid stocks shed 2.61 points […]
Sri Lanka to pave more roads with bank credit
June 29, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will rebuild 332.77 kilometres of roads using domestic contractors with loans taken from commercial banks in the same way more than 600 kilometres of roads were paved earlier, a minister said. Minister Keheliya Rambukwelle said the total cost of the project was not specified as yet, but the […]
Sri Lanka rupee gains
June 28, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s rupee rose as much as 132.50 in intra-day trading on Thursday amid state bank selling before settling around 132.80/133.00 after a weak start, dealer said. Analysts however have urged the central bank not to allow excess liquidity to remain in the system as unsterilized purchases will eventually create […]
Sri Lanka stocks down 0.80 percent
June 28, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks slipped 0.80 percent on Thursday, though big ticket deals in Eden Hotel Lanka, John Keells Holdings PLC and PC House Holdings PLC helped swell turnover, brokers said. Market heavyweight John Keells Holdings, slipped 4.00 rupees to 186.00 rupees on trades of 873,554 shares. A parcel of 280,000 […]
Sri Lanka population lower than estimated, but growing: Census Dept
June 27, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s first countrywide census conducted after the end of a 30-year war shows the population is 20.277 million, the statistics office said, which is lower than earlier estimates. Earlier estimates put mid-year population in 2011 at 20.869 million with an annual growth rate of 1.0 percent. The census conducted […]
‘s North population shrinks, East expands
June 27, 2012 (LBO) – Population in Sri Lanka’s northern Jaffna area has shrunk during a 30-year civil war but parts of the former war zone which was not fully under control of separatists had seen above average growth, new census data shows. The first census conducted in the area since 1981, has shown that […]
Sri Lankan shares up 0.11 percent; large deals in John Keells
June 27, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lankan share prices rise on Wednesday, driven by large trades in market heavyweight John Keells Holdings PLC and fabric maker, Textured Jersey Limited, brokers said. John Keells Holdings, dominated trading with two large trades, brokers said. A quantity of 284,000 JKH shares was sold at 190.00 rupees while a […]