Category: Economy and Markets
Sri Lanka disabled solders to get loans
Nov 21, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lankan soldiers disabled by war will be given a loan scheme to start their own businesses in the government’s budget for 2012, Sri Lankan president and finance minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said. The budget for 2012 will allocate 1. 7 billion rupees to be given to the ‘Ranavira Authority’, a […]
Sri Lanka rupee to be depreciated 3-pct: Update
Nov 21, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will depreciate the rupee 3. 0 percent to help export competitiveness, President Mahinda Rajapaksa told parliament in his budget speech for 2012. “Countries that are competing with us have depreciated their currencies,” President Rajapaksa said. “To correct this disadvantage, as an incentive to exports I intend to depreciate […]
Sri Lanka budget to cut deficit, maintain capex
Nov 20, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s budget for 2012 to be presented to parliament on Monday will seek to further narrow a deficit, maintain public investment and create an environment to improve productivity, officials have said. According to earlier statements, the 2012 plans to cut the deficit to 6.2 percent of gross domestic product […]
Lessons for Sri Lanka: Vietnam President Sang reveals secrets of FDI success
Nov 19, 2011 (LBO) – Vietnam’s remarkable success of drawing foreign direct investment, even from former foes involved in a bitter civil war, came from a combination of foreign and economic policy, Vietnam President Truong Tan Sang said. France, a former colonial power with which the first Indochina war was fought, has invested 2.9 billion […]
Sri Lanka stocks end up 0.8-pct
Nov 18, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares ended higher for the second day running with turnover boosted by big chunks of a tile maker which changed hands at a premium, brokers said. Heavy trading in John Keells Holdings also bolstered turnover. It closed at 174.40 rupees, down 50 cents, with 1. 3 million shares […]
Sri Lanka business chamber urges consistent tax, investor policies
Nov 18, 2011 (LBO) – The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said it hopes the Sri Lankan government’s forthcoming budget for 2012 would maintain consistency in investor and tax policies. The Chamber last week had called on the government to defer a controversial expropriation law passed by parliament that rating agencies have warned would deter investors […]
Sri Lanka rupee peg weakens slightly
Nov 18, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s currency weakened to 20 cents to 110. 40 rupees to the US dollar in the spot market Friday, with market quotes at 110.35/40 rupees dealers said. The central bank has been intervening steadily in forex markets. The rupee had come under some pressure over the past few months […]
” rating
Nov 17, 2011 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings Lanka has assigned Commercial Bank’s (CB) proposed subordinated debentures of up to a billion rupees a national long-term rating of ‘AA-(lka)’. “The proposed debentures are rated one notch below CB’s National Long-Term rating to reflect their debt-like features,” a statement said. The debentures will have a maturity of […]
Sri Lanka citizens need freedom for economic growth: lawmaker
Nov 17, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s citizens need freedom for economic progress, a lawmaker said during a debate on an expropriation law which violated property rights that pre-dated the island’s Western-style constitution. “I know that (economic development) minister Basil Rajapaksa and everyone here actually believe in the market economy,” lawmaker and economist Harsha de […]
Sri Lanka stocks end up 1.2-pct
Nov 17, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares ended higher Thursday after several days of losses with gains in most shares albeit in thin trading, brokers said. The main All Share Price Index rose 1.16 percent (69.68 points) to 6,092.56, while the more liquid Milanka index rose 2.72 percent (37.86 points) to close at 5,310.85, […]
Sri Lanka central bank pours oil on troubled waters
Nov 17, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank said there may be room for former owners of seized assets to negotiate with competent authorities appointed by the state, after rating agencies raised fears of deteriorating property rights in the island. The government expropriated land in 36 enterprises and ordinary shares of listed Hotel Developers, […]
Sri Lanka seized assets re-offered to private managers: minister
Nov 17, 2010 (LBO) – Former owners of expropriated assets may be given a chance to manage the companies again if a competent authority appointed by the state finds them acceptable, a minister said. Cabinet spokesman and information minister Keheliya Rambukwelle said the government will shortly appoint competent authorities to the seized firms and they […]