Category: Economy and Markets
Sri Lanka must cut business costs to lure investors: World Bank
June 08, 2010 – Sri Lanka’s investment climate must be improved and cost of doing business reduced to attract the private investment needed to speed up growth and improve people’s lives, a senior World Bank official said. Sri Lanka needs to sharply increase private investment in order to accelerate growth, Ernesto May, handling private sector […]
Sri Lankan stocks becalmed
June 08, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed almost flat Tuesday as investors took profits from selected shares seen as over-priced and re-invested in those with potential for short-term gains, while foreign investors were net sellers, brokers said. The All Share Price Index closed at 4,427.27, down 4.05 points, while the Milanka index of […]
Sri Lanka must reduce deficits, debt; contain inflation: World Bank
June 08, 2010 (LBO) – South Asian countries like Sri Lanka must reduce high budget deficits and public debt to gain from the global economic recovery that is underway, the World Bank said in a report. The region weathered global recession much better than any other, showing remarkable resilience and is the second-fastest growing area […]
Sri Lanka outlines spending plans for 2010
June 08, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will spend at least 202 billion rupees on defence, 87. 8 billion rupees on roads, 53 billion rupees on health, 26. 2 billion rupees on ports and 25.1 billion rupees on water supply this year, a bill submitted to parliament said. In 2009 Sri Lanka spent 188.6 billion […]
Sri Lanka John Keells retains top rating, buoyed by container terminal
June 07, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s John Keells Holdings has retained its ‘AAA(lka)’ rating with a ‘stable’ outlook with strong cashflows from dividends of its container terminal in Colombo port, Fitch Ratings said. “JKH’s ratings reflect its strong financial profile as a result of strong dividend inflows to its parent, significantly low net-debt level […]
Sri Lanka retail buying push shares up 1.77-pct
June 07, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed higher Monday with strong buying by retail investors pushing up blue chips and ‘mid-cap’ stocks and sending the Milanka index across the 5,000 point mark, brokers said. The All Share Price Index closed at 4,431. 32, up 1.77 percent (77.12 points) while the more liquid Milanka […]
Sri Lanka firms struggle with rising labour costs: reports
June 06, 2010 (LBO) – A coir factory in a coconut growing northeastern district in Sri Lanka is facing labour problems and a yet another state enterprises is facing financial difficulties, media reports said. The Sunday Times newspaper said a four year old export oriented coir factory with Indian and Israeli collaboration has run into […]
Sri Lanka aims for investment grade rating by 2013: CB Governor
June 05, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is aiming to push its speculative sovereign rating to investment grade by 2013 by fixing government finances, keeping inflation low and growth high, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said. Sri Lanka was downgraded a notch from its original rating as the country went on a deficit spending and […]
Sri Lankan stocks close at record high, up 0.51-pct
June 04, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed at a new high Friday, boosted by gains on index heavy shares, with Nations Trust Bank (NTB) and Pan Asia Banking Corporation (PABC) shares were heavily traded, brokers said. Aitken Spence closed at 1,555.00 rupees, up 3.25, Hayleys closed at 300.00 rupees, down 75 cents, Hemas […]
Sri Lanka and India should move for closer economic ties: president
June 04, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka and India have an opportunity to move towards closer economic ties as the end of a 30-year war opened up new opportunities, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said. “We have a common heritage in trading with each other and the rest of the world,” President Rajapaksa told a […]
Sri Lanka Central Bank releases latest economic, social statistics
June 04, 2010 (LBO) – The Central Bank of Sri Lanka said it has just released its annual publication ‘Economic and Social Statistics of Sri Lanka 2010’ with data on a wide range of economic and social developments. “The vast amount of data included in this publication will be of use for analysing trends in […]
Sri Lanka north-east ripe for tourism, agriculture
June 04, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Eastern and Northern provinces are ripe for investment in tourism, food processing and finance with infrastructure being built to improve connectivity, officials said. Sri Lanka’s Northern and Eastern provinces were devastated by a 30-year war which ended last year with the military wiping out the last remnants of […]