Sri Lanka to hold aid parley in Dec; asks donors to fund mega projects

July 28, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is asking donors to concentrate on helping to build mega infrastructure projects, when the annual aid parley meets in December, treasury secretary P B Jayasundara said. The government wants lenders to channel more money to build roads instead of issuing warning signals about a faltering peace process and […]

July 26, 2006 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings said Wednesday it has upgraded Sri Lanka’s Nations Trust Bank’s long-term debt to A(lka) with its outlook on the rating to “stable”. The ratings agency said the revision mainly reflects NTBs stronger financial profile, equity infusion post merger with Mercantile Leasing Ltd (MLL) and an expanded asset base. […]

‘s Leasing securitsed notes to A+(lka)

July 26, 2006 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings Lanka Wednesday has upgraded the Lease Backed Trust Certificates issued by People’s Leasing Trust Nine to ‘A+(lka)’ from ‘A(lka)’. People’s Leasing trust nine, is a special purpose vehicle created by People’s Leasing Company of Sri Lanka (PLC) for the sole purpose of this transaction. The rating action says […]

Sri Lanka urges nationals in Lebanon to stay put

July 25, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka, which has the largest contingent of expatriate workers in Lebanon, wants those trapped in the conflict to stay put and those who have fled the bombings to return, a minister said Tuesday. “We are not encouraging them to come back. In fact, we want them to go back […]

Sri Lanka Central Bank ups rates; more hikes likely

July 24, 2006 (Dow Jones)–The Central Bank of Sri Lanka raised the repurchase rate and the reverse repo rate by 12.5 points each over the weekend, the second consecutive hike this year, pushing both rates up to a three-year high in a bid to fight inflationary pressures and support the rupee. But analysts say the […]

IPS to develop action plan for Sri Lankan industrialists

July 18, 2006 (LBO) – The Industrial Association of Sri Lanka has commissioned a study to develop a national action plan to be presented to the government later this year. The Institute of Policy Studies, a government think tank, will carry out the study on behalf of the trade body, with financial assistance from the […]

Newly appointed monetary board member Nimal Welgama declines the job

July 16, 2006 (LBO) – Businessman Nimal Welgama has declined a seat on the country’s Monetary Board due to an ongoing inquiry by the Central Bank, according to newspaper reports. Welgama, who was appointed to the board by President Mahinda Rajapakse on July 3, is currently the Managing Director of the Upali Group. The Upali […]

‘s trade deficit widens despite strong export growth in May

July 13, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s trade deficit expanded to 429 million dollars for the five months to May, amidst strong growth in export earnings. Exports from Sri Lanka rose 5.8 percent to 2,530 million dollars from Jan – May, as the island shipped more clothes, tea, rubber based products. During the month of […]

Sri Lanka’s trade deficit widens despite strong export growth in May

July 13, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s trade deficit expanded to 429 million dollars for the five months to May, amidst strong growth in export earnings. Exports from Sri Lanka rose 5.8 percent to 2,530 million dollars from Jan – May, as the island shipped more clothes, tea, rubber based products. During the month of […]

Tsunami displaced asked to build their own houses to beat costs

July 13, 2006 (LBO) – International donors who signed up to build homes for Sri Lankans displaced by the tsunami, are now altering plans to beat bureaucratic delays and rising construction costs, officials said Thursday. Over 98,000 houses needed to be built following the December 2004 tsunami that killed over 31,000 people and left nearly […]

Sri Lanka fills monetary board vacancy

July 13, 2006 (LBO) – Upali Group chairman Nimal Welgama, has been appointed to the Monetary Board, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka said Thursday. Welgama has been appointed by the President with effect from July 3. His term of office will be for the remaining period of office of P D Rodrigo, appointed member […]

Sri Lankan rupee strengthens; shares close narrowly mixed

July 7, 2006 (LBO) – Colombo share prices closed little change in moderate trade Friday, but the rupee rallied a touch on some dollars sales by state banks, dealers said.They said the benchmark finished in the positive territory thanks to local retail interest in few smaller cap stocks, with institutional interest in selected bluechip counters. […]

Page 933 of 1099