Category: Economy and Markets

The Freedom Alliance Govenment on Tuesday presented its second budget since coming into power after the snap April 2004 polls.To read Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama’s speech, please click on the links below.The Freedom Alliance Govenment on Tuesday presented its second budget since coming into power after the snap April 2004 polls. To read Finance […]

Budget 2006 goes to Parliament next week, but Sri Lankan businesses are not showing the interest usually reserved for a national budget.Budget 2006 goes to Parliament next week, but Sri Lankan businesses are not showing the interest usually reserved for a national budget. Given Sri Lanka’s practice of sudden policy changes and surprise taxes, the […]

Sri Lanka’s government is likely to announce ambitious spending plans to help low-income groups and farmers when it presents its 2006 budget proposals next week, analysts say. Sri Lanka’s government is likely to announce ambitious spending plans to help low-income groups and farmers when it presents its 2006 budget proposals next week, analysts say. The […]

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce wants a pre-election budgetary position made public, before the Presidential election.The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce wants a pre-election budgetary position made public, before the Presidential election. Sri Lanka’s leading trade chamber wants the government to amend the Fiscal Management (Responsibility) Act, to allow a pre-election fiscal report before a Presidential […]

Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister is promising to give paid paternity leave, duty free vehicles for good taxpayers, free spectacles for the disable, and splash out billions of rupees by way of welfare subsidies, if he wins next month’s presidential poll, his party said Tuesday. Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister is promising to give paid paternity leave, […]

Treasury Secretary says GDP growth will surpass six percent this year but independent economists give sharply lower forecasts. Treasury Secretary says GDP growth will surpass six percent this year but independent economists give sharply lower forecasts. Dr P. B. Jayasundera says higher tourism earnings and a better performance from agriculture will help the economy post […]

While the ‘pre Presidential poll’ budget is being sidelines as election propaganda, the country’s overall financial planning process is also losing its significance. While the ‘pre Presidential poll’ budget is being sidelines as election propaganda, the country’s overall financial planning process is also losing its significance. Successive governments, despite going through the pomp and pageantry […]

Sri Lanka plans to lean on foreign aid and debt relief to trim its deficit, though Tuesday’s budget will be sugar coated to woo voters in the run up to next week’s keenly contested presidential poll.Sri Lanka plans to lean on foreign aid and debt relief to trim its deficit, though Tuesday’s budget will be […]

Punters at Sri Lanka’s tiny stockmarket, cashed out on budget day with poor postal voter turnout in the North and East also adding to investors woes, brokers said.Punters at Sri Lanka’s tiny stockmarket, cashed out on budget day with poor postal voter turnout in the North and East also adding to investors woes, brokers said. […]

Sri Lanka’s main opposition Sunday demanded the postponement of the annual budget until after the presidential vote next month, arguing that the government may use it to boost its electoral fortunes.Sri Lanka’s main opposition Sunday demanded the postponement of the annual budget until after the presidential vote next month, arguing that the government may use […]

VAT on Financial Services Sri Lanka to hike value added taxes and excise duties to fund its welfare budget, finance minister Sarath Amunugama said Tuesday. VAT on Financial Services Sri Lanka to hike value added taxes and excise duties to fund its welfare budget, finance minister Sarath Amunugama said Tuesday. • VAT rate on financial […]

The presidential election has cast a cloud over the budget making it less important to investors and the private sector in general. The presidential election has cast a cloud over the budget making it less important to investors and the private sector in general. Uncertainty as to what policies may be implemented or amended after […]