Category: Economy and Markets

Cabinet this week cleared the long pending draft electronic transaction bill, intended to facilitate the use of modern communications and information storage tools in transactions. Cabinet this week cleared the long pending draft electronic transaction bill, intended to facilitate the use of modern communications and information storage tools in transactions. The legislation will create a […]

Sri Lankas main opposition party, the United National Party, took a sudden decision to boycott Tuesday budget, citing its a mere academicals exercise, a senior party spokesman said.“It was a sudden decision to boycott the budget, as there is no debate before the election next week,” UNP parliamentarian Rajitha Senerath said.rn rnSri Lankas Finance Minister […]

The 2006 budget expects revenue to go up by 1.1 percent of GDP to 17.5 percent of GDP and the overall budget deficit to remain at 7.1 percent of GDP. The 2006 budget expects revenue to go up by 1.1 percent of GDP to 17.5 percent of GDP and the overall budget deficit to remain […]

Sri Lanka plans to bring in changes to its banking laws before next March to mandate banks to double their agriculture lending portfolio, Treasury Secretary said Wednesday.Sri Lanka plans to bring in changes to its banking laws before next March to mandate banks to double their agriculture lending portfolio, Treasury Secretary said Wednesday. “Credit channeled […]

Sri Lanka’s annual budget presentation got off to an inauspicious start with the main opposition party boycotting the proceeding, while government benches were half empty. Sri Lanka’s annual budget presentation got off to an inauspicious start with the main opposition party boycotting the proceeding, while government benches were half empty. Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama began […]

Sri Lanka plans to spend more and borrow further next year as expenses for defence and fuel related subsidies escalate.Sri Lanka plans to spend more and borrow further next year as expenses for defence and fuel related subsidies escalate. Total state spending will rise 30 percent to Rs.568.3 billion (US$ 5.6 billion) in 2006 from […]

Sri Lanka Tuesday announced higher taxes on gambling, smoking and liquor but slashed other levies in a budget speech boycotted by the opposition which dubbed it a ploy to bribe voters before a key election. Sri Lanka Tuesday announced higher taxes on gambling, smoking and liquor but slashed other levies in a budget speech boycotted […]

The government has proposed a return to the automatic fuel price formula after squandering billions on a failed attempt to ‘unplug’ Sri Lanka from the global economy.The government has proposed a return to the automatic fuel price formula after squandering billions on a failed attempt to ‘unplug’ Sri Lanka from the global economy. “Recurrent expenditure […]

Sri Lanka is offering tax breaks on vehicle permits, higher pay and cash for unpaid leave to encourage its bloated public sector to become more efficient. Sri Lanka is offering tax breaks on vehicle permits, higher pay and cash for unpaid leave to encourage its bloated public sector to become more efficient. The minimum salary […]