Category: Policy
Ravi K says Japan agrees USD2.5bn development loan to Sri Lanka
May 19, 2016 (LBO) – Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake told Parliament Thursday that Japan has agreed to provide about 2.5 billion US dollars worth development policy loan to Sri Lanka. This has been revealed yesterday when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Special Representative Hiroto Izumi called on Prime Minster Ranil Wickremesinghe, Finance Minister said.“Mr. Izumi also […]
Sri Lanka moving ahead with Panama Papers probe, says minister
May 17, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government is following up on the Panama Papers leaks and has requested for an official list from authorities in Panama, State Minister for National Policies and Economic Affairs Niroshan Perera said. “Central Bank Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has contacted authorities in Panama to obtain an official list,” Perera […]
Equity crowdfunding soon for average investors in US
May 13, 2016 (LBO) – This month the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission will begin implementing equity crowdfunding for the average investor. This will allow small companies to directly raise debt or equity capital from friends, family, and interested investors. It’s the final piece of landmark legislation called the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, popularly […]
Sri Lanka IMF agreement faces implementation risks: Fitch
May 03, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s 1.5 billion US dollar three-year IMF programme eases near-term balance-of-payments risks but will require sustained commitment from the authorities to address long-standing weaknesses in external and public finances, Fitch Ratings said. The ratings agency said the IMF support therefore has no immediate impact on Sri Lanka’s ‘B+’/Negative sovereign […]
Sri Lankans named in Panama Papers expected in May
Apr. 27, 2016 (LBO) – The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists said they will release on May 9th a searchable database with information on more than 200,000 offshore entities that are part of the Panama Papers investigation. The data comes from the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, one of the top players in the offshore […]
Sri Lanka holds rates unchanged after policy meeting
Apr 26, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s monetary board held interest rates unchanged after a monthly policy meeting to allow time for recent tightening to take its course. “Considering the fact that the Central Bank has already adopted measures to tighten monetary policy by raising the Statutory Reserve Ratio (SRR) and policy interest rates, and […]
US expected to hold rates this week
Apr 25, 2016 (LBO) – The U.S Federal Reserve is widely expected to hold interest rates when its policy makers meet this week. More important than the actual rate decision at this week’s (26th-27th) Fed meeting will be the language of the policy statement, analysts say. “The market for Fed funds futures seems to be […]
Interview: Sri Lanka wants infrastructure that generate revenue, says Niroshan Perera
Apr 22, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will move ahead with development projects that generate revenue while strengthening accountability of state institutions to Parliament, a government minister said. State Minister for National Policies and Economic Affairs, Niroshan Perera, spoke to Lanka Business Online on several aspects of policy. Projects such as the Mattala airport and […]
Sri Lanka’s govt. sets standard for appointing boards of SOE’s
Apr 08, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s cabinet has decided to approve a set criteria for consideration for appointing of chairmen and board of directors of State Owned Enterprises in the island. “Lack of a clear-cut policy directives with regard to management of Public Enterprises, failure to delegate decision-making to senior management, absence in commercial […]
India likely to cut rates, eyes on FOMC minutes
Apr 04, 2016 (LBO) – Both the Reserve Bank of India and the Reserve Bank of Australia will announce interest rate decisions on Tuesday, with Moody’s Analytics expecting the RBI to cut its policy rate by 25 basis points to 6.5 percent. The Monetary Authority of Singapore will also meet this week, and analysts expect […]
Final decision on VAT next week, says State Finance Minister Lakshman Yapa
Apr 01, 2016 (LBO) – The final decision on Value Added Tax will be taken by next Friday, State Finance Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena told LankaBusinessOnline a short while ago. “No decision has been taken yet. It will be decided next Friday,” Abeywardena said. Inland Revenue Department has issued a notice to the VAT registered […]
Sri Lanka rates held unchanged after monetary policy meeting
Mar 29, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s monetary board held interest rates unchanged after a monthly monetary policy meeting, surprising some market participants who expected a rate increase. Seven out of 13 economists expected the Central Bank to raise rates to tackle high credit growth and pressure on the Rupee, according to a poll done […]