Category: Budget

The debate over expansionary fiscal policy took a new turn with Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama making apparently contradictory statements in the budget, when defending himself against charges of igniting galloping inflation by printing money. “The Honourable Finance Minister’s statement is what I call an oxymoron,” says Dr. Harsha de Silva, a leading critic of the […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]