Category: Economy
New MLA amendments to restrict financing fiscal deficit by Central Bank
June 05, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank said there will be new legislative amendments to Monetary Law Act (MLA) to restrict financing the fiscal deficit of the government by the Central Bank. Currently, the Central bank has been compelled to purchase Treasury bills in the primary market at times without regard to monetary […]
‘s 4th review; approves USD 252 mn disbursement
June 02, 2018 (LBO) – Executive Board of the IMF has completed the fourth review of Sri Lanka’s economic performance under the program supported by a three-year extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement. Completion of this review enables the disbursement of the equivalent of SDR 177.774 million (about US$ 252 million), bringing […]
Sri Lanka exports up 6.3-pct to USD1.1Bn
Jun 01, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s overall exports were up by 6.3 percent to US 1.1 billion dollars with an increase in industrial exports, data from the Central Bank showed Thursday. Performance of merchandise exports in March 2018, merchandise export earnings at US 1,108 million dollars, recorded the historically highest monthly value. The year-on-year growth of […]
Sri Lanka reserves at USD7.3Bn, Rupee depreciates 3.3-pct: CB
Jun 01, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank says the level of gross official reserves of the country was estimated at US 7.3 billion dollars, equivalent to 4.1 months of imports, at end March 2018. “The level of gross official reserves of the country remained at a healthy level recent past,” it said. Total […]
Nawala, Dehiwala and Rajagiriya continue as property hot-spots : Report
By Lanka Property Web A recent study done by LankaPropertyWeb.com reveals the average residential land prices around Colombo and which areas the prices have gone up. In a comprehensive study done on land for sale asking prices (for-sale prices) around Colombo listed on their website, the suburbs of Nawala, Dehiwala and Rajagiriya have topped the […]
Sri Lanka signs agreement for gas exploration services
May 31, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Minister of Petroleum Resources Development, signed an agreement with Eastern Echo DMCC, subsidiary of a major oilfield services company Schlumberger, Wednesday to explore prospects for oil and gas resources in selected offshore areas of the island. The company will collect, market and license of petroleum data on “multi-client” basis, enabling […]
Dollar strengthening combines with political uncertainty in Sri Lanka: Moody’s
May 28, 2018 (LBO) – Strengthening of the Dollar in Sri Lanka has combined with domestic political uncertainty, weighing on the rupee, Moody’s Investors Service said.Moody’s said country-specific factors like in Sri Lanka have played a role in tightening financing conditions. Tightening financing conditions reflect various factors, including the appreciation of the US dollar. Moody’s, […]
VAT to be reduced by 2.5-pct by 2020 : Fin Min
May 25, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will reduce Value Added Tax (VAT) by 2.5 percent in 2020 in order to relieve masses of the burden of indirect taxes, Minister MangalaSamraweera said. “It is the poor people who mostly pay taxes to the government by way of indirect taxes. We should relieve them of this […]
Finance Minister appoints Ranel Tissa Wijesinha as new Chairman of SEC
May 24, 2018 (LBO) – Finance and Media Minister has appointed Ranel Tissa Wijesinha as the new Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka with effect from today.The other members appointed to the Board of the SEC are as follows: Chandrakumar Ramachandra Jayantha Fernando Arjuna Herath Rajeev Amarasuriya Manjula Hiranya de Silva
Sri Lanka tea exports up in April 2018, Low grown production down
May 24, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tea exports for the month of April 2018 showed a gain of 0.7M/kgs when compared with the same period last year while bulk tea and tea bags show a marginal decrease, a new report shows. “When analyzing the total revenue realized of 17.1 billion rupees for April 2018, […]
Central Bank to create intervention rules for foreign exchange market
May 23, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank is to introduce several rules, the officials need to follow when they are intervening in the foreign exchange market, Central Bank Governor Indrajit Coomaraswamy said. Speaking at a recent event, Coomaraswamy, however, said Central Bank’s intervention in the forex market will only be limited to smooth […]
Fin Min says Sri Lanka economy on stable footing; Challenges MR for TV debate
May 23, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Finance Minister challenging former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to an open television debate on the economy said that sound macroeconomic fundamentals exist for stronger growth in the island. Addressing media on Tuesday he said that the islands economy has been strengthened with tax revenue, exports and foreign direct investments growing substantially […]