Category: Economy
Colombo Port will have trouble providing welfare facilities to employees: Minister
Dec 21, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Minister of Port and Shipping Arjuna Ranatunga had yesterday revealed that even though the annual income is 29 billion rupees, the Authority will have difficulties when providing welfare facilities to its employees.“Colombo port receives 29 billion rupees of annual income. However there is a significant portion from the […]
Motor car registrations high at 10,054 in November: JB Securities
Dec 18, 2015 (LBO) – Vehicle registration momentum continued into the month of November due to the pre-Nov 20 budget surge and relaxation of LTV rule, JB Securities said in a research note. Total motor cars registrations recorded 10,054 units in Nov slightly down from 10,349 units in Oct but significantly higher than 2,419 units […]
Sri Lanka cannot expect IMF to come and sort out problems: Razeen Sally
Dec 18, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka might need IMF funds as money flow tightens in the future with global economic complexity but the government cannot expect a bail out by the IMF after acting irresponsibly, Professor Razeen Sally said in a forum held Thursday.“There is a lot of talk, as in the past, about […]
Turkey to provide USD350mn for development projects in Sri Lanka
Dec 17, 2015 (LBO) – Finance Ministry is to enter into an agreement with Turkey that will enable Sri Lanka to have 350 million US dollars from Turk Exim Bank to implement development projects in Sri Lanka.The cabinet has approved a proposal to sign this MOU with the intention of strengthening the financial relationship with […]
Sri Lanka requests India to extend USD 1.5bn swap facility by one year
Dec 17, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Finance Ministry has requested India to extend the existing 1.5 billion US dollars swap facility by one year, the finance minister told Parliament Thursday.“I spoke to Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and requested to extend the USD 1.5 bn facility by another year,” Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said.“Because […]
We are not dictated by IMF policy: Finance Minister
Dec 17, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Finance Minister told Parliament Wednesday that the country has a strong balance of payments environment and rejected reports of a gloomy outlook for 2016. “There is no issue with the balance of payments. Our problem is with the trade balance. Our exports have decreased and imports increased,” Finance […]
US Fed raises rates by 25 bp, first hike since 2006
Dec 17, 2015 (LBO) – The US Federal Reserve has raised interest rates by 25 basis points, its first increase since 2006. Fed Chair Janet Yellen said the move would be followed by “gradual” tightening as officials watch for signs of higher inflation. The target for the Fed funds rate was unanimously set at 0.25 […]
Sri Lanka GDP grows 4.8-pct in 2015 third quarter: Census Dept.
Dec 15, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s gross domestic product expanded 4.82 percent in the third quarter of 2015 from a year earlier, the state statistics office said. The statistics office said agriculture grew 6.9 percent, industries by 6.2 percent and services by 3.4 percent. The economic growth rate of the country for the first […]
USD 1.6 bn worth FDI expected from 66 projects, 45 expansions: BOI
Dec 15, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment says they are expecting 1.6 billion US dollars worth foreign direct investments through 66 new projects and 45 expansions of existing projects. “As a result of the introduction of new procedures aimed at improving facilitation, the BOI succeeded in attracting a number of important projects […]
Fed liftoff largely priced in by emerging markets: ABN AMRO
Dec 15, 2015 (LBO) – A first rate hike by the U.S. Fed in nearly a decade expected this week is largely priced-in and emerging markets may have already seen most of the adjustment to Fed hikes, ABN AMRO said in a research report. “Fed message is likely to be relatively soothing, as we expect […]
Special economic zones, a driving force for increased trade in Asia: ADB
Dec 14, 2015 (LBO) – Special economic zones (SEZs) can be a driving force for increased trade, investment, and economic reform in Asia as it experiences a slowdown in trade, provided the right business environments and policies are put in place, a new Asian Development Bank (ADB) report said. “The expansion in the number of […]
“I Paid A Bribe” anti-corruption website launched in Sri Lanka
Dec 11, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government and I Paid A Bribe Sri Lanka has launched a “first of its kind” anti-corruption website www.ipaidabribe.lk to crowd source reports on corruption. President Maithripala Sirisena and Chairman of the Commission to Investiate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe, were present at the launch […]