Category: Economy
CBSL requests financial institutions to refrain from engaging in speculative activity
Mar 17, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank requests financial institutions to refrain from engaging in speculative activity which could lead to panic in the financial market. Delivering a statement, the Governor of Central Bank, W. D. Lakshman requested all financial institutions led by licensed commercial banks to pass to the market the full […]
Sri Lanka Central Bank eases monetary policy further to support economic activity
Mar 16, 2020 (LBO) – The Monetary Board of Sri Lanka’s Central Bank at an urgent meeting held today has decided to reduce the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) by 25 basis points to 6.25 percent and 7.25 percent, respectively, with effect from tomorrow. The board has also […]
Identify right model to develop the country: President tells researchers
Mar 13, 2020 (LBO) – President Gotabaya Rajapaksa requested the heads of research organizations to find ways and means to uplift a small country like Sri Lanka with a comparatively small population and an economy. Since the current global economy is based on knowledge, ours should be developed centered around our workforce that can be […]
Fitch Ratings to review Sri Lanka national ratings assigned to tier 2 debt
Mar 11, 2020 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings will review the National Ratings assigned to the issues of Tier 2 debt of Sri Lankan banks and non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) following the publication of its updated Bank Rating Criteria on 28 February 2020. Fitch’s ratings approach for the ratings of subordinated debt of NBFIs follows the […]
Sri Lanka stocks close down
Mar 11, 2020 (LBO) – Following global markets, the Colombo Bourse took an expected beating Tuesday with both indices tumbling heavily during the initial ten minutes of trading. With the S&P SL20 index succumbing to a 5% drop at the initial hour, a trading halt was imposed for half an hour. Although, the initial panic […]
Women in the workforce and why it matters for Sri Lanka: World Bank
To mark this year’s International Women’s day, we’re discussing how Sri Lanka can benefit from more women joining the workforce and what can be done to improve their job prospects and remain at work. World Bank Country Director for Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka Dr. Idah Pswarayi-Riddihough was featured in a “Spotlight Series” interview with […]
COVID-19 Outbreak to have significant economic impact on developing Asia: ADB
Mar 10, 2020 (LBO) – The ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak will have a significant impact on developing Asian economies through numerous channels, including sharp declines in domestic demand, lower tourism and business travel, trade and production linkages, supply disruptions, and health effects, according to a new analysis by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The […]
COVID-19 outbreak likely to affect Sri Lanka’s economic performance : Central Bank
Mar 05, 2020 (LBO) – The exact impact on the Sri Lankan Economy would depend on the extent of the global spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, its persistence and policy responses of major economies and trading partners, the Central Bank said. “Sri Lanka’s economic links with China could be directly affected as significant volumes of […]
Policy interest rates of Central Bank of Sri Lanka to remain unchanged
Mar 05, 2020 (LBO) – The Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, at its meeting held on 04 March 2020, decided to maintain the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) of the Central Bank at their current levels of 6.50 percent and 7.50 percent, respectively, and […]
Our people-centric economic model aims at overcoming development slowdown:President
Mar 05, 2020 (LBO) – Accelerating our economic development is the primary challenge facing Sri Lanka today and most of the security issues that Sri Lanka has faced over the years have been due to the exploitation of the economically disadvantaged, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said. The proposed people-centric model takes this factor into account, said […]
Future engagement with Sri Lanka to be decided after next review in mid-April: IMF
Feb 28, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lankan authorities have expressed interest in a range of options for future engagement with the fund, the International Monetary Fund said. Gerry Rice of the IMF Communications Department speaking at a briefing, however, said that the specifics of that engagement will be discussed after the next review in mid-April. […]
Sri Lanka decides not to go ahead with current MCC agreement
Feb 28, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers has decided not to go ahead with the current Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact (MCC) agreement. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa today handed over the interim report of the 4-member committee appointed to review the MCC agreement to the Cabinet of Ministers. At the cabinet press briefing […]