Category: Economy
Advocata commends Government’s decision to shut down SaluSala
Jun 19, 2019 (LBO) – Advocata Institute commends President Maithripala Sirisena’s directive to shut down the loss-making, state-owned handloom enterprise Salu Sala. While we commend this decision, we are also anticipating the official gazette enacting this statement. The SaluSala, now a white elephant to society, was once the only state textile trading enterprise in the […]
Fin Min tells Parliament that Q1 2019 growth will rebound to 3.5-pct
Jun 19, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s economic growth has increased to 3.5 percent of gross domestic product in the first quarter of 2019, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera told parliament. “Our Government took the real growth to the villages.The economy in the first quarter grew at 3.5 percent against 1.8 percent last quarter of 2018, which […]
Sri Lanka vehicle registrations down in May 2019
Jun 19, 2019 (LBO) – Vehicle registrations across the board slowed except for 2 wheelers, mini and light trucks during the period May 2019, a new report shows with the turmoil in the country during that month significantly contributing. Total motor car registrations recorded 1,816 units in May down from 2,120 units in April and […]
Sri Lanka imports down 11-pct, tourism earnings down 7.5-pct in April; trade gap narrows
Jun 18, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s trade deficit further narrowed to 797 million US dollars from 999 million dollars in April 2018, the Central Bank data showed. The considerable reduction in the trade deficit in April was due to the decline in import expenditure by 11 percent and a marginal increase of export earnings […]
First Capital upgrades exchange rate outlook for 2019E to LKR 180 from 194
Jun 13, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s First Capital Research has upgraded their exchange rate outlook for 2019E to 1 USD: LKR 180 from 194 as their 65 percent base case scenario. The firm has also introduced a 12-month target for Jun 2020E of 1 USD: LKR 185 as a 60 percent base case scenario. […]
Sri Lanka growth may come down to about 2.9-pct in 2019: Central Bank Chief
Jun 11, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s economic growth adversely affected by Easter Sunday bombings is expected to slow to around 2.9 percent this year, the Central Bank Governor Indrajit Coomaraswamy revealed. The Central Bank, however, projected the economic growth for this year to be around 4 percent, at the beginning of the year. “The […]
Sri Lanka petrol price raised to Rs138 per ltr
Jun 11, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government will increased the price of 92 Octane petrol by three rupees to 138 rupees for a litre from midnight yesterday. The price revision was done under a pricing formula introduced by the Finance Ministry in 2018. Prices of three other fuels remained unchanged, according to a statement. […]
Sri Lanka Government signs Statement of Corporate Intent with 10 SOEs
Jun 11, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Government today signed the Statement of Corporate Intent (SCIs) with ten selected State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) with the view of enhancing the performance of these SOEs. The Department of Public Enterprises (PED) introduced the concept of SCI in 2017 and the concept was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers […]
Sri Lanka official reserves fall to USD 6.7bn by end May from 7.2bn in April
Jun 07, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s gross official reserves were 6,732.4 million US dollars by the end of May, down from 7,212.7 million US dollars in April, latest Central Bank data showed. By the end of May, foreign currency reserves were 5,824.3 million dollars while the reserve position in the IMF was 65.9 million […]
Sri Lanka tourism kicks off promotion campaign in India
Jun 04, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Tourism with the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) and The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) together with Sri Lankan Airlines to launched five promotional packages in the Indian market. “We look forward to activating this campaign as soon as possible in India and looking […]
Central Bank will impose lending cap if Sri Lanka banks do not cooperate: CBSL Chief
Jun 03, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Monetary Board would need to consider whether they impose a lending cap if the banks are not cooperative enough to reduce the high lending rates, Central Bank Governor Indrajit Coomaraswamy warned. The Central Bank recently imposed a cap on deposit rates with the intention of bringing down lending […]
Amidst elevated market lending rates, private sector credit contracted notably: CBSL
May 31, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank on Friday said the market lending rates remained downward rigid, despite the measures already taken while the private sector credit showing a notable contraction. Sizable liquidity injections through the reductions in the Statutory Reserve Ratio (SRR) along with appropriate and prudent open market operations (OMOs) have […]