Category: Policy
Central Bankers should have dual mandate, says author of HDR 2015
Jan 22, 2016 (LBO) – Central Bankers in the modern era should have a dual mandate which concentrate on employment targeting in addition to conventional inflation targeting, lead author of the 2015 Global Human Development Report said. Making the South Asian regional release yesterday in Colombo Selim Jahan stated that enhancing human development through work […]
Probability of US March rate hike drops, eyes on Davos
Jan 20, 2016 (LBO) – The probability of a rate hike by the U.S. Fed by March fell to 40 percent with equity markets off to a bad start this year, as focus turns to the World Economic Forum in Davos. JPMorgan expects the next US interest rate hike in June, and some analysts predict […]
Stiglitz outlines carbon, inelastic, land, congestion taxes at economic forum
Jan 08, 2016 (LBO) – Renowned economist Joseph Stiglitz, speaking at the Sri Lanka Economic Forum, explained some of the ways the government could raise tax revenue by taxing environmental pollution, inelastic goods, land, consumption and road congestion. “What is the best way to increase tax revenue?” the nobel laureate asked a packed forum of […]
Every single day is a lost day, PM declares
Jan 07, 2016 (LBO) – Speaking to a packed house of corporate leaders, government officials, ministers, civil society leaders, diplomats and visiting economists, Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe underscored the need for urgent action to move the nation forward, in response to a question posed by Harvard University’s Professor Ricardo Haussmann. Previously in his […]
Foreign funds overweight on India bonds
Jan 05, 2016 (LBO) – India has a positive story for bonds with some foreign funds investing in emerging markets overweight on Indian bonds, a report said. Falling oil prices improved Indian government finances — the country is a net importer of oil — while a stable currency and limited exposure to China supported these investments. […]
Sri Lanka interest rates tied to inflation, Fed: CB Governor
Jan 01, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will review policy interest rates based on inflation outlook and external factors such as Fed interest rates, the Central Bank Governor told a press conference. “The key thing to look at is inflationary expectations and that is something we have full responsibility for,” Governor Arjuna Mahendran said. The […]
Sri Lanka Economic Forum with Soros, Stiglitz next month
Dec 31, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government will host its Sri Lanka Economic Forum next month with business magnate and philanthropist George Soros and nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz as guest speakers.The conference, an initiative of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, will bring together development specialists to advise the various arms of government on its development […]
Sri Lanka govt in informal consultation with IMF: CB Governor
Dec 31, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran said that they are examining the possibilities of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan facility next year. “Yes we are examining the possibilities and the government are in informal consultation with the IMF,” Mahendran said. “A team is due here for regular discussions […]
Sri Lanka economy grew 5.2 pct in first nine months : CB-Updated
(Updated with Central Bank presentation) Dec 31, 2015 (LBO) -Sri Lanka’s economy grew 5.2 percent during the first nine months of the year compared with 2.4 percent growth during the same period last year, the Central Bank said on Thursday. Strong credit growth to the private sector seeping out as consumption imports was, however, a […]
Sri Lanka Central Bank tightens monetary policy, increases SRR
Dec 30, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank tightened monetary policy on Wednesday citing concerns over expansion in monetary aggregates fueling inflation. The Monetary Board raised the Statutory Reserve Ratio (SRR) applicable to all rupee deposit liabilities of commercial banks by 1.50 percentage points to 7.50 per cent effective from 16 January. The Standing […]
Rs50 bln in bonds likely privately placed by Sri Lanka Central Bank
Dec 29, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank may have privately placed 50 billion rupees in bonds with state funds this month making an exception to its policy to rely solely on primary auctions, sources said. The central bank issued 744 billion rupees in treasury bonds through auctions this year compared with just 31.7 […]
Sri Lanka’s economic goals can be achieved through addressing brain drain: Eran
Dec 23, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s deputy Minister of State Enterprise Development said that internationally exposed management skills of local expatriates are the need of the hour if the island nation is to achieve its expected economic targets in the near future. “Everyone only talks of capital and technology but in my experience it […]