Category: Featured
Sri Lanka up 4 notches to 91 on Corruption index
Feb 23, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has moved up four places to 91st from 95th, in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2017 released by Transparency International with the island failing to show significant improvement. The index ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption. This year, New Zealand and Denmark rank highest […]
National Government continues: PM, UPFA General Secretary
Feb 21, 2018 (LBO) – Prime Minister told Parliament Wednesday that the national government will continue according to the constitution of the country. Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the agreement on the national government is still valid as per the law and there is no need to amend it. Wickremesinghe said he is working according […]
Frontier Research outlines salient features of new Forex Act
Feb 21, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s new Foreign Exchange Act came into effect last year after the Parliament passed it with amendments. The new law removed criminalisation of violations of the exchange control act and associated prison sentences. New Act covers matters including classes of capital transactions, opening and maintenance of accounts, permitted investments […]
Sri Lanka President promises new Economic programme
Feb 21, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena said a new economic programme of the government will be finalized by the National Economic Council (NEC) by next week. Chairing a meeting at the Presidential secretariat the President held detailed discussions on the rapid changes required in the country, Tuesday. He said that short term […]
‘s Liability Management Bill presented to Parliament
Feb 20, 2018 (LBO) – The new Active Liability Management Bill, to improve public debt management, was presented to Parliament for the first reading, Monday. Through this new bill Sri Lanka’s public debt sustainability is to be managed at a national level. To avoid any possible risk, appropriate reform methods are to be followed. Following […]
Transshipments at Colombo Port up by 20.4-pct in January
Feb 19, 2018 (LBO) – Transshipment operations at the Port of Colombo have shown a significant increase in January this year against last year amid an increase in productivity, Sri Lanka Ports Authority said. Accordingly against 362,451 transshipment TEU operations in January 2017, together with the JCT, SAGT and CICT, the Colombo Port has recorded 436,303 […]
Insurance Industry records 15.5-pct growth in 3Q of 2017
Feb 16, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s insurance industry was able to report a growth of 15.53 percent (3Q, 2016: 16.97 percent ) in terms of overall Gross Written Premium (GWP), at the end of third quarter of 2017, recording an increase of 15,862 million rupees when compared to the same period in 2016. The […]
Construction sector challenged by continued labour shortage: report
RIU report 2018 – The construction industry is worth approximately USD 8 Bn and is already under strain owing to rising construction costs.This industry is challenged by a shortagein skilled construction workers due to two factors; firstly, there is a large number of potential labour who seek employment as trishaw drivers and secondly, due to worker […]
CB keeps policy rates unchanged: Economy currently operating below potential
Feb 15, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will keep policy rates unchanged in February as the economy is stabilizing with improvements in trade figures, the islands central bank said. “The decision of the Monetary Board is consistent with the objective of maintaining inflation at mid-single digit levels over the medium term and thereby facilitating a sustainable growth […]
Sri Lanka needs to create an environment that rewards investment: Harvard economist
Feb 14, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka should move towards a simpler tariff structure, and implement direct taxes on things like income and property to maintain revenue, Harvard economist Robert Lawrence says. “90 percent of your tariffs should be in the simple schedule, and then there may be some exceptions,” Lawrence, faculty chair of the Practice of […]
SriLankan explores opportunities for new direct flights to Australia
Feb 13, 2018 (LBO) – SriLankan Airlines CEO, Suren Ratwatte says the national carrier will explore more opportunities in Australia with new direct flights to destinations like Sydney. Ratwatte said daily nonstop flights between Colombo and Melbourne are witnessing high traffic with customers reporting satisfaction at being able to undertake the flight without long layovers. […]
Message from Sri Lankan people has sunk deep into UNP: Mangala
Feb 12, 2018 (LBO) – Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera says they will join hands with all democratic political forces to ensure that Sri Lanka never again returns to rule by the sword. Releasing a statement, Minister Samaraweera said the message from the people has sunk deep into the UNP, and they are committed to taking […]