Category: Featured
Sri Lanka exports fell 5-pct in June, trade gap widens 6-pct
Sept 05, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s exports fell 5.0 percent to 897 million US dollars in June 2016, while imports dropped a slower 0.2 percent to 1,676 million US dollars from a year earlier, official data showed. The trade gap further widened 6.0 percent to 779 million US dollars from a year earlier due to […]
Ban Ki-moon sees development, commends steps towards reconciliation
Sept 05, 2016 (LBO) – UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he had seen economic development in the island since his last visit in 2009, and commended steps taken by the government to promote reconciliation. “I visited the North of the country Jaffna, today, and saw an enormous contrast with my experience there in 2009. […]
Indian Ocean Region, significant playing field for big powers: PM
Sept 02, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister says the Indian Ocean region has always been a significant playing field for big powers and historically it has also been a bridge between the East and West. Speaking at the Indian Ocean Conference Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the wealth and technology gap between the […]
Sri Lanka expected to hold rates steady in 2016: Stan Chart
(Corrected to reflect typo in report. USD/LKR seen at 152 by end 2017) Sept 02, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is expected to hold interest rates steady for the rest of 2016 as the impact of two previous rate hikes kick in, Standard Chartered said in a report analyzing the economies of Sri Lanka and […]
HNB approves USD50 mln share issue to ADB, up to 9.9 pct stake
Sept 01, 2016 (LBO) – The Hatton National Bank PLC board has approved issuing shares for 50 million dollars to the Asian Development Bank by way of a private placement, making the development lender a strategic investor. “The proceeds of the issue of shares by private placement as aforementioned will be utilized for the purpose […]
Sri Lanka’s Volkswagen project temporarily halted: Minister
Aug 29, 2016 (LBO) – The proposed project to set up a Volkswagen car plant in Sri Lanka has temporarily been halted, Deputy Minister of Public Enterprise Development Eran Wickramaratne said. “Due to the international issues they had to face, they have decided not to invest in this project in Sri Lanka for now,” Wickramaratne […]
Sri Lanka’s tea industry opposes state interference to use levy
Aug 29, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tea industry players have opposed the Finance Ministry’s move to appropriate the funds accumulated by Tea Board, collected from the industry, for global tea promotion. Releasing a statement, six associations in the tea industry appealed to the Government to reconsider what they called an ‘unfair’ action in deference to […]
‘s decision to air-gap public sector closely watched
Aug 29, 2016 (LBO) – Singapore is working on how to “air gap” web access for public servants as a defense against cyber attacks, a media report said. But some security experts say the policy, due to be in place by May, risks damaging productivity among civil servants and cutting them off from the people […]
LAUGFS Lubricants opens Sri Lanka’s first Tribology Park
Aug 26, 2016 (LBO) – LAUGFS Lubricants has opened Sri Lanka’s first Tribology Park at the BOI Export Processing Park in Nittambuwa, for research and innovation dedicated to the areas of friction and lubrication. The facility offers a cutting-edge research and development centre, providing solutions especially customized for Sri Lankan driving conditions, a statement said. […]
‘s ECT
Aug 26, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is seeking a partner from the Indian subcontinent to develop a port designed to be its deepest and accommodate the world’s largest container vessels, Shipping Minister Arjuna Ranatunga told the Indian Express. The Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA) is looking for a foreign investor with about USD 400 […]
Sri Lanka must plug into global production networks: Harsha de Silva
Aug 25, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka needs to get into the game of global production networks and needs to treat trade agreements seriously, a government minister said. Deputy Foreign Minister Harsha de Silva outlined Sri Lanka’s future path as a trading nation at a panel discussion organized by the Young Professionals Organization of UNP. […]
Sri Lanka should develop Indian, Chinese markets: Tourism minister
Aug 25, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will be looking towards China and India for growth, in terms of geography, while looking for niche sector growth from MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) and cruise tourism, a minister said. “Our target is to further increase the growing Chinese and Indian markets,” Minister of Tourism and […]