Category: Featured
South Asia developing 7.1 pct; Sri Lanka falling behind on debt, growth
June 10, 2016 (LBO) – Growth in South Asia is expected to reach 7.1 percent in 2016 and strengthen to 7.3 percent by 2018, underpinned by robust domestic demand, the World Bank said in its Global Economic Prospects report. In the near term, consumption spending continues to benefit from low oil prices and modest inflation […]
IMF confirms Sri Lanka has additional Rs1.3 trillion liabilities
June 09, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government has been informed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that they have identified 1.3 trillion rupees (8.9 billion dollars) of additional liabilities as at the end of 2015. Prime Minister told Parliament that the fiscal affairs department of the IMF, with the help of treasury officials, recently […]
Sri Lanka to introduce capital gains tax & remove exchange control: PM
June 09, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government will remove exchange control regulations before the end of this year with improved inflows coming into the country, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said. Speaking at the debate of the no-confidence motion against Finance Minister, the Premier said the proposal will be implemented with the 2017 budget proposals. […]
Sri Lanka Ports Authority calls EOIs to develop East Container Terminal
June 09, 2016 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka Ports Authority has invited expressions of interest to develop the East Container Terminal of the Colombo Port on a build operate transfer (BOT) basis. The terminal in its present form has a 440-meter long 18-meter deep quay wall, a 20-ha yard area and connected facilities developed by […]
Sri Lanka ministers need good vehicles to serve people: Rajitha
June 08, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s ministers should be given proper vehicles to serve the public though there may be public resistance to tax-free vehicles, Co-Cabinet Spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said. The government yesterday presented a supplementary estimate of 1.2 billion rupees seeking Parliament approval to purchase 32 vehicles for 30 ministers, state ministers and […]
Sri Lanka exports, imports decline; trade gap shrinks in February
June 07, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s exports fell 1.7 percent to 887.7 million US dollars in February, while imports fell at a faster 5.9 percent to 1,439.3 million US dollars from a year earlier, official data showed. The trade gap has shrank 11.9 percent to 551.7 million US dollars from a year earlier. On […]
IMF approves 36-month EFF facility of USD1.5 Bln to Sri Lanka
June 04, 2016 (LBO) – The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a 36-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF) to Sri Lanka for 1.5 billion dollars, to support the country’s economic reform agenda, the IMF said. The arrangement aims to meet balance of payments needs arising from a deteriorating external environment and […]
Korean firm wants to revive KKS cement with USD450mn investment
June 03, 2016 (LBO) – Korea’s AFKO group is interested in reviving the Kankesanthurai cement plant with a 450 million dollar investment, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce said in a statement. AFKO Group, which merged with Korea’s multinational chaebol Hyundai Group in 2008, has its own construction and cement projects in several countries. The […]
Sri Lanka drops Bus Rapid Transport proposal from Megapolis
June 02, 2016 (LBO) – The transport committee of Sri Lanka’s Western Megapolis has dropped an earlier proposal to introduce a Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system due to reasons including inability to add additional bus lanes. The decision has been reached after analyzing a feasibility study by Moratuwa University which shows that the proposed BRT […]
Neoliberalism oversold? Inequality throttles growth, say IMF economists
June 02, 2016 (LBO) – Instead of delivering growth, some neoliberal policies increase inequality which in turn jeopardize sustainable development, three IMF economists say in a recent article. Neoliberalism refers to capitalism in its purest form where privatization, deregulation, and the “freeing of the market” are keys to a flourishing economy. The senior IMF economists […]
Federal proposal among Sri Lankan views on constitutional reform: PRC
June 01, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Public Representations Committee (PRC) on constitutional reforms has received various proposals from the public including proposals for a federal solution with separation of power, the committee said. The Chairman of the Committee Lal Wijenayake told reporters Wednesday that the public had different views on the nature of the […]
Sri Lanka to sign MoU with Singapore’s Surbana Jurong to develop Trinco
Jun 01, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Minister of International Trade said that Surbana Jurong, a firm specializing in urbanization and infrastructure development, will sign a memorandum of understanding with the government to develop Trincomalee. “Surbana Jurong will also be developing a Master Plan for the Trincomalee region,” Malik Samarawickreme, minister of development strategies and international […]