Category: Featured
Opinion: Reforming tax incentive structure in Sri Lanka
The second tranche of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Extended Fund Facility (EFF) was delayed as the country failed to meet some of the program targets including the government revenue target. This prompted the IMF in their latest review to reiterate the need to “strengthen tax administration, remove tax exemptions, and actively eliminate tax evasion” […]
Advocata’s Bath Curry Indicator recorded a year-on-year increase of roughly 2-pct
Advocata’s Bath Curry Indicator (BCI) which is a price-index that tracks the monthly changes in the retail price of a basket of commonly consumed food items recorded a year-on-year increase of roughly 2% between September 2022 and September 2023 and a month-on-month fall of 1.6% in between August and September 2023. Additionally, the BCI also […]
Imperative for SOE Reforms in focus at Sri Lanka Economic Summit 2023
The second session of the Sri Lanka Economic Summit 2023 titled ‘SOE Reforms – Now or Never’ will focus on the imperative for SOE reforms, sharing invaluable insights into the ongoing SOE reforms and their potential impact on economic growth. The session will center around a deep dive into the transformation of large SOEs, their […]
Re-designing Sri Lanka’s foreign policy, “need of the hour”: Eran
Sri Lankan’s economy is not standalone, but is interlinked with foreign policy, says SJB parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne. “Whilst our internal decision making is decisive, international decision making and events play a key role in our economy, lifestyle and security, more so, because we are a small island nation,” he says. Wickramaratne is of the view […]
Recognizing contribution of women in Sri Lanka towards food security and sustainable economic recovery
Achieving gender equality and empowering women is not only the right thing to do but is a critical ingredient in the fight against extreme poverty, hunger and malnutrition. As the world celebrates International Rural Women’s Day on 15th October each year, the day shines a spotlight and recognizes the significant contributions of women to global […]
”’, Removes RWN
Fitch Ratings has downgraded Sri Lanka-based Senkadagala Finance PLC’s (Senka) National Long-Term Rating to ‘BBB(lka)’ from ‘BBB+(lka)’. The Outlook is Stable. Fitch has also downgraded Senka’s subordinated debt rating to ‘BB+(lka)’ from ‘BBB-(lka)’, and removed the Rating Watch Negative (RWN) from all of Senka’s ratings. KEY RATING DRIVERS Weakened Asset Quality Drives Downgrade: Senka’s exposure […]
Borders and Budget: Visa reform will boost tourism and reverse brain drain
By Daniel Alphonsus Three million tourists are set to visit our shores next year. We will issue nearly as many online visas – millions too many. ETAs are a tourist’s bane: rather than dreamy sun, sea and sand, the weary salaryman’s getaway begins with the tedium of forms. The tourist’s ayubowan to Sri Lanka begins […]
Privatisation is the need of the hour:Advocata
“At the interim budget last year, a list of SOEs reforms were provided to be restructured. 14 months later nothing has changed even in one SOE.”- Prof. Rohan Samarajiva, a policy expert and an advisor of the Advocata Institute. He made these comments at Advocata’s press briefing, organised to highlight the urgency of carrying out […]
‘ ratings; off RWN; Outlooks stable
Fitch Ratings has affirmed the support-driven National Long-Term Ratings of four Sri Lankan bank subsidiary finance and leasing companies (FLCs). The Outlooks are Stable. The four FLCs are: CBC Finance LTD (CBCF) at ‘BBB+(lka)’; HNB Finance PLC (HNBF) at ‘BBB+(lka)’; Siyapatha Finance PLC at ‘BBB+(lka)’; and UB Finance PLC (UBF) at ‘BB(lka)’. At the same […]
CSE integrates with TradingView to facilitate advanced charting via MyCSE
The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) is proud to announce the integration of TradingView Technical Charts which facilitates advanced charting via MyCSE portal, to enhance investor experience with effect from 06 th October 2023. TradingView is the leading global provider of advanced charting and analytical tools. The facility is available in two forms as in real-time […]
Lower global growth forecasts for 2023 and 2024: IMF
The World Economic Outlook October Update says global growth is forecast to slow from 3.5 percent in 2022 to 3.0 percent in 2023 and 2.9 percent in 2024. The projections remain below the historical (2000–19) average of 3.8 percent, and the forecast for 2024 is down by 0.1 percentage point from the July 2023 Update […]
”; Outlook stable
Fitch Ratings has upgraded Ceylon Electricity Board’s (CEB) National Long-Term Rating and the rating on CEB’s senior unsecure debentures to ‘BB+(lka)’, from ‘B(lka)’. The Outlook is stable. The upgrade follows the 28 September 2023 upgrade of the Sri Lankan sovereign’s Long- Term Local-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ‘CCC-‘, from ‘Restricted Default (RD)’. CEB’s ratings […]