Category: Featured
Experts discuss framing a green development pathway for Sri Lanka
Experts from the government, private sector, UN agencies, think tanks, and other development partners, came together at this week’s kickstarter sessions of the Colombo Development Dialogues on Green Development, held on 12 and 14 October 2021. With over 450 participants joining in virtually, they sought to come to a common understanding of a localised, Sri […]
Video Interview: Women in leadership – Sonali Dharmawardene
Continuing with our women in leadership interview series, this month LBO is featuring Sonali Dharmawardene, a very sucessful fashion designer and entrepreuner in Sri Lanka who has pushed boundaries and found balance to rise to the top of her industry. Sonali has taken one of the oldest Sri Lankan Artisan Crafts and put her own […]
UNDP introduces Colombo development dialogues on green development
Rapid socio-economic, technological, environmental, and other changes around the world have posed unprecedented challenges to us all. These challenges are especially pertinent against the backdrop of climate change, increased urbanization and widening inequalities, coupled with the ramifications of the COVID-19 outbreak. However, this has also amplified the need for countries to re-align their economic recovery […]
Legal validity of digital signatures highlighted
Digital Signatures have been in use in Sri Lanka since 2009, however, due to the outbreak of the pandemic and travel restrictions, signing documents physically has found to be challenging. Hence, the requirement for digital signatures among many segments of the community has soared in the recent past. In view of raising awareness about Digital […]
Interview: Futureproofing banking sector through digital-first mindset
There is a good reason why digitalisation is a top priority for banking. When done correctly, it enables paradigm shifting improvements in customer experience and accessibility. For the average customer, it means, they are able to utilize the full range of our products and services seamlessly, through the platform of their choice. While prior to […]
Sri Lanka gets USD 110Mn for health systems enhancement project from ADB
The Government of Sri Lanka decided to borrow a loan amounting to USD 110 million from ADB and a grant of USD 03 million, provided by ADB-managed Japanese Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR), to implement the “Additional Financing of Health Systems Enhancement Project”. In early 2020, with the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, USD 15 million […]
ADB to promote SME sector in Sri Lanka
Asian Development Bank (ADB) Director General for South Asia Department Kenichi Yokoyama has assured President Gotabaya Rajapaksa that the ADB will support the promotion of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs). The Asian Development Bank (ADB) provided a US 750 million concessional loan last year for projects in Sri Lanka. Yokoyama said that the ADB […]
Regulating prices: From price mandates to more competition
Regulating prices: from price mandates to more competition The government recently removed the maximum retail price (MRP) on rice with a decision to import a buffer stock of rice to prevent any shortages. This is an important step in the right direction. Opening up the market for more competition will reduce the market power of […]
Opinion: Navigating through high maritime freight rates
By Imesha Dissanayake Maritime Freight rates have been on an upward trend since the second half of 2020. The Drewry’s composite World Container Index (WCI) as at 30th September 2021 increased to USD 10,361 per 40ft container, which is 292% higher than the same period in 2020. The average composite index of the WCI (Drewry), […]
Sri Lanka projected to grow by 3.3-pct : Shifting gears to services-led growth can help build back better
Sri Lanka’s economy is projected to grow by 3.3 percent in 2021, but the medium-term outlook is clouded by pre-existing macroeconomic weaknesses and the economic scarring from the COVID-19 pandemic. A gradual recovery will likely lead to corresponding improvements in labor market conditions. Most countries in South Asia are far from pre-pandemic trend levels, says […]
PUCSL launch second phase of electrician licensing program
The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), the electricity sector regulator, commences the second phase of awarding free National Vocational Qualification Level 3 (NVQ 3) Program for Electricians tomorrow. The PUCSL launched this programme March last year and more than 2000 electricians have obtained NVQ3 under the programme and qualified for the electrician license. […]
“Immediate investigation into Sri Lankans revealed in Pandora papers” President
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has ordered the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption to launch an immediate investigation into the Sri Lankans and the related transactions revealed in the Pandora Papers and submit a report in a month. It was published in the media that according to the papers, information has come to light […]