Category: Featured
Only solution for COVID-19 pandemic is vaccination: Cant afford lockdown
Sri Lanka’s President says only a vaccine can end the COVID-19 pandemic. Developing countries such as Sri Lanka cannot take lockdown measures or impose curfews that obstruct the economic activities of the country, the President’s office said issuing a statement. “The majority of our country’s income earners depend on informal livelihoods. Therefore, while the government […]
Emirates to increase services to Colombo to 7 a week from 3 May
Emirates has announced it will increase its services to Colombo from six to seven flights a week, with the seventh weekly flight commencing 3rd May. The additional service will serve rising market demand and enhance connectivity to and from Colombo via Dubai. The added flight will operate every Monday. Emirates flight EK650 will depart Dubai […]
RPCs urge priority for worker vaccination ahead of new wave of COVID cases
The Planters’ Association of Ceylon (PA) called on Government and Public Health officials to ensure that estate-sector workers made a top priority in the COVID-19 vaccination drive, given their essential contributions to the national economy. In a backdrop where COVID-19 cases are once again on the rise both locally and globally, while preparations are already […]
Sri Lanka rupee strengthened against the US dollar
The Sri Lanka rupee further strengthened against the US dollar yesterday, on positive outlook for inflows. The selling rate was quoted at 191.97 rupees for a US dollar, as against 201.28 rupees on Friday and a peak of 204.62 rupees last week. The indicative dollar spot exchange rate was 194.44 rupees yesterday as against 199.93 rupees […]
WB says as SL should focus on competitiveness and debt sustainability to ensure resilient rebound
Despite the heavy toll of the COVID-19 pandemic on Sri Lanka’s economy and the lives of its people, the economy will recover in 2021, though challenges remain, says the latest World Bank Sri Lanka Development Update: Economic and Poverty Impact of COVID-19 released today. The Sri Lanka Development Update (SLDU) notes that the country, hit with an unprecedented economic […]
Gazette notification to recruit 40 eligible candidates to join Sri Lanka Foreign Service issued
The Foreign Ministry is pleased to inform that a gazette notification to recruit 40 eligible candidates to join the Sri Lanka Foreign Service (SLFS) is now published. The Gazette Notification No. 2,223 dated 9 April 2021 can be accessed at http://www.documents.gov.lk/files/gz/2021/4/2021-04-09(I-IIA)E.pdf. Members to the Foreign Service are selected every few years through an open competitive recruitment […]
Prime Lands Residencies expected to make IPO bid soon
Prime Lands Residencies (Pvt) Ltd, the condominium property arm of Prime Group, recently celebrated a milestone achievement upon the completion of its 35th property project. Issuing a statement to mark this occasion the firm says it will be making it’s Initial Public Offering (IPO) in the near future. This development, the company says will certainly […]
Advocata Institute launches tool to track everyday food price changes
Advocata’s latest policy product tracks the average retail prices of a basket of goods and provides an indication of how much prices have changed over time. With the use of such tools, anyone including policymakers and politicians alike has access to track price fluctuations. This could enable anyone to see if policies have direct or […]
”; Outlook stable
Fitch Ratings has affirmed Sri Lanka-based consumer and healthcare company Hemas Holdings PLC’s National Long-Term Rating at ‘AAA(lka)’ with a Stable Outlook. The affirmation reflects the defensive nature of Hemas’ operating cash flows stemming from its pharmaceutical trading and manufacturing, and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) businesses, which account for more than 90% of the group’s […]
From mine to market – showcasing Sri Lanka’s jewellery legacy to the world
The Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association (SLGJA) hosted their second Key Person’s Forum for the industry recently, with the objective of facilitating the industry during this pandemic period and boosting overall tourism in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism. The forum was conducted with Prasanna Ranatunga, State Minister of Tourism, Lohan Ratwatte, State Minister […]
‘Bath Curry Indicator’ by Advocata Institute will be launched tomorrow
Food inflation has risen over the last year, although the overall inflation is low. According to the National Consumer Price Index, overall prices rose by 3.7% between January 2020 and January 2021, but food inflation rose by 5.9%. While this is a matter of concern to the public, items like turmeric and green gram, which […]
Veemansa Initiative webinar to discuss new developments at Colombo Port City
Asia’s newest landscape, the Colombo port city, is to be launched as a special economic zone under the aegis of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission. The scope, incentive structure and the institutional setup of this special economic zone which was gazetted recently will be the theme of the webinar of “Asia’s Newest Landscape” which […]