Category: Featured
Opinion: Measuring poverty within Sri Lanka’s new reality as upper-middle-income country
Wimal Nanayakkara Sri Lanka achieved ‘Upper Middle Income Country’ (UMIC) status in July 2019, as the country’s Gross National Income (GNI) increased from USD 3,840 per capita in 2018 to USD 4,060 per capita in 2019. World Bank’s (WB) new threshold for UMICs is USD 3,996 – USD 12,375 GNI per capita. Sri Lanka scraped […]
PUCSL asks CEB for explanation regarding recent power outages
Feb 07, 2020 (LBO) – The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), the electricity regulator is seeking an investigation report on the recent power outage from Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), a statement said. Issuing a statement the PUCSL has asked the CEB to submit the said report on or before 12th February 2020. Sri Lanka […]
Opinion: Post-independence reflections, the gaps in our freedoms
By Erandi de Silva Seventy two years ago, Sri Lanka gained independence from the shackles of British rule. This meant the autonomy to govern our people, the freedom to create and maintain our institutions and the ability to carve our own political narrative. Beyond political liberty, independence also restored our control over land, resources, and […]
Sri Lanka can boost its development tapping agriculture and new technology : WB
Feb 05, 2020 (LBO) – The World Bank reaffirmed its continued support to Sri Lanka’s growth and development for the benefit of all its people, as World Bank Vice President for South Asia, Hartwig Schafer concluded a four-day visit. During his visit, Schafer gained a better understanding of the country’s development priorities under the new government and how the World […]
Coronavirus death toll upto 213 : WHO calls it global virus emergency
Jan 31, 2020 (LBO) – The World Health Organization said the virus represents a risk outside of China and is calling it a global virus emergency. The death toll in China had climbed to 213 by Friday with nearly 10,000 infections, according to foreign media reports. Global outbreak includes 98 cases in 18 countries […]
Sri Lanka on Crisis watch list 2020
Jan 31, 2020 (LBO) – Crisis Group, an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation committed to preventing and resolving deadly conflict has identified and listed Sri Lanka in its watch list 2020. The early-warning Watch List identifies up to ten countries and regions at risk of conflict or escalation of violence. In these situations, early action, driven or […]
SL presents USD16Bn opportunity for pvt sector to invest in sustainable development: SC Bank
Jan 29, 2020 (LBO) – Opportunity2030: The Standard Chartered SDG Investment Map reveals an almost USD 10 trillion (USD 9.668 trillion) opportunity for private-sector investors across all emerging markets, with Sri Lanka representing USD16.2 billion of that total. The study identifies opportunities for the private sector to contribute to three infrastructure-focused goals between now and […]
Opinion: How technology shapes apparel sector supply chains: Shifting to nearshoring and reshoring
Nipuni Perera Advances in technology have made nearshoring – the practice of shifting production operations to a nearby country closer to the end market – and reshoring – bringing back offshore production back to the home country – more viable for apparel manufacturers, compared to offshoring production to far-away, developing countries. For instance, ‘SewBots’ – […]
Port City Colombo successfully achieved 12Mn safe work hours with zero accidents
Jan 20, 2020 (LBO) – Port City Colombo has successfully achieved 12 million safe work hours with zero accidents, according to the ‘2018-2019 Social Responsibility Report’ of Port City Colombo, launched at a ceremony on Monday, 13 January 2020. This is the first Social Responsibility Report released by Port City Colombo of its parent company […]
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Jan 16, 2020 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings has affirmed SriLankan Airlines Limited’s (SLA) USD175 million government guaranteed 7 percent unsecured bonds due 25 June 2024 at ‘B’. KEY RATING DRIVERS The airline’s bonds are rated at the same level as SLA’s parent, the government of Sri Lanka (B/Negative), due to the unconditional and irrevocable guarantee […]
S&P revises Sri Lanka’s outlook to negative; ratings affirmed at ’B/B’
Jan 16, 2020 (LBO) – Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s said it revised its outlook on Sri Lanka’s credit rating to negative from stable, citing increased risks from a deteriorating fiscal position. “Sri Lanka’s fiscal position deteriorated following the Easter Sunday attacks,” S&P said. “Although a recovery is expected, we expect a widening of the […]
China reaffirms steadfast support to Sri Lanka
Jan 16, 2020 (LBO) – The Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councilor Wang Yi met with the Minister of Foreign Relations Dinesh Gunawardena recently and reiterated its solidarity and support to the new Government of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Welcoming Minister Wang Yi, Foreign, Minister Dinesh Gunawardena thanked China for its consistent contribution to Sri Lanka’s […]