Category: Industry
ADB triples COVID-19 response package to USD20Bn
Apr 14, 2020 (LBO) – The Asia Development Bank (ADB) has tripled the size of its response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic to US20 billion dollars and approved measures to streamline its operations for quicker and more flexible delivery of assistance. The package expands ADB’s $6.5 billion initial response announced on 18 March, adding $13.5 […]
South Asia must ramp up COVID-19 action to protect people, revive economies
Apr 14, 2020 (LBO) – Amid the mounting human toll and global economic fallout triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, South Asian governments must ramp up action to curb the health emergency, protect their people, especially the poorest and most vulnerable, and set the stage now for fast economic recovery, says the World Bank in its […]
Joint Apparel Association Forum predicts USD1.5bn reduction in June quarter exports
Apr 10, 2020 (LBO) – The Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) foresees an immediate contraction of 1.5 billion US dollars in Sri Lankan apparel exports during the 3-month period ending in June when compared to the last fiscal year. “However, the damage does not stop there as we expect further demand contractions that could result […]
First bunkering ship discharges low sulphur fuel at Hambantota Intl. Port
Apr 08, 2020 (LBO) – Bunkering vessel Mt. Melody docked at the Hambantota International Port (HIP) last week to discharge approximately 25,000 MT of oil into the port’s newly furbished tanks. With the first shipment of Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) 380 CST in their tanks, HIP will soon begin bunkering for ships that […]
‘ risks to persist despite regulatory measures: Fitch Ratings
Apr 08, 2020 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings believes that the extraordinary regulatory measures announced by the central bank – focusing on the relaxation of capital expectations and classification of loans for banks – should relieve immediate pressure on the banks’ financial profiles, but will not prevent medium-term deterioration. Statement from Fitch Ratings Fitch recently revised […]
WhatsApp introduces limit to message forwarding
With billions of people unable to see their friends and family in person due to COVID-19, people are relying on WhatsApp more than ever to communicate. People are talking to doctors, teachers, and isolated loved ones via WhatsApp during this crisis.That’s why all your messages and calls on WhatsApp are end-to-end encrypted by default to […]
COVID-19 prevention program proceeds with professional expertise: President
Apr 06, 2020 (LBO) – Presided by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a discussion took place at the Presidential Secretariat to review the progress of the COVID-19 prevention program and to decide on the steps needed to take this program forward. President of Government Medical Officers Association Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya analyzed the manner this virus had affected […]
‘s Hatch and LAN gear up to launch first fintech accelerator
Apr 06, 2020 (LBO) – In April 2020, Hatch in partnership with Lankan Angel Network (LAN) and through the support of the Ford Foundation, will officially launch the first chapter of its start-up accelerator programme ‘HatchX’, establishing Sri Lanka’s first fintech accelerator. The programme’s strategic partner will be the Fintech Association of Sri Lanka (FASL). […]
Chamber Academy hosts first Work-From-Home webinar
Taking the lead in empowering the private sector during COVID-19, the Chamber Academy of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with FITIS and LK Domain Registry, hosted a webinar for over a hundred participants, on how to successfully work from home (WFH). The webinar covered an introduction to working from home, and the communication […]
Daraz can bring expertise from its parent company Alibaba during this time of crisis and potentially service 10,000 households daily
Daraz, Sri Lanka’s largest e-commerce platform, ordinarily connects thousands of sellers to millions of consumers across the country. Now, however, the scalability and scope of the e-commerce giant’s platform and logistics expertise have urgent applications that will sustain the people in these uncertain times – the delivery of essential goods every day to Sri Lankan […]
‘s growth prospects, Projected to fall to 2.2-pct in 2020: ADB
Apr 03, 2020 (LBO) – The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) flagship annual economic publication, the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2020, forecasts significant headwinds for Sri Lanka’s economy as it fights the spread of COVID-19, which comes less than 12 months after the terror attacks in April 2019. Sri Lanka’s economic growth is projected to fall to […]
Coronavirus intensifies pressure on Sri Lanka Finance Companies: Fitch Ratings
Apr 03, 2020 (LBO) – The coronavirus outbreak and the resultant prolonged business disruptions will put additional pressure on Sri Lankan finance and leasing companies’ (FLCs) earnings and asset quality, says Fitch Ratings. The ultimate economic and financial market implications of the outbreak are unclear, while Fitch considers the risks to NBFIs’ credit profiles to […]