Category: Trade

May 30, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s exports dropped 10.2 percent to 835.7 million US dollars in March, a month that saw the steepest depreciation in years, while imports grew just 3. 9 percent to 1,697 million US dollars, pointing to a slowing economy. The central bank said industrial exports dropped 10.9 percent to 624.2 […]

May 11, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka to ‘ban altogether’ through regulatory controls all imports of tea, finance secretary P B Jayasundera has said as a section of the industry is attempting free the island to become a global blending hub. Treasury secretary P B Jayasundera speaking at a dealer conference of Dilmah, a top […]

May 5, 2012 (LBO) – They are round in shape, colourful, sturdy, covered with cloth, with a little Buddhist flag competing for attention among pictures of pretty flowers. Chinese lanterns have slipped into Sri Lanka’s Vesak market threatening to dislodge the traditional paper lanterns. Colourful Tradition Colourful hexagon lanterns in many homes and places of […]

May 03, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said it had signed a deal with its counterpart representing Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) to promote economic links. The co-operation project was started with the help of Sri Lanka’s ambassador to Brazil, Mahinda Balasooriya, the Chamber said. The agreement with […]

April 08, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka and Vietnam can boost bi-lateral trade by opening trade with a few items, and promoting interaction by reciprocal arrangements to participate in trade fairs, officials said. “Trade is 180 percent of gross domestic product, making Vietnam one of the most open countries in the world,” Truong said. “The […]

Mar 31, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lankan exporters will have to ensure the ‘greenness’ of their products to comply with environmental rules of importers to ensure future market access, an official said. There is a major shift in environmental and sustainable policies worldwide, said Edward Clarence-Smith of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation Sri Lankan […]

Mar 30, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Export Credit Insurance Corporation and the Commonwealth Secretariat is hosting a trade facilitation and export seminar in Colombo, its organizers said. The Commonwealth Secretariat is an intergovernmental agency which facilitates co-operation among Commonwealth nations and advises on policy. A study conducted in 2009 by the Commonwealth Secretariat on […]

Mar 28, 2012 (LBO) – The United States is keen to expand trade and investment in Sri Lanka, a senior official said at talks on a proposed bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement between the two countries. Her remarks came in the wake of a US-sponsored resolution adopted by the United Nation Human Rights Council […]

Mar 28, 2012 (LBO) – The presence of a large delegation of foreign visitors at Sri lanka’s Expo2012 international trade fair and exhibition is an expression of confidence placed in the country, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said. The fair is meant to show the world the new prospects for investment and trade in Sri Lanka after […]

Mar 16, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is targeting 12 billion US dollars in exports in 2012 up from 10. 4 billion in 2011 which will be helped by an upcoming trade fair and a weaker rupee, export development board chief Janaka Ratnayaka said. Ratnayaka said if current trends continue exports may reach a 2015 […]

Mar 16, 2012 (LBO) – Powerful protectionist lobbies and lack of awareness are denying Sri Lankan consumers the benefits of free trade which could significantly reduce costs if more imports are allowed from neighbouring countries, a new study said. Opposition from influential business groups to the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with India, to replace […]

Mar 07, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Expo 2012 will kick off on March 28, with 370 exhibitors and a series of technical sessions and 700 foreign visitors including a 150 strong delegation from China already registered to attend, an official said. Chairman of Sri Lanka’s Export Development Board, Janaka Ratnayake said the exhibition which […]