Category: Watch Tower
Opinion: Keeping to agenda for change is key, says Jehan Perera
By Jehan Perera The role that civil society played in the change of government that occurred in January at the presidential elections, and which was reaffirmed at the general elections of August, was celebrated at two events held last week. One was on World Anti Corruption Day which fell on December 9. This event was […]
Op-Ed on Sri Lanka Budget – Is Sri Lanka’s Fiscal House in Order?
(Todd Schneider is the head of IMF’s staff missions to Sri Lanka) By Todd Schneider Constructing a good budget is like building a good house. The foundation needs to be solid, high-quality materials make a big difference to durability, and careful craftsmanship will bring both stability and confidence to weather future storms. Similarly, budgets needed […]
Australia to transfer refugees from Nauru to Cambodia
Apr 17, 2015 (LBO) – A charter flight will carry the first group of asylum seekers from Nauru to Cambodia next Monday, under an agreement entered into between Australia and Cambodia, Media reports said.Whether Sri Lankans are among the first group of refugees who will be transferred from Nauru to Cambodia is not known yet, […]
Visa On Arrival? Not really
Apr 16, 2015 (LBO) – There is much enthusiasm about the “visa on arrival” facility India has offered to the Sri Lankan traveler.“Visa-on-arrival” usually means you show a blank page of your passport to the Immigration officer to stamp the visa, but this will not be the case for Sri Lankans arriving on Indian shores […]
Sri Lanka Central Bank, retrospect 1950 to 2010
Sept 27, 2010 (LBO) – In the modern era, the best recorders of history, as and when the important events occur, are the newspapers. But it is seldom that one attempts at unearthing history by tapping this source. Perhaps the enormous labour which one has to shed in perusing voluminous newspaper articles and the time […]
‘s investment debate
Aug 23, 2010 (LBO) – An interesting public debate has sprung between the Central Bank and an opposition parliamentarian on the suitability of Bank’s investing EPF moneys in the shares of commercial banks. While the Central Bank is defending its action tooth and nail (http://www.cbsl.gov.lk/htm/english/02_prs/p_1.asp?yr=2010: Accessed on 22.8.2010), the opposition is charging that the Bank’s […]
Sri Lanka economist with many faces: H N S Karunathilake
July 26, 2010 (LBO) – A scientist normally belongs to a single school of thought. He would follow the traditions, views and methods of that school to the letter. To the outside world, he shows himself up with a single face. Neville was practically teaching students in all the four years reading for economics and […]
Sri Lanka central banker writes on good money and bad
July 16, 2010 (LBO)- Ex-central bankers seldom write books on their experiences. Perhaps, the fear of re living the traumatic experiences they would have undergone in handling economic crises in turbulent times may have dissuaded them from doing so. It is important to note that Copernicus made this observation when there was no formal subject […]
Sri Lanka private universities; do not rush and spoil the soup
May 25, 2010 (LBO) – The announcement by the new Minister of Higher Education, Hon S.B Disssanayake, on assuming office and in subsequent interviews, that the top priority of his Ministry will be to make available more opportunities for the youth to pursue university education in Sri Lanka has echoed a long standing wish of […]
‘s myth of free education and its quality
May 03, 2010 (LBO) – After the release of the results of every major public examination, a spontaneous debate takes place in the country regarding the deteriorating quality of the students sitting for the examinations. The first type of the survey is conducted by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and according to its survey […]
‘s profits and losses; a super profit making central bank is not good news
Apr 19, 2010 (LBO) – Two news items hit the headlines of media simultaneously last week. Both relate to the year 2009 and are sourced to the Central Bank Annual Report for the year. One is the news on the key state enterprises making colossal losses. The other is the news on Central Bank’s making […]
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Mar 19, 2010 (LBO) – Sources from the Central Bank indicate that the Monetary Board, in its deliberation for the monetary policy action in the month ahead, has decided to keep the ˜policy rates untouched’ for another month. But, when the inflationary pressures are mounting and the aggregate demand is accelerating, the disregard of the […]