Revving Up

Sri Lanka’s new president demanded Friday the launch of a fresh peace process with Tamil Tiger rebels in the ethnically troubled island and “transparent” monitoring of a Norwegian-brokered truce.Sri Lanka’s new president demanded Friday the launch of a fresh peace process with Tamil Tiger rebels in the ethnically troubled island and “transparent” monitoring of a […]

New Motherboard

Sri Lanka will bring in new laws next year to set up a new Reconstruction and Development Authority to speed up rebuilding efforts in tsunami-hit areas, officials said.Sri Lanka will bring in new laws next year to set up a new Reconstruction and Development Authority to speed up rebuilding efforts in tsunami-hit areas, officials said. […]

Left Turn

Sri Lanka will start a march towards big government under a new left leaning president soon.Sri Lanka will start a march towards big government under a new left leaning president soon. More state jobs and higher investment to undercapitalised business ventures will add to fiscal pressure. Similar circumstances forced the government to print money last […]

Plantation workers are the poorest segment, despite steady flow of tea dollars

Plantation workers are the poorest segment in the country despite tea being an export crop and heavy private sector involvement in its trade. Government divested ownership in plantation companies in the early 1990’s which led to productivity gains and some improvement in living conditions of workers. But incidence of poverty in estates increased during the […]

Late Tariff

Fixed line giant Sri Lanka Telecom’s shift to a per-second tariff will be put off until after March 2006, when an appeal in the Supreme Court over its last tariff hike is taken up. Fixed line giant Sri Lanka Telecom’s shift to a per-second tariff will be put off until after March 2006, when an […]

Completely Clueless!

Sri Lankans may have to call on seers for help, as neither presidential candidate in Thursday’s poll, is clear on how they will pay for subsidies or tackle painful economic reforms, analysts said.Sri Lankans may have to call on seers for help, as neither presidential candidate in Thursday’s poll, is clear on how they will […]

Easy Prey

Sri Lanka is just recovering from a bad bout of inflation. But inflation actually helps the Treasury balance its books, by boosting nominal revenues, and imposing cuts in wages and other expenditure in real terms. Sri Lanka is just recovering from a bad bout of inflation. But inflation actually helps the Treasury balance its books, […]

Better Management

Top economic advisor to the Prime Minister Ajith Nivard Cabral says big government is possible despite the lack of Fiscal space.Top economic advisor to the Prime Minister Ajith Nivard Cabral says big government is possible despite the lack of Fiscal space. Mr. Cabral, an accountant, used to be a member of the capitalist UNP.The Prime […]

Presidential Election 2005 : Outcome Revealed

The analysis appearing below is a sequel to the previous three scenario analysis. A re-cap of the three scenarios analyzed previously is as follows.The analysis appearing below is a sequel to the previous three scenario analysis. A re-cap of the three scenarios analyzed previously is as follows. Notation : UNP Candidate = RW                 UPFA […]

Russians are paying more for a good cuppa,

Russians are paying more for a good cuppa, spending an average US$ 1.82 this year, up from US$ 1.69 in 2004. Asia Siyaka Commodity Brokers in its weekly tea report quoted head of the Rusteacoffee industry lobby Ramaz Chanturiya saying that tea consumption in Russia will remain stable in the foreseeable future, but the share […]

Butt end Budget

The presidential election has cast a cloud over the budget making it less important to investors and the private sector in general. The presidential election has cast a cloud over the budget making it less important to investors and the private sector in general. Uncertainty as to what policies may be implemented or amended after […]

Clear Line

Fixed line giant Sri Lanka Telecom on Monday was granted special leave to appeal a Court of Appeal ruling against its last tariff revision. Fixed line giant Sri Lanka Telecom on Monday was granted special leave to appeal a Court of Appeal ruling against its last tariff revision. The Appeal Court in July ruled in […]

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