Category: Special Reports

A spate of floods and drought affected the agriculture sector output in the last few years.A spate of floods and drought affected the agriculture sector output in the last few years. The sector is expected to record negative growth this year according to the Finance Ministry. Farmers who depend on rain to grow their crops […]

The Finance Minister has proposed import substitution to ease pressure on the exchange rate and inflation.Left leaning economic policies that advocate a similar interventionist role for the government however can scare investors.The Finance Minister has proposed import substitution to ease pressure on the exchange rate and inflation. Left leaning economic policies that advocate a similar […]

Economists say the centralist oriented government budget will benefit the poor faster if the government can achieve the revenue targets. Economists say the centralist oriented government budget will benefit the poor faster if the government can achieve the revenue targets. Head of a local economic think tank Dr. Saman Kelegama told LBR the UPFA government […]

The Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama told Lanka Business Report (LBR) that he is counting on the rural sector to contribute to productivity improvement and help drive economic growth. The Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama told Lanka Business Report (LBR) that he is counting on the rural sector to contribute to productivity improvement and help drive economic […]

Making a budget for a poor country with a mountain of debt, low investment, a large public service and high defense expenditure is no easy task. Making a budget for a poor country with a mountain of debt, low investment, a large public service and high defense expenditure is no easy task. But this is […]

Manoj Susantha holds up sachets of hair gel Small is big, with sachets of just about all consumer care goods, from shampoos and creams to schoolboy grease, driving a personal care revolution among rural youth. Manoj Susantha holds up sachets of hair gel Small is big, with sachets of just about all consumer care goods, […]

Water is abundant…or is it? Water is abundant…or is it? More than 1.2 billion people in poor countries don’t have access to safe drinking water according to research. The UN says the water crisis is so severe that it could take almost 30 years to eradicate hunger from the world. Although water covers two thirds […]

Sri Lanka’s top donors are waiting for the government to come up with a credible budget in November before talking about an economic programme to resume stalled programme loans to the country. Sri Lanka’s top donors are waiting for the government to come up with a credible budget in November before talking about an economic […]

Private sector doesn’t pay enough attention to their customers according to findings of a study by two local NGO’s. The study says private sector gets customer feedback but is slow to act on it and improve the quality of products and services.Government organizations were also criticized for paying little attention to quality of service due […]

Companies operating in controversial industries like tobacco and alcohol give a better return to shareholders than traditional banking and finance stocks, a research report said Friday.Companies operating in controversial industries like tobacco and alcohol give a better return to shareholders than traditional banking and finance stocks, a research report said Friday. Stockbrokers LOLC Securities have […]

The Board of Investment (BOI) will tap European Funding agencies to finance an apparel backward integration zone, with the sector expected to be a key investment driver this year. The Board of Investment (BOI) will tap European Funding agencies to finance an apparel backward integration zone, with the sector expected to be a key investment […]

A major cause for poverty in Sri Lanka is the lack of infrastructure.The cost of short term relief, offered by politicians here, has been a long term vision essential for infrastructure development to take place. A major cause for poverty in Sri Lanka is the lack of infrastructure. The cost of short term relief, offered […]