Category: World
Selection Process for New IMF Managing Director Begins
The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has initiated the selection process for its next Managing Director. The announcement was made by the Board Coordinators, Afonso S. Bevilaqua and Abdullah F. BinZarah. The Executive Board has decided to follow an open, merit-based, and transparent process for the selection, mirroring the procedure used in […]
Red Sea Disruptions Benefit Shipping Companies’ Near-Term Profitability: Fitch Ratings
Global shipping companies’ short-term profitability will benefit from increased freight rates, which exceed the costs of re-routing following persistent attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, Fitch Ratings says. We do not expect structural shifts in the shipping sector as a result of these disruptions. Nearly half of all cargo ships and tankers have […]
US Under Secretary Concludes Visit: Emphasizes Freedom of Expression for Transparent Governance
Liz Allen, the first U.S. Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy to visit Sri Lanka, concluded a historic three-day trip to Colombo (February 17-19), during which she interacted with young leaders, entrepreneurs, content creators, civil society, and journalists to reaffirm U.S. support for Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and long-term prosperity. In a meeting with […]
FAO’s Director-General Arrives in Sri Lanka to Inaugurate UN FAO Conference
FAO Director-General, Dr QU Dongyu, arrived on Sunday in Sri Lanka for a three-day visit to participate in the 37th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific. Government Ministers and Heads of Delegations from as many as 46 Member Nations are gathering in Colombo for the event. Sri Lanka is hosting […]
Sri Lanka and Thailand to Sign Free Trade Agreement in February 2024
The 8th round of negotiations for the Sri Lanka-Thailand Free Trade Agreement (SLTFTA) concluded successfully on November 29th, paving the way for a historic deal to be signed in February 2024. The negotiations, co-chaired by the Chief Negotiators of both countries, Auramon Supthaweethum (Thailand) and K. J. Weerasinghe (Sri Lanka), saw both sides agree to […]
Global Sovereign Sector Outlook Is Neutral, with Fiscal Risks in Focus, says Fitch Ratings
Global sovereign credit conditions are neutral entering 2024, as moderately weaker global economic growth and persistent strains on fiscal positions are balanced by improvements in inflation dynamics and forecast reductions in most central bank policy rates, Fitch Ratings says in its Global Sovereigns Outlook for 2024. Risks to the outlook centre on additional pressures on […]
IMF Executive Board Approves a Proposal to Increase IMF Quotas
The IMF Executive Board approved today a proposal to be considered by the Board of Governors to conclude the 16 th General Review of Quotas (16 th Review) with a significant increase in quotas. The proposal follows the guidance from the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) at the 2023 Annual Meetings. “Concluding the 16 th Review with a quota increase will help preserve a […]
Global Bond Yields Climb as US GDP Growth Picks Up: Fitch Ratings
Global bond yields have risen significantly in recent months as US economic growth has picked up, supported by strong consumer spending and job creation. The rise in yields in the US and Europe is despite signals from central banks that policy interest rates are approaching peaks and clear evidence that monetary tightening to date is […]
UN HR Commissioner says, Call for historic transformation is far from being realised in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka suffers from a continuing accountability deficit – be it for war crime atrocities, more recent human rights violations, corruption, or abuse of power – which must be addressed for the country to move forward, according to a UN Human Rights Office report published on Wednesday. “More than a year ago mass protests demanded better governance […]
French President Emmanuel Macron to undertake a visit to Sri Lanka
French President Emmanuel Macron will undertake a visit to Sri Lanka on 28 July 2023 following the visit to the South Pacific region. This historic visit is the first ever by a French President to the country. The official discussion between the two Heads of State will centre on strengthening bilateral relations in the 75th anniversary […]
247th anniversary of America’s Declaration of Independence celebrated in Sri Lanka
United StatesAmbassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung hosted an event in Colombo on June 22 to mark the 247th anniversary of America’s Declaration of Independence. Ambassador Chung took the opportunity to also highlight the anniversary of 75 years of a strong and enduring partnership between the United States and Sri Lanka. Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali […]
Zambia reaches debt treatment agreement with its official creditors including China, India, Saudi Arabia & Paris Club
Following the announcement of an agreement being reached by Zambia and its official creditors under the Group of 20 Common Framework, Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), issued the following statement today: “I warmly welcome Minister of Finance Situmbeko Musokotwane’s announcement that the Zambian authorities have reached an agreement with their […]