Election Outcome Improves Ability to Pass Reforms: Moodys

Aug 24, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s UNP-led national unity government which includes the Sri Lanka People’s Freedom Party, the second-largest political party in parliament, is credit positive for Sri Lanka because the government can now more easily enact policies that revive growth and address its large fiscal burden, rating agency Moodys said. “This would […]

Stocks close down 1.9-pct amid global market uncertainty

Aug 24, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed down 1.9 percent on Monday with index heavy stocks making losses and investors taking profits amid international market uncertainty, brokers said. Global markets took a beating on Monday after China’s Shanghai composite index tumbled 8.49 percent, erasing gains made so far this year. The London FTSE […]

Sri Lanka appoints three cabinet ministers

Aug 24, 2015 (LBO) – Three cabinet ministers took oaths before the President of Sri Lanka ahead of a full cabinet due to be sworn in on Tuesday.Mangala Samaraweera took oaths as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe as Minister of Justice and D.M. Swaminathan as Minister of Rehabilitation.The ceremony to for the rest […]

Sri Lanka’s Fitch rates HDFC Bank at BBB

Aug 24, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Fitch Ratings on Monday assigned Housing Development Finance Corporation Bank of Sri Lanka a National Long-Term Rating of ‘BBB(lka)’ and a Stable Outlook. The full text of the rating announcement is reproduced below. Fitch Ratings-Colombo-24 August 2015: Fitch Ratings has today assigned Housing Development Finance Corporation Bank of […]

Sri Lanka’s CHC Investment buys 31-pct stake in Taprobane Holdings

Aug 24, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s C H C Investment has bought a 31 percent stake in the diversified Taprobane Holdings at 5.50 rupees, a statement said. Taprobane Securities said in a stock exchange filling that C H C Investment bought 310.8 million shares of Taprobane Holdings worth 1,709.4 million rupees. As per the […]

President offers Sri Lankan High Commissioner post in UK to Sangakkara

Aug 24, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s cricketing legend Kumar Sangakkara on Monday was offered the High Commissioner post in the UK by President Maithripala Sirisena with him stepping down from international test cricket.“We don’t know what he thinks but we request him to accept Sri Lankan High Commissioner Post in the UK,” President Sirisena […]

Major Sri Lanka reforms in first six months: policy maker

Aug 24, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s newly elected national unity government will make major reforms in the period of first six months to make the economy more competitive, Harsha de Silva, Member of Parliament and former deputy minister of policy planning and Economic affairs said.“Our competitiveness as a nation has fallen in recent years,” […]

Asian stocks volatile, China market drops 8.4 pct

Aug 24, 2015 (LBO) – Shares in the Asian markets continued to fall as a result of the volatility in the Chinese stocks, foreign media reports said. Chinese shares continued their sharp fall on Monday as the mainland benchmark index, the Shanghai Composite, fell sharply by 8.4 percent to 3,211.75 points. Beijing announced over the […]

Sri Lanka needs to remove taxes from exports: Harsha de Silva

Aug 22, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka needs to remove taxes for exporters in order to increase exports which brings foreign earning to the country, Harsha de Silva, member of parliament and former deputy minister of policy planning and Economic affairs said. “I don’t understand why exports must be taxed,” de Silva said at the […]

Sri Lanka to ink trade promotion MoUs with Hong Kong, Thailand and Korea today

Aug 24, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will sign three memorandums of understanding with Hong Kong, Thailand and Korea on Monday to boost regional trade, the Export Processing Board said. The board said Sri Lanka-Hong Kong’s HKTDC, Sri Lanka-Korea’s KOTRA and Sri Lanka-Thailand’s DITP are the three MoUs scheduled to be sign today. The signing […]

Solar power becomes more competitive, investments rise in India, US

24 Aug, 2015 (LBO) – Solar power has become competitively priced in electricity markets and large investments are on the rise. India’s Madhya Pradesh announced on Sunday plans to host the world’s largest solar power station with a capacity of 750 megawatts.“Global tenders for commissioning the solar power station in an area over 1,500 hectares […]

Audits of campaign financing needed in Sri Lanka Elections: Commissioner

23 Aug, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka should amend election laws so that campaign funding of political parties is transparent and audited, says Mahinda Deshapriya, the island’s elections commissioner.“In future, political parties and candidates must be made to declare how much money they spend on election related activities, while there should be an audit of […]

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