Category:
Sri Lanka to protect Buddhism with low power tariffs
Dec 15, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has further cut tariffs to places of worship in proposed new rates for 2010 to protect Buddhism, which was an obligation of the state, power ministry secretary M M Ferdinando said. Under proposed tariffs for 2011 the lowest tariffs for religious establishments would go down from 2. 50 […]
Sri Lanka stocks close down 0.8-pc
Dec 14, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed down Tuesday with index heavy stocks like JKH and Dialog Axiata dragging the market down, brokers said. Turnover was 1.25 billion rupees. “Hardly any high-net-worth and institutional participation was seen in the market with some retail trading taking place,” Sahani De Silva of Bartleet Mallory Stockbrokers […]
Tax Break
Dec 14, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has approved tax cuts up to 50 percent of car import prices to senior state sector workers after nearly halving tariffs on motor vehicles a few months ago, a finance ministry circular showed. Until recently ordinary Sri Lankan’s were paying vehicles import taxes of over 300 percent, while […]
Asset Quality
Dec 14, 2010 (LBO) – RAM Ratings Lanka has given Citizens Development Business Finance (CDB) a long-term financial institution rating of BBB- with a stable outlook and rated short-term debt at P3, a statement said. “The company’s ratings are upheld by its improving performance and healthy asset quality,” the rating agency said. “Nonetheless, the ratings […]
Sri Lanka made regional hub by Thai leisure chain
Dec 14, 2010 (LBO) – Thailand-based Six Senses Resorts and Spas is planning a regional headquarters in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo to own and manage up to 200 million dollars in leisure assets in the Indian Ocean, chairman Sonu Shivdasani said. It is also building a 40 million dollar hotel with Sri Lanka’s Aitken Spence […]
Animal Rights
Dec 14, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan animal lovers and welfare organizations have raised concern over the rounding up of dogs near a popular promenade in Colombo, saying it might violate the president’s ‘no kill’ policy on strays. Just 15 of these have been won. The challenges in going to court include high costs, having […]
Data Transfer
Dec 14, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), the island’s biggest fixed line operator, has increased broadband speeds for customers after upgrading its international internet capacity and improving links with service providers, a statement said. SLT added more than 80,000 new broadband (ADSL) customers during this year, connecting people from all parts of the […]
Sri Lanka denies move to ban national anthem in Tamil
December 13, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka denied on Monday plans to outlaw the singing of the national anthem in Tamil after the main minority party raised strong objections to the mooted ban. The status quo will remain, said public administration minister John Seneviratne, who is in charge of managing the code of conduct for […]
Sri Lankan firms tap unemployed youth in lagging region
Dec 14, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan companies seeking to fill vacancies held a job fair in the southern Wellawaya region, an economically neglected part of the island which lags behind other regions, a statement said. The Board of Investment said more than twenty six enterprises under the investment promotion agency took part in the […]
Sri Lanka budget, reforms on track, inflation rising: IMF
Dec 14, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s 2010 state spending is on track with a planned 8.0 percent of gross domestic product deficit, and a new budget for next year has reformed taxes, but inflation is rising, the International Monetary Fund said. The government also announced an intention to end sweeping tax holidays which if […]
Sri Lanka policy rates steady as inflation rise
Dec 14, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank said it was holding rates steady at 7. 25 and 9.00 percent as inflation rose and credit growth picked up amid a “sustained recovery” in economic activities. Sri Lanka has one of the highest policy rates in the world and this year’s inflation at 7.0 percent […]
Sri Lanka stocks becalmed
Dec 13, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed flat Monday with more retail participation seen in the market, brokers said. The company’s voting shares closed at 24.30, down 1.10 rupees while the non-voting shares closed at 15.50, down 0.70 cents. The All Share Price Index closed at 6,436.82, up 0.06 percent (4.07 points) while […]