Addressing the White Elephant in Lankan economic development in tourism

In the past, Sri Lanka has focused on increasing the number of tourists coming into the country and showcase the increase in tourism without much concentration on the growth of our economy in retrospect. Lonely Planet listed Sri Lanka as the number one tourist destination for 2019 whilst Sri Lanka simultaneously boasted of 2.2 million […]

Opinion: Policing the Police – challenge for the newly facelifted Police Commission

By Sanjeewa Fernando Some say that the Police has gone to the dogs. Without being so harsh, yet being realistic, we would euphemistically admit that some dogs have got into the Police force. They are wreaking havoc, abusing power, desecrating the hallowed police uniform, wagging a tail at politicos and making people lose their trust in […]

Sri Lanka’s 2019 budget allocates Rs.2.5bn for 1990 ambulance service

Mar 01, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government has decided to allocate over 2,500 million rupees from the next budget for the 1990 ambulance service, launching the service in Kandy, its founder Minister Harsha de Silva said. The service is currently in operation in eight provinces and it is expected to launch the service in […]

Rock bottom Rs12bn rights issue pricing crashes Sampath Bank (SAMP) shares

March 1, 2019 (LBO) – Shares on the Colombo Stock Exchange were weaker across the board with Sampath Bank (SAMP) shares having their worst trading day in recent memory.Two hours into the trading day, shares of SAMP were off close to 16% with just Rs85mn worth of shares traded. The broader market indices were down […]

IMF reaches understanding at staff level to extend EFF for an additional year

Mar 01, 2019 (LBO) – A staff team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reached an understanding at the staff level with the Sri Lankan authorities on the fifth review and the request to extend the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement for an additional year. Accordingly, the remaining disbursements will be evenly spread over this […]

Sri Lanka stocks wake up with net foreign buying

February 28, 2019 (LBO) – The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) awakened from its slumber with trading crossing the Rs2bn mark (US$11mn) after many days of dull trading. Stocks finished the day slightly up with trading activity across the board. Foreigners were significant net buyers with net foreign buying of Rs500mn on the day. Foreign buying of […]

‘s defeat of autocracy

February 28, 2018 (LBO) – Samantha Power, United States Ambassador to the United Nations under President Barak Obama, arrived in Sri Lanka to be the keynote speaker at an event felicitating Sri Lanka’s Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera completing 30 years in politics. The event held at the BMICH was attended broadly by the Cabinet, Diplomatic […]

‘s Basel III sub debt final A(lka)

Feb 28, 2019 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings has assigned National Development Bank’s proposed Basel III-compliant subordinated debentures a final National Long-Term Rating of ‘A(lka)’. The notes, which total up to 6.5 billion rupees with maturities of five years, include a non-viability clause and qualify as regulatory Tier II capital for the bank. The bank plans to […]

Fitch revises outlook on HNB Assurance, HNB General Insurance to positive

Feb 28, 2019 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings has revised the Outlook on the National Insurer Financial Strength (IFS) Ratings of life insurer HNB Assurance and its fully owned non-life subsidiary, HNB General Insurance, to Positive from Stable and affirmed the ratings at ‘A(lka)’. KEY RATING DRIVERS The Outlook revision reflects better non-life capitalisation and financial performance […]

Prima Ceylon eyes more investments as it completes 40 years in Sri Lanka

Feb 28, 2019 (LBO) – Prima Ceylon, the flagship company of the Prima Group Sri Lanka, celebrated four decades of successful partnerships and growing together with the nation, at an event recently in Trincomalee, where its state-of-the-art flour milling complex and one of the largest flour mills in the world under one roof, is located. Speaking […]

Laugfs unveils second solar-powered fuel station in Sri Lanka

Feb 27, 2019 (LBO) – Setting another benchmark in the fuel retailing industry in Sri Lanka, Laugfs Southern Petroleum launched the country’s second solar-powered fuel filling station at Waskaduwa, Kalutara with a 46.1 KW solar-panelled roof. The iconic solar-powered fuel station is expected to generate and add over 5,520 kWh per month to the National Grid […]

Page 493 of 3368