Sri Lanka signs FTA with Singapore tomorrow

Jan 22, 2018 (LBO) – A Free Trade Agreement between Sri Lanka and Singapore will be signed following bilateral talks between the two nations, Tuesday. Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong is to arrive in Sri Lanka on the invitation of Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena, Monday. Last week, Sri Lanka’s Cabinet approved a […]

President of Indonesia to visit Sri Lanka this week

At the invitation of President Maithripala Sirisena, President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo will undertake a State visit to Sri Lanka from 24-25 January 2018. The Indonesian President will be accorded a ceremonial welcome with guard of honour and twenty one gun salute at the Presidential Secretariat on the evening of 24th January, followed by official […]

The role of the yahapalana opposition: Report

There is a yahapalana government as well as a yahapalana opposition in this country. After the August 2015 parliamentary election, the UNP Speaker refused to recognize the Joint Opposition which had over 50 MPs as a part of the opposition, and gave the opposition leadership to the TNA which had 16 MPs. The JVP which […]

‘s economy to grow USD 5Tn by 2025

Jan 22, 2018 (LBO) – Indian economy is set to double to USD 5 trillion in the next 7-8 years as booming consumption of digital services would support addition of about USD 2.5 trillion to the country’s wealth, Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma said today. “It took 70 years for India to become USD 2.5 […]

Hemas Holdings to acquire stationery manufacturer Atlas

Jan 19, 2018 (LBO) – Hemas Holdings has entered into an agreement to acquire 75.1 percent stake of Sri Lanka’s leading stationery manufacturer Atlas for 5.7 billion rupees. Hemas said in a statement that the acquisition of Atlas will increase the group’s presence in the fast-moving consumer goods space.“Atlas will become the third largest business […]

SLT launched country’s first, purpose built tier 3, National Data Centre

SLT announces grand opening of the state-of-the-art Tier 3 “National Data Center” in Sri Lanka  Sri Lanka’s First “Purpose built Tier 3 Data Centre”  First “Green Gold Certified Data Centre” in Sri Lanka  First Network Function Virtualization ready Data Centre in South Asia Together with Ministry of Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure (T&DI) […]

Seat belts, air bags compulsory on vehicles from July: Finance Ministry

Jan 19, 2018 (LBO) – Finance Ministry has decided to postpone the implementation of the budget proposal on introduction of emission standards and safety measures up to July 01, 2018. The decision has been taken after considering the representations made by motor vehicle importers and manufacturers for a lead time to make required adjustments to comply […]

Sri Lanka’s USD500mn development bond oversubscribed

Jan 19, 2018 (LBO) – The issue of Sri Lanka development bonds amounting to 500 million US dollars has been oversubscribed with close to 527 million US dollars of bids received from investors. The Central Bank has received 129.27 million dollars of bids for the two year bond and the bank has accepted 93.15 million […]

Joint Press Release following the 21st meeting of the European Union-Sri Lanka Joint Commission The 21st meeting of the European Union-Sri Lanka Joint Commission took place in Colombo on 18 January 2018. The European Union-Sri Lanka Joint Commission oversees the 1995 EU-Sri Lanka Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development. Its tasks include ensuring the implementation […]

Opinion: Cabinet decision to ban women from buying liquor is unconstitutional

By Verité Research Women are permitted to purchase liquor. On 10 January 2018, the Minister of Finance and Mass Media issued Excise Notification No. 02/2018 under the Excise Ordinance, No. 8 of 1912 (as amended). The new Notification amends Excise Notification No. 666 of 31 December 1979, and removes the ban on the sale of liquor […]

Action has taken to address issues highlighted in Weliamuna report: SriLankan

Jan 18, 2018 (LBO) – SriLankan Airlines says contrary to popular belief, its Director Board have taken all action possible to address internal & disciplinary issues highlighted in JC Weliamuna Report. Releasing a statement, the national carrier said the following statement will clarify the position of the actions taken by the Board of Directors of […]

Finance Ministry re-imposes ban on women buying liquor

Jan 18, 2018 (LBO) – Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera on the request of the cabinet has withdrawn the two gazette notifications issued under the Excise Ordinance. Accordingly, the prohibition on selling liquor to women and employing women in places where liquor is manufactured or sold has been re-imposed under excise notification No 04 of 2018 […]

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