Budget 2006: Is it achievable?

The 2006 budget expects revenue to go up by 1.1 percent of GDP to 17.5 percent of GDP and the overall budget deficit to remain at 7.1 percent of GDP. The 2006 budget expects revenue to go up by 1.1 percent of GDP to 17.5 percent of GDP and the overall budget deficit to remain […]

Sri Lanka to change banking laws to mandate bigger credit to agro sectors

Sri Lanka plans to bring in changes to its banking laws before next March to mandate banks to double their agriculture lending portfolio, Treasury Secretary said Wednesday.Sri Lanka plans to bring in changes to its banking laws before next March to mandate banks to double their agriculture lending portfolio, Treasury Secretary said Wednesday. “Credit channeled […]

Elephants Walk Out

Sri Lankas main opposition party, the United National Party, took a sudden decision to boycott Tuesday budget, citing its a mere academicals exercise, a senior party spokesman said.“It was a sudden decision to boycott the budget, as there is no debate before the election next week,” UNP parliamentarian Rajitha Senerath said.rn rnSri Lankas Finance Minister […]

How Amunugama nearly missed the bus

Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama nearly missed presenting the 2006 budget today after his staff got the time wrong and forced him to an inauspicious start.Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama nearly missed presenting the 2006 budget today after his staff got the time wrong and forced him to an inauspicious start. Official invitations sent out by the […]

Candy Man

Sri Lanka plans to lean on foreign aid and debt relief to trim its deficit, though Tuesday’s budget will be sugar coated to woo voters in the run up to next week’s keenly contested presidential poll.Sri Lanka plans to lean on foreign aid and debt relief to trim its deficit, though Tuesday’s budget will be […]

Download the 2006 budget speech here

The Freedom Alliance Govenment on Tuesday presented its second budget since coming into power after the snap April 2004 polls.To read Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama’s speech, please click on the links below.The Freedom Alliance Govenment on Tuesday presented its second budget since coming into power after the snap April 2004 polls. To read Finance […]

Hanky Panky

Sri Lanka’s main opposition Sunday demanded the postponement of the annual budget until after the presidential vote next month, arguing that the government may use it to boost its electoral fortunes.Sri Lanka’s main opposition Sunday demanded the postponement of the annual budget until after the presidential vote next month, arguing that the government may use […]

Butt end Budget

The presidential election has cast a cloud over the budget making it less important to investors and the private sector in general. The presidential election has cast a cloud over the budget making it less important to investors and the private sector in general. Uncertainty as to what policies may be implemented or amended after […]

Big Budget

Sri Lanka hopes to contain its 2006’s budget deficit at 8.2 percent of gross national product (GNP) while keeping total expenses within Rs.1003 billion. Sri Lanka hopes to contain its 2006’s budget deficit at 8.2 percent of gross national product (GNP) while keeping total expenses within Rs. 1003 billion. Cabinet Spokesperson and Health Minister Nimal […]

Pay Later

Sri Lanka plans to spend more and borrow further next year as expenses for defence and fuel related subsidies escalate.Sri Lanka plans to spend more and borrow further next year as expenses for defence and fuel related subsidies escalate. Total state spending will rise 30 percent to Rs.568.3 billion (US$ 5.6 billion) in 2006 from […]

Budget – losing its significance?

While the ‘pre Presidential poll’ budget is being sidelines as election propaganda, the country’s overall financial planning process is also losing its significance. While the ‘pre Presidential poll’ budget is being sidelines as election propaganda, the country’s overall financial planning process is also losing its significance. Successive governments, despite going through the pomp and pageantry […]

Punters cash out of Colombo bourse pre-budget

Punters at Sri Lanka’s tiny stockmarket, cashed out on budget day with poor postal voter turnout in the North and East also adding to investors woes, brokers said.Punters at Sri Lanka’s tiny stockmarket, cashed out on budget day with poor postal voter turnout in the North and East also adding to investors woes, brokers said. […]

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