Tag: economy

Dec 29, 2010 (LBO) – Serious shortages of essential food forced Sri Lanka’s government to import chicken, onions and coconuts, but a survey by health authorities has shown that the country is also desperately short of sex workers. Doctor Sujatha Samarakoon of the AIDS prevention unit of the health ministry has said that there are […]

Dec 24, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has set up a management company to manage several defunct state enterprises prior to a listing of a partial stake on the Colombo stock exchange, a senior finance ministry official said. Recent IPOs have been heavily over-subscribed owing to pent-up demand for shares with company earnings increasing and […]

Dec 24, 2010 (LBO) – Japanese investors are keen to invest in post-war Sri Lanka but firms already operating in the island are concerned about delays in value-added tax refunds and high electricity tariffs, a visiting lawmaker said. These concerns were conveyed to the investment promotion agency, Board of Investment, by Hirofumi Hirano, chairman of […]

Dec 22, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka would get cheap World Bank credit for at least three years, while the country re-builds infrastructure after a 30-year war and moves toward becoming a borrower at near-commercial rates, managing director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said. “You have the peace dividend. You have ended the conflict. With inclusive growth, where […]

Dec 19, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has good growth prospects if deficit spending can be reduced allowing the economy to be stable, and can also expect more financing from World Bank as the island emerges from a conflict, an official said. The US Federal Reserve devalued its currency against gold in 1933 setting the […]

Dec 18, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has qualified to get loans from a higher cost window of the World Bank amid rising incomes, which will double access to annual funds, managing director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said. Sri Lanka also now has access to capital markets. Countries with access to capital markets and which are deemed […]

Dec 16, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s economy has expanded 8. 0 percent in the third quarter of 2010 from a year earlier, compared to an 8.5 percent growth in the second quarter, the government’s statistics office said. The services sectors 8.0 percent growth (up from 5.1 percent last year) came with hotels and restaurants […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Dec 13, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is keen on partnerships between the public and private sectors in developing its economy, the International Finance Corporation, which is supporting the initiative, said in a statement. Sri Lanka is actively considering options to increase private participation in development,” it quoted Sarath Amunugama, Sri Lanka’s Senior Minister of […]

Dec 12, 2010 (LBO) – Lanka Spice Limited, a Sri Lankan-based spice firm has successfully registered its trademark ‘McCurrie’ over objection of McDonalds, a US-based fast food chain, a media report said. Lanka Spice has been in the market since 1982 The Sunday Times newspaper said. The report quoted Lanka Spice chairman Nalin Pathikirikorale as […]