Tag: economy

Nov 18, 2010 (LBO) – More than 17,000 farmers in Sri Lanka’s war torn north will get seed paddy, agricultural equipment and help to re-build infrastructure through a 5.0 million US dollar grant from the United States. The US embassy in Colombo said the program will be conducted through the Food and Agricultural Organization of […]

Nov 17, 2010 (LBO) – A Sri Lankan state committee has finalized a report that has identified issues blocking investment and has proposed remedies to fast track projects, especially by speeding relevant government approvals, ministers said. Analysts say many laws passed in the legislature contain clauses such as the need for ‘ministers’ concurrence’ which promotes […]

Nov 16, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank said it was holding its policy rates steady with credit growth picking up to 15. 5 percent in September 2010 from a year earlier and inflation despite an increase in commodity prices. “However, broad money growth remains compatible with the targeted path, with year-on-year growth in […]

Nov 15, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank has sold 288. 7 million US dollars in foreign exchange markets in October in one of the biggest monthly sell-off of accumulated reserves in two years. In a sustainable pegged exchange rate regime such sales are an automatic quantity adjustment process that trims the monetary base […]

November 11, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka sent in troops to rescue residents marooned in the capital Colombo on Thursday after the heaviest rains in 18 years flooded the city, forcing up to 300,000 people from their homes. At least one man was struck down by lightning and killed while a woman was injured when […]

Nov 12, 2010 (LBO) – India, the top global consumer of gold, will see higher demand helped by a stronger perception that the metal is a reliable and safe “monetary asset” amid rising inflation, an industry body said. The report from the World Gold Council, an body representing mining interests, came shortly after Robert Zoellick, […]

Nov 11, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tea industry will launch a marketing campaign to promote Ceylon tea next year with funds from a new export tax on exports, a senior Tea Board official said. The levy of 3.50 rupees a kilo that came into effect in November will raise about a billion rupees or […]

Nov 11, 2010 (LBO) – Parts of Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo went under water as unprecedented rains lashed the island, and authorities warned residents to use public transport to avoid traffic jams amid flood warnings in other parts of the country. Many of Colombo’s streets, including the approach roads to Sri Lanka’s parliament was impassable […]

SINGAPORE, November 10, 2010 (AFP) – The global economy is moving towards a new monetary system with gold emerging as a preferred alternative to existing asset, World Bank president Robert Zoellick said Wednesday. “So in relative terms, gold is appealing to people who ask ‘where should I put my money’…. it’s a hedge on uncertainty.” […]

Nov 10, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka passed a gaming law which allowed casinos to be set up in areas designated by a minister, legalizing an activity that has anyway operated as clubs with members earlier. The bill was labeled by Sri Lanka’s main opposition United National Party as a move that will hurt “the […]

Nov 09, 2010 (LBO) – World Bank chief Robert Zoellick has fired a debate on a return to gold as a monetary anchor with the United States engaging in new money printing, threatening to send food and other commodity prices higher. Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke dubbed ‘Bubble Ben’ by his detractors who are critical […]

November 9, 2010 (AFP) – A Sri Lankan government campaign against bread and other wheat products has forced some 2,000 bakers out of business and left many more under threat, an industry body said Tuesday. The All Ceylon Bakery Owners’ Association said more than a quarter of bakers in the island had closed down this […]