Tag: economy

May 03, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s inflation in the 12-months to April was measured at 3.5 percent, lower than the 4.9 percent shown by the official index compiled by the state statistics office.The CAL UPI Index, compiled by CAL Research, an equities research firm has shown slightly lower than official inflation since December 2013. […]

May 02, 2014 (LBO) – Investors have expressed concern over objections to large resorts which were given tax breaks under a strategic investment law to which casinos have been dragged in, Sri Lanka’s deputy investment promotions minister said. Minister Mustapha said the opposition had claimed that the three tax proposals passed in parliament were for […]

WASHINGTON, April 30, 2014 (AFP) – The US economy nearly froze in the glacial first quarter but emerging signs of vigor kept the Federal Reserve on its stimulus taper track Wednesday. The GDP data came as the World Bank reported Wednesday that China’s rapidly expanding economy could leapfrog the United States this year to become […]

Apr 30, 3014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s consumer prices rose 4.9 percent in the 12-months to April 2014, accelerating from 4.2 percent in March, data from the state statistics office showed.Sri Lanka’s inflation was relatively low during the past year with credit growth being weak. Prices rose 0.3 percent during April, with the increase coming […]

Apr 28, 2014 (LBO) – Companies in Sri Lanka, especially smaller ones, could avoid capital expenditure by using cloud computing to run anything from accounting to procurement and analyze social media, SAP, an information technology firm said. A company could separately purchase services such as accounting, human resources, marketing and sales and procurement, as needed, […]

Apr 28, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is making fresh attempts to prevent private sector workers from withdrawing their retirement contributions once they reach 55 years of age, a media report said.The Sunday Times newspaper quoting an un-named official source said the Finance Ministry is drafting legislation to change the governing acts of the Employee’s […]

Apr 28, 2014 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings has confirmed a ‘BB-‘ rating on Sri Lanka with a stable outlook on strong economic growth but said state debt was over twice that of similar rated countries and foreign debt three times as much. “The 2014 budget signals commitment to medium-term debt reduction to maintain a gradual […]

Apr 25, 2014 (LBO) – Economic sanctions on Sri Lanka are not in the interests of his country, and movers of a UN resolution are expecting progress which would make such questions redundant, UK’s envoy to Colombo said. “Sanctions are not currently an issue,” High Commissioner (ambassador) John Rankin told an LBR-LBO CEO forum on […]

April 25, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s parliament has approved tax breaks for integrated resorts by Australia’s Crown group and Colombo-based John Keells group.The projects have drawn opposition fire for having gaming facilities with tax breaks. Sri Lanka’s Bhuddist nationalist JHU voted against, the proposals, reports said. Government ministers have insisted that no approvals have […]

WELLINGTON, April 24, 2014 (AFP) – New Zealand’s central bank lifted interest rates for the second time in as many months on Thursday, saying it was necessary to contain inflation as an economic recovery gains momentum.The Reserve Bank of New Zealand raised the official cash rate (OCR) 0.25 points to 3.0 percent in a well-flagged […]

Apr 23, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has given a 10 year tax holiday to a 220 million US dollar sugar refinery by the Hambantota port including tax free salaries for 50 expatriate staff. Lanka Sugar Refinery Company (Pvt) Ltd, will import raw sugar for refining to the local and foreign markets, a notice published […]

Apr 24, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has been given a 102 million US dollar credit line that can be drawn immediately after a natural disaster, as well as another 110 million dollars for measures to cut disaster risk, the World Bank said. The lender said Sri Lanka is the first county in South Asia […]