Sri Lanka gets Indian aid for English training

Sept 14, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is to get Indian aid to improve training in English language skills in the island, seen as a critical need especially in the corporate sector, under an agreement signed between the two governments. The deal provides for equipment and teaching aids from India for setting up 30 language […]

‘s growth to slow: ADB

HONG KONG, September 14, 2011 (AFP) – Asia’s developing economies will post slower-than-expected growth this year and next as key trading partners reduce orders due to worries about the global economy, a report said Wednesday. However, the region will continue to see strong expansion as it makes up for lost exports to the developed world […]

Sri Lanka waste management, energy may get UNIDO support

Sept 09, 2011 (LBO) – A United Nations industrial development body is considering giving support to Sri Lanka in the areas of waste management and energy, seen as important for growth. New Delhi-based UNIDO Deputy Representative for South Asia Antonios Levissianos said there was potential to generate energy from waste. “Waste management can be an […]

Sri Lanka currency peg defence by interest rates not advisable: IMF

Sept 08, 2011 (LBO) – The International Monetary Fund is not in favour of mounting an interest rate defence of Sri Lanka’s currency peg, but would like to see exchange rate flexibility instead, an official said. Sri Lanka’s interest rate policy has been largely passive since a currency crisis ended with the float of the […]

Sri Lanka should stop defending currency peg: IMF

Sept 07, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka should stop defending a dollar peg and allow the domestic currency to respond to market developments, the International Monetary Fund has said. Aitken said Sri Lanka’s interest rates were appropriate now but the central bank should watch credit growth and take action in the future. The IMF cautioned […]

Sri Lanka exports up 40-pct to July

Sept 05, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s exports in the seven months to July rose 40 percent to 6,080 million US dollars from a year earlier, with apparel growing 44 percent, an export promotion official said. In July exports had topped a billion US dollars. Ratnayake had earlier said year-end target for exports was 10 […]

Sri Lanka graduates take aim for fresh tax grab

Sep 04, 2011 (LBO) – Graduates from Sri Lanka’s state universities are taking aim for a fresh tax grab by getting lifetime salaries as state workers, having already received a ‘free’ tertiary education from peoples’ tax money. The Island newspaper said a group calling itself the Combined Association of University Graduates (CAUG) charged rulers of […]

Sri Lanka accountants meet to mull new rules, post-war prospects

Aug 31, 2011 (LBO) – Post-war business opportunities and the transition to new global accounting rules will be among the topics to be discussed at a conference organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka. Mudalige said demand for conference participation has grown so much that they had to hold it at the […]

Sri Lanka inflation eases to 7.0-pct

Aug 30, 2011 (LBO) – Inflation in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo rose 7. 0 percent in August 2011, easing from 7.5 percent in July, the government’s statistics office said. The revised index fell 0.3 percent in the month. The food and non-alcoholic beverages fell 0. 7 percent in the month, and non-food categories fell 0.1 […]

Risk to global economy rising: IMF chief

NEW YORK, August 27, 2011 (AFP) – Risks to the global economy are rising and the tools for supporting it are more limited than they have been in the past, IMF chief Christine Lagarde warned Saturday. But Lagarde — in a speech to a meeting of central bankers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming — said that […]

Sri Lanka rubber exporter pinched by export taxes, interest

Aug 29, 2011 (LBO) – Eastern Merchants Plc, an exporter of commodities that claims top spot for natural rubber exports from Sri Lanka said its margins were eroded by rising working capital costs and export taxes despite steep commodity inflation. Eastern Merchants group, which exports rubber, coir fibre, cinnamon and brushes said revenues grew 53 […]

Sri Lanka SOE in new move to clear controversial cement: report

Aug 29, 2011 (LBO) – A state enterprise has tried to again to clear a consignment of cement with a foreign quality certificate adding to a controversy where stocks earlier cleared without certification, a media report said. Sri Lanka’s The Sunday Times newspaper said the Sri Lanka National Co-operatives Board (SLNCB) which comes under the […]

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