Sri Lanka will not take all advice that is given: CB Governor

Sept 19, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will not take all economic advice that is given but chart its own course based on a longer term path, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said amid concern over continued defence of the island’s dollar peg. “We’ve got to be very clear to the public, to the economic […]

Sri Lanka policy rates steady, credit expected to slow: Central Bank

Sept 16, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has kept policy rates steady at 7. 00 percent to deposit excess reserves and 8. 50 percent to inject cash as rupee liquidity in monetary markets declined, expecting credit growth and forex interventions to ease in the future. The Central Bank said broad money grew 20. 7 percent […]

Swazi king wants bailout from IMF, World Bank

MANZINI, September 14, 2011 (AFP) – Swazi King Mswati III said Wednesday that the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank should come to his country’s rescue, as they have for troubled nations like Greece and Portugal. “When they come to visit us, they do not come in the same spirit and that is a […]

Sri Lanka, Vietnam mull tractor plant, garment ventures

Sept 15, 2011 (LBO) – Vietnam is considering setting up a tractor plant in Sri Lanka and also joint ventures in garment manufacture, the island’s ministry of industry and commerce said in a statement. “Vietnam is keen to import more coconuts from Sri Lanka, collaborate in garment manufacturing and also to set up a manufacturing […]

‘s GDP expands 8.2-pct in June quarter: statistics office

Sept 15, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s economy expanded by an estimated 8. 2 percent in the second quarter of 2011 from a year earlier, led by industry and services, the state statistics office said. In the second quarter of 2010, gross domestic product grew by 8.5 percent. The statistics office said industry, which has […]

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 investments being mulled by Korea

Sept 14, 2011 (LBO) – South Korean firms like Hyundai and LG are interested in exploring investements in shipbuilding and electronics in Sri Lanka, the island’s ministry of industry and commerce said. The interest of Korean companies was revealed by South Korean ambassador Jongmoon Choi during a courtesy call on the industry and commerce minister […]

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 […]

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