Tag: lankabusinessonline

The Asian Development Bank warned on Saturday that the governments rocky relationship with the powerful executive presidency is stalling economic reforms.“The absence of a bipartisan process makes it more difficult for us to be comfortable as to whether key reforms will take place,” ADBs Country Director, John Cooney told a media briefing.rn rnThe countrys present […]

The Central Bank said Friday, that inflation measured by the Colombo Consumer Price Index for February dropped 1.1 percent over January to 3423.1.Central Bank said the availability of food items, mainly of upcountry vegetables, led to a drop in Februarys inflation.rn rnThe CCPI is the official measure of price changes within the Colombo Municipality for […]

The government and the World Bank will sit together for a final round of talks soon to finalise a big budgetary finance loan.The third meeting will be the last between the two parties before a proposal is put before the World Bank board in May.rn rnIf a final deal is struck at the meeting the […]

The ADB expects Sri Lanka will clock in a 5 percent growth in 2003, building on the back of renewed economic stability and a global recovery in the second half of the year. rnldblquote This performance builds on the progress the Government has made in achieving short-run macroeconomic stability in 2002 dblquote , the Bank […]

Chairman Lal Nanayakkara says the turnaround has come from higher recoveries in its bad loan portfolio and profits from its investment portfolio.rn rnIn 2001, the bank recorded an impressive Rs. 345.29 bn profit reversing a loss of Rs. 1.77 bn in 2000 after providing Rs.821.75 mn for loan losses and Rs. 25.68 mn for the […]

Government is planning to take up the taxation issue with the LTTE as key donors to the island refuse to pay tax in any form.rn rnThe issue is to be taken up at the next round of peace talks with the LTTE.rn rnEconomists point out that development aid will be key to rebuilding war damaged […]

The government is discussing ways of financing the administrative units to be set up in a possible devolution and has also taken up the Tiger tax issue, Cabinet Spokesman G.L. Pieris said.rn rnAt present the LTTE is using various ruses to collect taxes from the people in the North and East.rn rnThough prices have come […]

The Asian Development Bank on Monday approved US$ 300 mn in loan and grant financing for five key infrastructure and poverty alleviation projects in the transport, water and wildlife sectors.

Secretary to the Economic Reforms Ministry, Mr.G. Hewagama will take over duties as Chairman of PERC with immediate effect.rn rnMr. Hewagama takes over from Dr. P. B. Jayasundera who stepped down as Chairman with effect from January 1 this year, PERC said in a statement on Friday.rn rnldblquote The appointment at PERC will be in […]

Two projects, initiated by the Urban Development Authority (UDA) will add 15,500 new low and middle income homes in the western province.rn rnThe homes will be built on UDA land with monies from Korea and China.rn rnNegotiations are underway with a Korean firm to construct and invest and estimated Rs. 200 million in 500 homes […]

The government plans to meet with officials from key foreign countries like USA and UK for a possible economic package in the event of another Gulf War.rn rnLabour Minister, Mahinda Samarasinghe kicked off the crisis level talks on Thursday by meeting top UNDP officials.rn rnHe is also due to meet Saudi Arabian and Kuwait Ambassadors […]

Financial and public sector reforms are high on the list of the upcoming IMF backed structural adjustment program in March.rn rnIMF resident representative Jeremy Carter says Sri Lanka has to trim its bloated public sector, which is the largest in the world in per capita terms.rn rnSri Lanka is likely to get about sixty five […]