New agencies to fast track Sri Lanka investment approvals

May 04, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government will fast track the approval of investment projects through the setting up of two new agencies, a state minister said in a statement. “Ideally the time frame for approval of projects should be about two months,” Sujeewa Senasinghe, state minister, Development Strategies and International Trade, said. “The Government is […]

Chevron plans to expand local and regional presence

May 04, 2016 (LBO) – Chevron Lubricants Lanka said that they have no immediate plans to go to new markets but will focus on growing local and regional presence, a senior official said. “Plans are to grow in the local and two export markets,” Kishu Gomes, chief executive of Chevron said. “Bangladesh is a huge […]

Com Bank inks deal with Bank Muscut Oman for money transfers

May 03, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Commercial Bank of Ceylon has formalised its tie-up with the Bank Muscat Oman to facilitate remittances to Sri Lanka. Commercial Bank said that remittances will be facilitated through the Bank Muscut’s new mobile banking app, with the signing of an agreement in Muscat. The mobile app makes it […]

BOI signs 19 agreements worth Rs.319Mn in March 2016

Apr 28, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment signed a total of 19 new investment agreements in varied sectors in March 2016, the investment agency said in a statement. The agreements signed are valued of 139 million US dollars and are expected to generate 3100 direct new employment opportunities. As per the BOI […]

Sri Lankans named in Panama Papers expected in May

Apr. 27, 2016 (LBO) – The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists said they will release on May 9th a searchable database with information on more than 200,000 offshore entities that are part of the Panama Papers investigation. The data comes from the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, one of the top players in the offshore […]

Fastest population shift in history, opportunity or threat to Asia?

Apr 27, 2016 (LBO) – If countries do not start planning for the rapid Asian demographic change, they will miss out on a unique opportunity to boost growth and investments for the future, a UN report said. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in its latest Regional Human Development Report says that Asia-Pacific countries now […]

Sri Lanka Lotus Tower land deed still not cleared

Apr 26, 2016 (LBO) – The Lotus Tower or Nelum Kuluna’s land is still in dispute and awaiting approval from the Urban Development Authority, a senior official told Lanka Business Online. “We are still waiting for the land issue to be sorted, it needs to be cleared by the Attorney General’s Department and then the […]

A new political culture will be introduced after May 01: President

Apr 26, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena says he will introduce a new political programme in the country after May 01 and take several new political decisions for the betterment of the country and its people. “These decisions will help to prevent the corrupt forces, who used state powers and assets in an […]

‘s emergency power plant request

Apr 25, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s power regulator, Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) in a letter denied the CEB a request to buy a 55 MW of emergency power plant that was approved by the cabinet. “Although approval was given by cabinet of ministers it was not in line with its least […]

Sri Lanka’s transport reforms lack political will: Kumarage

Apr 22, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s politicians should lead from the front and drive much needed transport reforms which have evolved through changes in social and economic conditions, a senior official told LBO. “Vehicles gridlocked in Colombo traffic is something we are all familiar with by now. But what are we doing about it?” Amal […]

Sri Lanka tea sees better demand for high grown small leafs

Apr 20, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tea at auction offerings saw good demand all round with better demand for high grown small leaf teas, Forbes & Walker Tea Brokers said in their latest report. “Consequent to the smaller volume on offer coupled with the absence of an auction last week on account of Sinhala/ Tamil […]

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