Sri Lanka to change banking laws to mandate bigger credit to agro sectors

Sri Lanka plans to bring in changes to its banking laws before next March to mandate banks to double their agriculture lending portfolio, Treasury Secretary said Wednesday.Sri Lanka plans to bring in changes to its banking laws before next March to mandate banks to double their agriculture lending portfolio, Treasury Secretary said Wednesday. “Credit channeled […]

Elephants Walk Out

Sri Lankas main opposition party, the United National Party, took a sudden decision to boycott Tuesday budget, citing its a mere academicals exercise, a senior party spokesman said.“It was a sudden decision to boycott the budget, as there is no debate before the election next week,” UNP parliamentarian Rajitha Senerath said.rn rnSri Lankas Finance Minister […]

Sri Lanka’s peace chief quits amid deadlock in talks

Sri Lanka’s top official handling the peace process with Tamil Tiger rebels resigned Wednesday ahead of presidential elections this month, a government official said.Sri Lanka’s top official handling the peace process with Tamil Tiger rebels resigned Wednesday ahead of presidential elections this month, a government official said. President Chandrika Kumaratunga accepted the resignation of Jayantha […]

Sri Lanka revives automatic fuel price revision formula

The government has proposed a return to the automatic fuel price formula after squandering billions on a failed attempt to ‘unplug’ Sri Lanka from the global economy.The government has proposed a return to the automatic fuel price formula after squandering billions on a failed attempt to ‘unplug’ Sri Lanka from the global economy. “Recurrent expenditure […]

Late Demands

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce wants a pre-election budgetary position made public, before the Presidential election.The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce wants a pre-election budgetary position made public, before the Presidential election. Sri Lanka’s leading trade chamber wants the government to amend the Fiscal Management (Responsibility) Act, to allow a pre-election fiscal report before a Presidential […]

Renewable Bonds

The government plans to roll out a “Renewable Energy Support Bond” for Rs.2 billion in 2006 to raise funds supporting rural electrification through renewable energy, Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama said Tuesday.The government plans to roll out a “Renewable Energy Support Bond” for Rs. 2 billion in 2006 to raise funds supporting rural electrification through renewable […]

Sri Lanka promises Vehicle permits and higher pay for public servants

Sri Lanka is offering tax breaks on vehicle permits, higher pay and cash for unpaid leave to encourage its bloated public sector to become more efficient. Sri Lanka is offering tax breaks on vehicle permits, higher pay and cash for unpaid leave to encourage its bloated public sector to become more efficient. The minimum salary […]

Gift Wrap

Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister is promising to give paid paternity leave, duty free vehicles for good taxpayers, free spectacles for the disable, and splash out billions of rupees by way of welfare subsidies, if he wins next month’s presidential poll, his party said Tuesday. Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister is promising to give paid paternity leave, […]

Sri Lanka offers tax-free ICC cricket

The Sri Lankan government announced Tuesday that all International Cricket Council (ICC) events held in this cricket-mad island will be given total tax exemptions.The Sri Lankan government announced Tuesday that all International Cricket Council (ICC) events held in this cricket-mad island will be given total tax exemptions. Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama said the concession would […]

Milk & Honey

Treasury Secretary says GDP growth will surpass six percent this year but independent economists give sharply lower forecasts. Treasury Secretary says GDP growth will surpass six percent this year but independent economists give sharply lower forecasts. Dr P. B. Jayasundera says higher tourism earnings and a better performance from agriculture will help the economy post […]

How Amunugama nearly missed the bus

Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama nearly missed presenting the 2006 budget today after his staff got the time wrong and forced him to an inauspicious start.Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama nearly missed presenting the 2006 budget today after his staff got the time wrong and forced him to an inauspicious start. Official invitations sent out by the […]

Candy Man

Sri Lanka plans to lean on foreign aid and debt relief to trim its deficit, though Tuesday’s budget will be sugar coated to woo voters in the run up to next week’s keenly contested presidential poll.Sri Lanka plans to lean on foreign aid and debt relief to trim its deficit, though Tuesday’s budget will be […]

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