Sri Lanka floods will not need a monetary response: CB Governor

Jan 18, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s recent floods will have minimal impact on long term inflation and will not need a monetary response but there will be ‘some economic impact’ from crop losses, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said. Large swathes of rice fields in Sri Lanka east and north central areas went under […]

WASHINGTON, January 16, 2011 (AFP) – China’s President Hu Jintao said Sunday the international currency system was “a product of the past,” but it would be a long time before the yuan is accepted as an international currency. Asked about the view that appreciation of the yuan would curb inflation in China, Hu suggested that […]

EU gives two mln euros in aid for Sri Lanka floods

BRUSSELS, January 14, 2011 (AFP) – The European Commission decided on Friday to release two million euros (. 7 million) in emergency humanitarian aid for the victims of devastating floods in Sri Lanka. The assistance will be distributed through international aid agencies to provide emergency food aid, water and sanitation, and emergency relief items. “When […]

Sri Lanka economic freedoms improve: think tank

Jan 14, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has improved its score in an economic freedom index for 2011 compiled by US based heritage foundation and the Wall Street Journal, but the increasing non-tarrif barriers and state expansion has dragged the score down. Sri Lanka improved its score by 2.5 points to 57.1 making it the […]

Sri Lanka gets US$250mn from land sales to developers: minister

Jan 14, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is raising 250 million US dollars from the sale of two blocks of land to developers who will build hotels and shopping complexes near the main beachfront in the capital Colombo, a government minister said. Hong Kong based Shangri-La hotels and state-run China National Aero Technology Import and […]

World Bank sees 2008 risks for global economy

WASHINGTON, January 13, 2011 (AFP) – The World Bank warned Wednesday the global economy could return to the dark days of the 2008 crisis, with slowing growth and rising commodity prices. After the recession in 2009 and the 2010 rebound, the multilateral institution said, 2011 is expected to be a year of deceleration. In its […]

Sri Lanka can loosen monetary policy amid fiscal tightening: economist

Jan 14, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka could loosen monetary policy if it is balanced by tightening fiscal policy to manage inflation, a senior World Bank economist said South Asian nations struggled with large deficits and high inflation from past loose policy. Sri Lanka has a pegged exchange rate where the country’s inflation is externally […]

Sri Lanka cuts policy rates, amid lower deficit

Jan 11, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank cut its policy rate at which excess cash is drained from the market 25 basis points to 7.0 percent, while inflation hovered at 6. 9 percent in December. The government has also cut taxes on some foods, the central bank said. Earlier this month the military […]

Sri Lanka seeks to change inflation index as price pressure grows

Jan 06, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka wants to change a price index again to reflect recent changes in consumption patterns although previous tinkering with the indicator at a time inflation hit record highs drew criticism. It would also cover changes in credit growth, money market liquidity and its control measures, impact of capital inflows […]

Fuel Opportunity

Jan 05, 2011 (LBO) – Lanka IOC, the Sri Lankan unit of Indian Oil Corp. , plans to invest in expanding its distribution network this year after seeing sales grow last year with an economic recovery after the end of a war, a statement said. We are proud to head the prestigious LMD 50 ranking […]

Cutting Gas

Jan 05, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lankan liquid petroleum gas distributor Laugfs Gas has struck a deal with India’s Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) to sell metal cutting gas in the island, a stock exchange filing said. The statement claimed the new product is an economical and safer metal cutting gas substitute for acetylene. The new […]

Sri Lanka delays local polls for World Cup

January 5, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka on Wednesday postponed council elections near three cricket World Cup venues as the nation seeks to put on a flawless show as co-hosts of the prestigious event. The Colombo Municipal Council will not go to the polls as scheduled in March while four other councils in the central […]

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