Tag: Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka cautioned by Japan on military breakthrough
TOKYO, January 5, 2009 (AFP) – Japan, Sri Lanka’s top donor, was cautious Monday after the Tamil Tiger rebels’ capital fell, with an official saying that only a political solution could resolve the island’s ethnic war. Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, part of the Sinhalese majority, vowed in a New Year’s address to crush the […]
Sri Lanka govt mulls tax hike on milk powder imports
Jan 02, 2009 (LBO) – The Sri Lankan government is considering increasing customs duties on milk powder imports to take advantage of plunging global prices without raising domestic prices and raise revenue. World prices have plummeted by over 50 percent from a November 2007 high of 4,550 dollars a metric ton of milk powder. “The […]
US renews call for peaceful dialogue in Sri Lanka
WASHINGTON, January 2, 2009 (AFP) – The US State Department on Friday urged the Sri Lankan and Tamil Tigers to start negotiating over the “legitimate” demands of the Tamils after Colombo announced a key win over the rebels.Sri Lanka said Friday its troops had finally captured Kilinochchi, the unofficial capital of the Tigers, and urged […]
Sri Lanka central bank promises single digit inflation in 2009
Jan 03, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank has promised single digit inflation amid deflationary external conditions and the possibility of a looser stance and lower interest rates in 2009, in its annual road map for monetary policy. In the last few months inflation has been falling with the effects of external deflationary conditions […]
Sri Lanka inflation seen falling to 8-9% by mid-2009: central bank
Jan 02, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s inflation rate expected to fall to 8.0 – 9.0 percent by mid-2009, central bank governor Nivard Cabraal said.Cabraal said inflation has been coming down since July 2008 and that inflationary expectations also show signs of moderating. “Also, interest rates are expected to follow the decline in inflation,” Cabraal […]
Sri Lanka president takes over media portfolio
January 1, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse on Thursday took the country’s influential media ministry under his wing ahead of a key mid-term election for his administration, officials said.The Ministry of Mass Media and Information was taken away from Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, who was instead given the Ministry of Investment Promotion post, […]
Volatile Pricing
Jan 01, 2009 (LBO) – Shell Gas Lanka, the Sri Lankan unit of the Shell multinational, said a new government tax and its inability to buy locally made liquid petroleum gas is preventing it from further reducing prices.It said in a statement that the government has imposed a special tax of eight rupees per kilogramme […]
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Jan 01, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is hoping to hike import taxes as international prices fall to cover part of the cost of a 16 billion rupee ‘stimulus’ announced by the government to boost economic growth in 2009, a top official said. The government announced a series of measures this week, including cheaper diesel […]
Sri Lanka inflation at 14.4-pct in December
Dec 31, 2008 (LBO ) – Consumer price inflation in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo fell to 14.4 percent in the 12-months to December from 16.3 percent in November, the government’s statistics office said. In the first half of 2008 inflation was high partly due to effects of loose policy in 2007 and also high inflation […]
Sri Lanka repays Citibank, ICICI Bank loans
Dec 31, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has repaid 175 million US dollars in commercial loans, involving Citibank and India’s ICICI Bank, and raised only 150 million dollars in new loans, in 2008, the government’s debt office said. A 100 million US dollar syndicated loan arranged by Citibank in 2005, a balance 25 million US […]
Sri Lanka gives incentives to tea, rubber sectors
Dec 30, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government has moved to protect and revive the tea and rubber industries with a host of incentives announced in a wide-ranging economic stimulus package. These measures meet long-standing demand of tea cultivators, especially small farmers, and factory owners. The government will also set up a state trading institution […]
” to maintain growth
Dec 30, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has announced a ‘stimulus package’ valued at 16 billion rupees to maintain growth at an optimistic 6.0 to 6.5 percent in 2009, with cuts in energy prices and incentives for exporters. “We have been able to maintain a growth rate of 6.0 percent or above in the past […]