Sri Lanka fills monetary board vacancy

July 13, 2006 (LBO) – Upali Group chairman Nimal Welgama, has been appointed to the Monetary Board, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka said Thursday. Welgama has been appointed by the President with effect from July 3. His term of office will be for the remaining period of office of P D Rodrigo, appointed member […]

Fuelling Wars

July 11 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s energy minister wants nine billion rupees from the Treasury to settle Ceylon Petroleum Corp’s subsidy bill, as the Treasury tries to free up pricing. We will not raise prices, but we have asked the Treasury for nine billion rupees from January to date to settle CPC’s subsidy bill, or […]

Quick Sand

July 9, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will continue to subsidise retail fuel prices in the absence of a new pricing formula, as Colombo threatened to takeover Indian Oil Corp’s local unit if they fail to resume gasoline sales, officials said Sunday. Sri Lanka is a net oil importer, with fuel shipments doubling to 1.6 […]

Oil Conundrum

July 9, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s main opposition charged that weak economic management was the cause of galloping inflation in the country and not oil prices.“The government is hiding behind the bunker of oil price rises and driving up inflation by printing money and banks borrowings,” United National Parliamentarian and former Deputy Finance Minister […]

European Union to fund Sri Lanka’s war refugees

July 4, 2006 (AFP) – The European Union Tuesday announced seven million euros (8.9 million dollars) in aid for some 400,000 people displaced by the drawn-out separatist conflict in Sri Lanka since 1972.The money, channeled through 20 local and international relief agencies, will go to refugees mainly in the island’s embattled northern and eastern regions, […]

Sri Lanka’s budget deficit expands to 3.2% by end April

July 4, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s budget deficit for the four months to April rose to 3.2 percent of GDP from 2.9 percent of GDP a year before as the government spent more on capital expenditure and salary increments for civil servants and subsidies, the Finance Ministry said Tuesday. The government raised about 100 […]

‘s war refugees

July 4, 2006 (AFP) – The European Union Tuesday announced seven million euros (8.9 million dollars) in aid for some 400,000 people displaced by the drawn-out separatist conflict in Sri Lanka since 1972.The money, channeled through 20 local and international relief agencies, will go to refugees mainly in the island’s embattled northern and eastern regions, […]

‘s budget deficit expands to 3.2% by end April

July 4, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s budget deficit for the four months to April rose to 3.2 percent of GDP from 2.9 percent of GDP a year before as the government spent more on capital expenditure and salary increments for civil servants and subsidies, the Finance Ministry said Tuesday. The government raised about 100 […]

Sri Lanka’s new Central Bank governor says he will protect its independence

July 3, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s newly appointed central bank governor says he will promote the independence of the institution, which has come under fire from independent economists in recent years for submitting to fiscal dominance and pushing up inflation. But some previous governors who held shares in financial institutions have sold out after […]

‘s new Central Bank governor says he will protect its independence

July 3, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s newly appointed central bank governor says he will promote the independence of the institution, which has come under fire from independent economists in recent years for submitting to fiscal dominance and pushing up inflation. But some previous governors who held shares in financial institutions have sold out after […]

Sri Lanka’s inflation rate climbs to 17.7% in June

June 30, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s inflation rate for June jumped to 17.7 percent, official figures showed Friday, spurring concerns that the Central Bank may hike interest rates again. The bank, which is forecasting a year-end growth of 7.0 percent said the economy would remain vulnerable an upsurge in violence, as sporadic attacks on […]

Cheap Cheap

June 30, 2006 (LBO) – Ceylon Petroleum Corp or Ceypetco has developed a lower octane gasoline for use in three wheelers, motorbikes, the island’s sole oil refiner said Friday. The ‘RON 87 petrol’ has been developed by CPC scientists and engineers to ensure three-wheelers have the right formula for fuel. CPC says three-wheeler taxis can […]

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