Sri Lanka may see tyranny of markets to be worse than IMF, World Bank

Feb 28, 2012 (LBO) – The pain imposed by the tyranny of markets could be much greater than adjustments caused by the International Monetary Fund or World Bank, an economist has warned. The Ceylon Electricity Board, which had to generate large amounts of thermal power from the second quarter of 2011 due to failed rains […]

Sri Lanka exports top US$10bn, record growth in 2011

Feb 27, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s exports topped 10 billion US dollars in 2011 growing at above 20 percent, a threshold achieved only on eight occasions since 1951, which exporters have reached for two years running. Sri Lanka’s exporters have shipped 10,486.9 billion US dollars worth goods in 2011, up 22.4 percent from a […]

Sri Lanka to spend US$26mn on fishery fuel subsidies

Feb 21, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will spend 3. 0 billion rupees a year on fuel subsidies to fishermen to help reduce the effect of a sudden increase in fuel prices fisheries minister Rajitha Senarathe said. Last year large multi-day boats were also freed from income tax for up to five years Senaratne said. […]

Sri Lanka should cut ego boosting state expenses: legislator

Feb 21, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka should cut ego boosting wasteful expenses and close down a loss-making state airline, instead of simply asking people to tighten their belts to battle a balance of payments crisis, a legislator has said. “We call upon the government to close down Mihin Lanka immediately,” Harsha de Silva, an […]

Sri Lanka state officials occupy sugar firm: listed company

Feb 20, 2012 (LBO) – State officials are occupying land of a listed Sri Lankan company, the parent firm of Pelwatte Sugar Industries told shareholders, despite it falling the outside the definition of a controversial law to expropriate citizens’ property. Citizens then had to pay taxes, but did not have property rights either, leading to […]

Sri Lanka exporter forum on flexible exchange rate

Feb 20, 2012 (LBO) – Exporters Association of Sri Lanka (EASL) will be hosting a forum on flexible exchange rates on February 28, after the Central Bank stopped large scale defence of a currency peg earlier in the month. “The Forum aims to assist Exporters understand the impact of the changeover to Flexible Exchange Rates […]

Sri Lanka slain fisherman laid to rest without security forces: report

Feb 19, 2012 (LBO) – A Sri Lankan fisherman slain by police in a protest against a sudden fuel price increase was laid to rest without the presence of the police and military but accompanied by thousands of fellow fishers, a media report said. The fisherman, Anthony Fernando, was killed by police fire in a […]

Sri Lanka policy reversals seen eroding sentiment

Feb 14, 2012 (LBO) – Recent policy reversals by Sri Lanka’s government has dampened investor sentiment and could lead to lower consumer spending, slowing economic growth, a stock broker said. The government raised interest rates, moved closer to floating the rupee by stopping interventions to defend the currency and jacked up fuel prices in quick […]

Fuel Protests

Feb 13, 2012 (LBO) – A steep fuel price increase in Sri Lanka to correct mounting economic imbalance and pressure on a currency peg has seen protests by bus operators and fishermen, reports said. Fishermen blocked a road on the main road to the capital Colombo from Negambo, a fishery centre, a media report said. […]

Sri Lanka tighter money to keep inflation low: CB Governor

Feb 13, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has tightened monetary policy and imposed a credit ceiling not only to counter balance of payments pressure but also to keep the island’s inflation low, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said. The central bank then sold dollars, initially mopping up excess liquidity and tightening the monetary system, but […]

Price Hike

Feb 11, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has steeply raised the price of diesel partially correcting chronic mis-pricing between refined fuels in a move that could also help reduce loans taken by petroleum distributors and stabilize a weakening exchange rate. Diesel may be now priced just around cost when freight, port levies and taxes are […]

Fuel Poser

Feb 10, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is considering raising retail prices of fuel because of rising world oil prices, petroleum industries minister Susil Premajayantha said. Sri Lanka’s future oil imports will cost more as international prices have increased owing to cold weather in the Western hemisphere and uncertainty caused by sanctioned against Iran, he […]

Page 98 of 593