Category: Economy
Sri Lanka has perverse link between trade and budget deficit: Nishan de Mel
Jan 22, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s economic policy is governed by political pressures which is evident in the perverse link between the trade deficit and the budget deficit, a top economist observed. Nishan de Mel of Verité Research says the inconsistency in government policies is the key underlying problem contributing to this issue. Trade […]
Sri Lanka inflation NCPI at 4.2-pct in December 2015
Jan 21, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s consumer prices rose 4.2 percent in the 12-months to December 2015 from a year earlier, data from the state statistics office showed. In November 2015, the index which is termed as National Consumer Price Index reported 4.8 percent inflation. Year on year inflation of Food Group has been […]
Central Bank negotiating with IMF for SBA: Amunugama-Updated
Jan 21, 2015 (LBO) – The Central Bank is negotiating with the IMF for a one billion dollar stand-by arrangement, Special Assignments Minister Sarath Amunugama said at an SLFP media briefing, according to a media report. Amunugama said discussions were ongoing and the first tranche of the SBA could come in by late February or […]
China eyes more investment opportunities in Sri Lanka: PM (VIDEO)
Jan 21, 2016 (LBO) – Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said in Switzerland that Sri Lanka is expecting more investments from the China apart from the ongoing infrastructure projects. “Infrastructure alone is not sufficient and we are discussing bringing more Chinese investments,” Wickremesinghe said at a press conference held during the World Economic Forum in progress in […]
Sri Lanka should look at IMF package seriously: Kelegama
Jan 21, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka should look at the IMF package very seriously as the temporary measures would not fix the fundamental issues of the economy, an economist said. Saman Kelegama, Executive Director of the Institute of Policy Studies told a forum that the country needs to bring down the over heated economy […]
Growth in developing economies forecast at 4.3-pct for 2016: IMF
Jan 20, 2016 (LBO) – Growth in emerging market are projected to increase from four percent in 2015 to 4.3 and 4.7 percent in 2016 and 2017, respectively, the latest International Monetary Fund’s global forecast says. “Growth in China is expected to slow to 6.3 percent in 2016 and 6.0 percent in 2017, primarily reflecting […]
Interview: Attractive returns on Sri Lanka bonds due to volatility
Jan 20, 2016 (LBO) – Out of emerging markets, Sri Lanka bonds offer well above average returns through trading opportunities due to strong volatility, a market participant said. Data shows rupee treasury bonds posting more than 25 turning points last year, a clear sign of volatility in the secondary market. Swings of between 25 to […]
Probability of US March rate hike drops, eyes on Davos
Jan 20, 2016 (LBO) – The probability of a rate hike by the U.S. Fed by March fell to 40 percent with equity markets off to a bad start this year, as focus turns to the World Economic Forum in Davos. JPMorgan expects the next US interest rate hike in June, and some analysts predict […]
Prime Minister to attend World Economic Forum
Jan 18, 2016 (LBO) – Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is due to leave Sri Lanka on 19th January 2016 for the World Economic Forum that will be held in Davos-klosters, Switzerland from 20th to the 23rd January 2016. This is the first time Sri Lanka has been invited to participate in the World Economic Forum. […]
Interview: Controlled tea liberalization possible, says Tea Board Chief
Jan 18, 2016 (LBO) – Better marketing and branding of Sri Lankan teas overseas, together with the potential for liberalising the industry, were just some of the issues discussed with Rohan Pethiyagoda, the newly inducted Chairman of the Sri Lankan Tea Board, in an interview with the Oxford Business Group. Tea export volumes out of […]
Sri Lanka targets USD5 bn FDI in next three years, Malik to visit China
Jan 18, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is targeting five billion US dollars worth of foreign direct investments (FDI) in the next three years, Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade said. “We are targeting 5-6 billion US dollars in FDI the next three and I am quite optimistic that we will get there,” Malik […]
Sri Lanka’s reconciliation process key to its economic success: UK Minister
Jan 14, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka commitment to reconciliation will be a driver of its future economic development, a visiting Minister said. “It is reconciliation that will, I believe, be the bedrock on which Sri Lanka’s future economic success will be built,” Hugo Swire, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in […]