Category: Economy and Markets
Policy interventions require that may be unpopular, says President at Export Awards
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that in the future too many unpopular decisions will have to be taken to overcome the global economic challenges and to keep the country on the path to prosperity. Even though the people criticized these interventions, the country and the people would reap the benefits in the near future, the President […]
National consensus on structural reforms needed to get out of economic crisis: Advocata
Sri Lanka is already in one of the worst economic crises in its history. The reforms are so difficult that no party will want to even contemplate let alone implement them fearing loss of popularity. The longer reforms are postponed, the worse the problem becomes which makes remedies even more difficult to implement. The only […]
Inflation Is a Greater Policy Test for Emerging-Market Sovereigns: Fitch Ratings
Higher inflation is generally credit negative for sovereigns, but presents particular risks for emerging markets (EMs), as they often face higher and more volatile inflation than developed markets (DMs), and are exposed to greater currency instability, says Fitch Ratings. Fitch believes global goods price pressures will ease from early 2022, but inflation could remain elevated […]
CBSL maintains policy rates; further acceleration of headline inflation expected
The Monetary Board of the Central Bank has decided to maintain the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) of the Central Bank at their current levels of 5.00 percent and 6.00 percent, respectively. The Board noted the recent acceleration of inflation, driven mainly by supply disruptions and the surge […]
Sri Lanka’s budget proposals weigh on insurers’ near-term earnings:Fitch
The Sri Lankan government’s proposal to introduce new one-off as well as recurring taxes on companies will likely constrain the near-term profitability of some insurers, Fitch Ratings says. However, we expect the proposals to have only a limited impact on most insurers’ capital positions because of their sound capital buffers accumulated before and during the […]
Sarvodaya Development Finance IPO oversubscribed on opening day
Sarvodaya Development Finance’s (SDF) Rs. 1 billion Initial Public Offering (IPO) was oversubscribed on the initial opening day, the company secretary said issuing a statement within two hours of the opening. Underwritten by NDB Bank and Sampath Bank, the IPO was aimed at raising Rs. 1 billion, through 45 million ordinary voting shares at a […]
Alliance Finance raises Rs1Bn in subordinate debt to strengthen tier II capital
Alliance Finance Co PLC (AFC) has successfully raised LKR 1 billion in Tier II capital, with the aim of strengthening the regulatory capital of the Company to financially empower and facilitate the development of the Micro, Small and Medium enterprise sector in Sri Lanka. The Tier II Subordinated Debt has a tenure of 5 years […]
ADB to take 8.5-pct stake in JKH via USD80Mn investment
John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH) yesterday announced the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will be taking up a 8.5 percent stake via a private placement with an investment of US 80 million dollars via two phases. JKH said its Board of Directors resolved to raise funds through a private placement for a maximum cumulative amount of […]
‘s headline inflation increased to 8.3-pct in October
Headline inflation, as measured by the year-on-year (Y-o-Y) change in the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI, 2013=100)1, increased to 8.3 percent in October 2021 from 6.2 percent in September 2021 driven by monthly increases of prices of items in both Food and Non-food categories. Meanwhile, Food inflation (Y-o-Y) increased to 11.7 percent in October 2021 […]
Teejay Lanka achieves 81-pct emission reduction from sludge disposal
Invests Rs 90 million in Sri Lanka’s largest steam-powered paddle dryer Reduces GHG emissions by 2,326 tCO2e in one year Sri Lanka’s largest textile manufacturer Teejay Lanka PLC has announced the achievement of an 81 per cent reduction in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from the disposal of sludge waste, after one year of sustained operation […]
Sarvodaya Development Finance and Mitra Innovation work to build digital capabilities
Noting the potential of digitisation as a method of transforming ethical financing, Sarvodaya Development Finance (SDF) partnered with Mitra Innovation to connect the village of Kethsirigama to a number of digital platforms, thereby enhancing their ability to conduct business and achieve economic growth. The partnership with Mitra Innovation will revolve around providing access to comprehensive […]
Wartime organic farming lessons for peacetime
By Jekhan Aruliah There is recent precedent in Sri Lanka for suddenly “going organic”. The Sri Lankan Civil War saw years of economic blockades and embargoes in the North. Some items were totally banned, others were provided in restricted quantities. From ladies’ sanitary pads to batteries to petrol and cement, chemical fertilisers and pesticides many […]