Category: Economy and Markets
Government seeks to collect Rs 140bn from Social Security Contribution
Aiming to rebuild Sri Lanka’s economy affected by the Covid pandemic, a “Social Security Contribution” has been proposed by the Finance Minister. This contribution will be charged at 2.5 percent on the annual threshold turnover exceeding Rupees 120 million. Rupees 140 billion is expected as revenue through this contribution. This will be effective from 01 […]
Finance Minister proposes one-time tax for big companies & financial institutions
Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa proposed to impose a one-time tax surcharge of 25 percent on persons or companies with taxable income over Rupees 2,000 million for the year of assessment 2020/2021. Rupees 100 billion is expected to be earned through this tax. VAT on banks and financial service providers under supply of financial services by […]
Budget 2022: Download Full Budget Speech
Budget Speech 2022: DOWNLOAD Budget Speech 2022 (Annexures): DOWNLOAD
Sri Lanka Budget 2022 – LIVE Coverage
The Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa is delivering the Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill for the financial year 2022 in Parliament. Finance Minister presenting the budget said “We are presenting the budget amid five global challenges and many countries are focussing on internal problems, there are climate problems, inflation and Coronavirus crises has disrupted […]
eChannelling Q3 financial performance sets foundation for growth: Records 116-pct growth YOY
eChannelling PLC, the largest Channelling Network in Sri Lanka and a subsidiary of SLT-MOBITEL, is gearing towards a quantum leap with acquisitions, expansion plans, partnerships and product innovation to further uplift the nation’s digital lifestyle experience. Supporting this trajectory is eChannelling’s strong Q3 performance, forming a firm foundation for its strategic relaunch and future growth. […]
Central Bank expects inflation to remain high at around 8-9% in next few months
Sri Lanka’s Central Bank expects inflation to remain high at around 8-9% in the next few months, before gradually reverting to the desired 4-6% level thereafter. Releasing the ‘Recent Economic Developments’ report, the Central Bank said that the upward adjustments in retail market prices of some commodities, mainly driven by supply side factors and increased […]
CBSL expects reserves to remain around USD 3.5bn by end 2021; USD 4bn on average in 2022
Sri Lanka’s Central Bank expects gross official reserves to remain at around USD 3.5 bn at the end of 2021, and around USD 4.0 bn on average in 2022. Releasing the ‘Recent Economic Developments’ report, the Central Bank said that it expects financial flows to strengthen in the period ahead with the envisaged inflows in […]
Teejay Lanka consolidates in Q2 to post 6-month revenue of Rs 23.1Bn
Topline grows 71% on higher demand for fabric Net profit improves by 59% to Rs 954.1 million for 1H Teejay Lanka PLC has built on its robust first quarter performance in Q2 of 2021-22, helped by strong demand for fabric from strategic customers due to the changing dynamics of the global market, increased capacities and […]
Hemas Group revenue up 19.8-pct over last year
Hemas Holdings PLC (HHL) delivered a strong first half amidst a challenging operating environment with half of the second quarter being under island wide lockdown. The cumulative Group revenue stood at Rs.36.2 billion, an increase of 19.8 per cent over last year. During the quarter under review, an unprecedented level of input cost inflation and […]
Sri Lanka to introduce incentive package for migrant workers with various benefits
Sri Lanka to introduce an incentive package for migrant workers, which includes pension/superannuation benefits, accident/life insurance benefits, banking facilities including low-interest loans for housing and/or self-employment on return to Sri Lanka, and enhanced duty-free concessions. The Central Bank said they are currently working in collaboration in this regard, with the Ministry of Labour, State Ministry […]
Is wealth tax the solution to Sri Lanka’s low tax revenue collection?
By Sathya Karunarathne IntroductionSuccessive governments have run fiscal deficits. Inadequate revenue collection and unrestrained government expenditure have worsened the country’s fiscal position. Tax revenue which averaged over 20% of GDP in 1990 has declined to under 10% of GDP inAd hoc tax policy changes have significantly eroded the tax base. Weak tax administration has also […]
New rules to convert export proceeds have no impact on Sri Lankans working abroad: CBSL
Sri Lanka’s Central Bank emphasizes that inward remittances by Sri Lankan expatriates, which are not considered as services exports, will not be subjected to new export proceeds conversion rules. Under the new rules issued on 28 October 2021, the minimum mandatory conversion rate of 25 percent has been relaxed, and instead, exporters have been provided […]