Category: Economy and Markets
Sri Lanka bombings increase economic, external risks; IMF key: Fitch Ratings
May 17, 2019 (LBO) – The tragic Easter bombings in Sri Lanka will result in lower economic growth this year and could increase external financing pressures, Fitch Ratings says. Full Statement: Fitch Ratings-Hong Kong/London-16 May 2019: The tragic Easter bombings in Sri Lanka will result in lower economic growth this year and could increase external […]
CBSL to resume FX purchases to rebuild net intl reserves to USD6.9bn by end Dec
May 17, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank said it is committed to rebuild reserves and allow the exchange rate to function as the first line of defense to external shocks. As per the memorandum of economic and financial policies contained in the Letter of Intent to the IMF, the Central Bank has recognized […]
Sri Lanka projected to grow 3.6-pct in 2019; reach 5-pct over medium term: IMF staff report
May 17, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s economic growth is projected to recover to 3.6 percent in 2019, and gradually reach 5 percent over the medium-term, with inflation in the mid-single digits, the IMF staff appraisal revealed. Inflation is expected to rise to 4.5 percent by end-2019, as economic activity recovers and food prices stabilize, […]
Dipped Products posts healthy growth: Group pre-tax profit up 32-pct in 2018/9
May 17, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Dipped Products Group pre-tax profit was up 32 percent to 1,643 million rupees in 2018/9, the company said. The Group achieved a profit before tax of 1,643 million rupees for the year ending 31st March 2019, a growth of 32 percent over the previous year. Profit after tax […]
Nedal Salem takes helm of Ceylon Tobacco Company
May 16, 2019 (LBO) – Nedal Salem was appointed managing director andchief executive officer of Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC (CTC) effective 15th May 2019. During his career spanning over two decades at British American Tobacco (BAT), Nedal has held various senior Management roles in nine markets across three continents. He holds a Bachelor of Arts […]
Opinion: Fresh frontiers of pharmaceutical innovation
By Sri Lanka Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industry For centuries, human beings have waged a relentless battle against a litany of diseases that have ravaged countless generations. From early influenza epidemics that decimated towns and villages to devastating pandemics such as the Black Death and AIDS, illness has stood as an eternal adversary to human wellbeing […]
Haycarb 2018/9 turnover Rs.20.9Bn: Raw material cost impacts negatively
May 16, 2019 (LBO) – Haycarb PLC reported revenue of 20.9 billion rupees, profit before tax of 1.35 billion rupees and profit after tax of 1.08 billion rupees for financial year 2018/19. The earnings per share of equity holders of the company increased to 32.16 rupees for the year. The Chairman of Haycarb PLC and […]
Sampath Bank’s Net Interest Income up by 23-pct in Q1 2019
Sampath Bank reported a net interest income of Rs. 10.2 Bn for Q1 2019 reflecting a noteworthy growth of 23.2% over the figure reported in Q1 2018, a significant achievement given the challenging economic conditions that prevailed throughout the period. The bank recorded a profit after tax of Rs. 2.2 Bn, a negative growth over […]
Central Bank extends regulatory action on The Finance Company for another three months
May 15, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank has decided to extend the regulatory action currently in place on The Finance Company for another three months, in order to consider the business restructuring proposal submitted by the company. Monetary Board of the Central Bank initiated a number of regulatory actions, as temporary measures, on […]
‘s only Dangerous Goods Storage Facility
May 14, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s first, and South Asia’s most advanced, Dangerous Goods Storage Facility (DGSF) was commissioned on Friday, 10th May at the Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT) equipping the Port of Colombo with a sophisticated storage yard for cargo classified under the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code. An investment of […]
IMF approves extension & USD164mn disbursement; grants waivers to Sri Lanka for performance criteria
May 14, 2019 (LBO) – The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund has completed the fifth review of Sri Lanka’s economic performance under the program supported by an extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF). Completion of this review, upon the granting of waivers of nonobservance for the end‑December 2018 performance criteria on […]
Foreigners flee Sri Lankan bonds with Rs11bn outflows this week
May 10, 2019 (LBO) – Foreign institutional selling of Sri Lanka’s government bonds picked up pace in the past week with approximately Rs11bn (US$60mn) of net outflows. Total foreign investor holdings of Sri Lankan government bonds has now reached multiyear lows, with total foreign holdings at just over US0mn.The fallout from the Easter Sunday terror […]