Category: Economy and Markets
Sri Lanka reserves at USD7.0Bn
Jan 29, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Governments’s gross official reserves stood at US dollars 7.0 billion which was equivalent to 3.7 months of imports at end November 2018, data shows. Total foreign assets, which consist of gross official reserves and foreign assets of the banking sector, amounted to US dollars 9.7 billion as at […]
Sri Lanka exports grow 4.1-pct USD980Mn in Nov 2018
Jan 29, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s deficit in the trade account narrowed significantly in November 2018 (year-on-year) following a decline in import expenditure, the Central Bank said. Exports grew by 4.1 per cent while imports contracted by 9.1 per cent in November 2018 (year-on-year). “The deficit in the trade account narrowed significantly in November […]
An insight into Sri Lanka’s economic behaviour: NTB
Jan 28, 2019 (LBO) – Elaborating on the ‘Insight into Sri Lanka’s Economic Behaviour’, executive vice president – treasury and investment banking at Nations Trust Bank, Indrajith Boyagoda shares his views on Sri Lanka’s current economic circumstances and the role of banking in this environment. “It is of significant importance that, the global economy is […]
Sri Lanka Govt introduces more loans for 3-wheel owners and migrant workers
Jan 28, 2019 (LBO) – The Finance Ministry under the Enterprise Sri Lanka concessionary loan scheme is to introduce further concessionary loans to widen the schemes enabling the stake holders to move towards next generation economic activities in their areas of activities. Accordingly migrant workers will be given up to 10 million rupees concessionary housing loans […]
Sri Lanka vehicle registration down in Dec 2018
Jan 28, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s vehicle registrations across all categories showed a slowdown in December 2018, a new research report said. “Across all categories there has been a slowdown in registrations in December,” data compiled by JB Securities, an equities research firm report shows. ” This is as a result of the measures […]
Sri Lanka’s USD200mn development bond issue undersubscribed
Jan 25, 2019 (LBO) – The issue of Sri Lanka development bonds amounting to 200 million US dollars have been undersubscribed with only 182 million dollars of bids received from investors. [pdf-embedder url=”http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Press-Release-25.01.2019-E.pdf” title=”Press Release 25.01.2019 (E)”]
‘s Finance Ministry calls for proposals for Budget 2019
Jan 24, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Finance Ministry calls upon all stakeholders including the general public to make their proposals for the Budget 2019 before the February 11 as their contribution to ensure introduction of a successful budget targeting building a strong Economy and an Enriched country. The Finance Ministry expects to mould the […]
” as government support weakening
Jan 24, 2019 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings has downgraded the National Long-Term Rating and senior unsecured debentures of Housing Development Finance Corporation Bank (HDFC Bank) to ‘BB+(lka)’ from ‘BBB-(lka)’ reflecting the weakening of the sovereign’s ability to provide support. “The downgrade reflects Fitch’s assessment of HDFC Bank’s standalone strength, as we believe timely support from the […]
Sri Lanka obtains USD200Mn from WB for primary health care system
Jan 23, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is to obtain USD 200 million from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) of the World Bank to implement the primary health care system strengthening project. The development objective of the proposed project is “to increase the utilization and quality of primary health care services, with an […]
SriLankan Airlines posts Rs40bn net loss for 9 months amid rising fuel prices
Jan 23, 2019 (LBO) – SriLankan Airlines said the net loss for the nine months ended 31 December 2018 was 40 billion rupees (USD135mn) against the loss for the corresponding period of previous year stood at 11 billion rupees (USD66mn). During this period, SriLankan’s net traffic revenue from core airline operations has increased to 120 […]
Sri Lanka inflation decreased to 0.4-pct in December 2018
Jan 21, 2019 (LBO) – Headline inflation measured by the National Consumer Price Index has decreased to 0.4 percent in December 2018 from 1.0 percent in November 2018, the Central Bank data showed. The Central Bank said the decrease observed in year-on-year inflation in December is driven by the decrease of prices of items in […]
Fitch-rated frontier markets saw 13 positive, 6 negative rating actions in 2018
Jan 21, 2019 (LBO) – Fitch-rated frontier markets saw more positive than negative sovereign rating actions in 2018 with 13 positive rating actions compared to six negative actions, Fitch Ratings said. Out of the 30 Fitch-rated frontier markets, the majority were outlook changes and the mix of upgrades and downgrades was balanced at four each. However, […]