Category: Economy and Markets
Eran submits VAT amendment bill to restore Parliamentary powers on public finance
Opposition MP Eran Wickramaratne submitted a private members Bill to amend the Value Added Tax (VAT) Act, No 14 of 2002 to transfer the powers vested in the Minister of Finance to Parliament, Friday. The new bill proposes that any order made by the Minister of Finance shall come into force only upon the approval […]
ADB Provides Sri Lanka Access to Concessional Financing to Facilitate Sustained & Inclusive Recovery
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved the eligibility of Sri Lanka to access concessional financing. The availability of concessional assistance, offered at low interest rates, broadens Sri Lanka’s options to bridge its urgent development financing needs to restore economic stability and deliver essential services, particularly to the poor and vulnerable. Eligibility for concessional resources among […]
”; Outlook negative
Fitch Ratings has upgraded Sri Lanka-based Kotagala Plantations PLC’s National Long-Term Rating to ‘B+(lka)’, from ‘RD(lka)’. The Outlook is Negative. Fitch has simultaneously upgraded the National Long-Term Rating of Kotagala’s outstanding senior unsecured debentures to ‘B+(lka)’, from ‘C(lka)’. The upgrade reflects the completion of Kotagala’s debt restructuring process in May 2023. The Negative Outlook considers […]
US Treasury Dept Deputy Assistant Secretary Holds Meetings Focused on Supporting Sri Lanka
U.S. Department of the Treasury Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Asia Robert Kaproth visited Sri Lanka June 5 – 6.He met with Ambassador Chung and a range of officials in the country. DAS Kaproth’s visit to Sri Lanka focused on gaining a clear understanding of Sri Lanka’s latest macroeconomic and financial conditions and outlook. During […]
MullenLowe Group launches LoweMedia: Appoints Sabry Haniz as VP and Director
Sri Lanka’s largest marketing communications group, The MullenLowe Group (MLG) launches LoweMedia on the 1st of June. LoweMedia becomes the 7th independently managed strategic vertical following the formation of the group’s six other strategic verticals. Today, MLG consists of MullenLowe (Mainstream advertising), LoweDigital (Social, Content and Paid Media) LoweActive (Brand Activation), LoweTech (Martech Services & […]
Ceylinco Life appoints new COO and Deputy COO
Executive Director/Deputy CFO Ranga Abeynayake becomes Chief Operating Officer General Manager – Marketing Samitha Hemachandra appointed Deputy COO Ceylinco Life has announced the appointments of Ranga Abeynayake and Samitha Hemachandra as Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Operating Officer respectively, following the creation of the two positions as part of the Company’s leadership […]
‘s Economic Development
At the invitation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce recently briefed key representatives of the IMF on recent economic developments in Sri Lanka, and their impact on the country’s economic trajectory. The meeting comprised high-level representatives of the IMF Kenji Okamura, Deputy Managing Director – IMF, and Anne-Marie Gulde-Wolf – […]
Sri Lanka Prepares for Assessment on Anti-Money Laundering & Countering Financing of Terrorism
President Wickremesinghe addressing the National Law Conference said that Sri Lanka’s next country assessment on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism will commence soon. The assessment, slated to commence soon, holds immense significance as it directly impacts the country’s ease of doing business rating and its ability to attract foreign investments. In an […]
CBSL requests Govt to phase out remaining import restrictions; official reserves surpass USD 3bn
The Monetary Board of the Central Bank requests the Government to consider phasing out the remaining restrictions on most items of merchandise imports. The exchange rate, which is allowed to be determined by market forces, continues to reflect positive market sentiments underpinned by the improvement in liquidity in the domestic forex market. The Central Bank […]
Central Bank commences monetary easing; cuts SDFR & SLFR by 2.5-pct
Sri Lanka’s Central Bank has decided to reduce the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) of the Central Bank by 250 basis points to 13.00 percent and 14.00 percent, respectively. The Monetary Board of the Central Bank has arrived at this decision with a view to easing monetary conditions […]
Sri Lanka headline inflation down to 25.2-pct in May 2023
Headline inflation, as measured by the year-on-year (Y-o-Y) change in the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI, 2021=100)1 decreased to 25.2 percent in May 2023 from 35.3 percent in the previous month. The decline in the headline inflation is broadly in line with the disinflation path envisaged by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) in […]
Courtyard by Marriott Colombo hosts Sri Lanka open 2023 Pro-Am golf tournament
Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International’s award-winning travel program, teamed up with Courtyard by Marriott Colombo to host the Sri Lanka Open 2023 Pro-Am Golf Tournament. Kicking off 2023 on a green note, Marriott Bonvoy continues its long-term association with Shiv Kapur, an Arjuna Award winner and ace golfer. Shiv Kapur, a two-time European Challenge Tour champion […]