Category: Economy and Markets
Sri Lanka JKH extends deadline for Union Assurance offer
April 16, 3009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s John Keells Holdings (JKH) has extended the deadline for shareholders of Union Assurance, in which it gained full control after buying out Carsons Cumberbatch, the other main shareholder.JKH said the offer was extended due to public holidays over the local New Year holiday season which falls in April. […]
Economic crisis a gift to people traffickers: Australia
NUSA DUA, April 15, 2009 (AFP) – People traffickers are licking their lips as the world economic downturn pushes more people to migrate in search of work, Australia’s foreign minister told Asian ministers Wednesday.Stephen Smith told a gathering of ministers and high-level officials from more than 60 countries, mostly from the Asia-Pacific region, that the […]
Sri Lankan stocks up in thin volume trade
Apr 15, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares gained marginally on Wednesday in razor thin trade in selected blue chip shares with most investors still to return after traditional new year holidays earlier in the week, brokers said. The Sri Lanka rupee traded around 115.80/90 against the US dollar in wafer thin trading volumes in […]
Sri Lanka treasuries yields flat
April 15, 2009 (LBO) – Six and 12-month yields at Sri Lanka’s weekly treasuries auction steadies after steeps falls over several weeks, the government’s debt office said. The government sold 5,290 million rupees worth bills at this week’s auction. In bond markets, a 3-year bond maturing on 15.01.12 dropped to 17.00/10 percent levels from 17.15/25 […]
Sri Lanka will be more attractive to investors after IMF bailout: CB official
Apr 14, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will become more attractive for investors once an International Monetary Fund stamp of approval comes with a bailout package, a top central bank official has said. “Once the IMF come in there would be more confidence, where you will find more development partners and foreign investors who would […]
Pakistan president signs sharia law deal
ISLAMABAD, April 14, 2009 (AFP) – Pakistan’s president signed an accord to put part of the country under Islamic law as part of efforts to end a Taliban insurgency, despite fears Tuesday that it would encourage extremism. President Asif Ali Zardari’s move formalises a controversial deal between a pro-Taliban cleric, who led thousands of supporters […]
Sri Lanka state enterprises to get tax write-off: report
Apr 13, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s pampered state-enterprises, often overstaffed, and usually distinguished with poor customer service, are to get tax-write offs, a media report said, as the private sector is squeezed by yet new taxes. State-run Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation which has borrowed 150 million rupees from the Treasury will qualify for relief […]
Sri Lanka central bank urges lending rate cut
Apr 12, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank is urging commercial banks to cut lending rates to stimulate growth while heavy government borrowing continues to crowd out the productive sectors. On April 08, Sri Lanka’s average commercial bank prime lending rate was 19.34 percent. Banks are taxed to the hilt, and have to cope […]
Sri Lankan displaced children malnourished: govt
April 11, 2009 (AFP) – At least one in four children displaced by Sri Lanka’s ongoing fighting between troops and Tamil Tigers was malnourished, the health ministry said Saturday.Supplies to the area have been few and far between because of the intensity of fighting while the authorities have also severely restricted access for humanitarian agencies […]
Sri Lankan inflation will hit zero: central banker
Apr 11, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s inflation will hit zero by the middle of the year, a senior central banker said, with 12-month price inflation in the capital Colombo already down to 5.3 percent in March 2009. However, analysts expect the rupee to weaken from May onwards adjusting to previous loose monetary policy under […]
Sri Lanka eyes diaspora funds to revive war zone
April 10, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has said it plans to entice the Tamil diaspora to invest in reviving the war-ravaged north and has set up a separate division to oversee all rehabilitation activities. “The institutional impediments to commencing productive activities in all sectors of the province will also be addressed gradually.” The government […]
Sri Lanka raises turnover tax
April 08, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is tripling a newly introduced non-recoverable business turnover tax from May 01, 2009 as the country grapples with a currency crisis, and state revenues fall with a slowing economy. Profligate fiscal policies followed since 2004 have now landed the island in a currency crisis and made it ill-prepared […]