Category: Featured
Sri Lanka to abolish import control fee for tea
June 21, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s cabinet nod has been received to abolish the import control license fee for imported tea in line with 2017 budget proposals. There has been a significant debate on the issue of importing cheaper leaves for blending and re-export, over fears of damaging Ceylon Tea brand. Some tea exporters […]
Central Bank expected to keep key rates unchanged: First Capital
June 21, 2017 (LBO) – The Central Bank of Sri Lanka is expected to keep key interest rates unchanged in its monthly monetary policy announcement on Friday, with slower first quarter growth and a deceleration in inflation contributing to the decision, First Capital Research said in a pre-policy research note. GDP growth for the first […]
Religious violence in Sri Lanka has chronic nature: Verité
June 21, 2017 (LBO) – Religious violence in Sri Lanka is not a post-war phenomenon and has persisted over a much longer period of time, Verité Research said in a report. The think tank studied a dataset between 1994 and 2014 compiled by the National Christian Evangelical Association of Sri Lanka (NCEASL). The data showed […]
Fitch expects more interest rate pressure for Sri Lankan corporates
June 20, 2017 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings says it expects rising domestic interest rates to hurt Sri Lankan corporates over the next 12 months. Releasing a statement, the rating agency said borrowing costs of corporates have increased more than 200bp in the 12 months to March 2017. The Central Bank increased policy rates by 125bp […]
Auditor General’s opinion creates chaos in Parliament
June 20, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Parliament on Tuesday referred the controversial annual report of the Finance Ministry to the Committee on Public Finance amid chaos in Parliament. The Auditor General, expressing his view on the finance ministry accounts of 2016, said that he is not been able to obtain sufficient and appropriate audit […]
‘s Waste Management Authority
June 20, 2017 (LBO) – Fairway Waste Management (Pvt) Ltd and the Waste Management Authority of the Western Provincial Council have signed a concession agreement to form a public-private partnership for Municipal Solid Waste processing at Karadiyana in the Western Province. The 22-year concession agreement is a key legal document that would create a sustainable […]
Infrastructure must be developed alongside admin, legal frameworks: Finance Minister
June 20, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka wants to boost investments to make the country an export driven economic and financial hub of the Indian Ocean, the new finance minister said. “Developing physical infrastructure must be done along with administrative and legal frameworks to ensure required policy or regulatory support to streamline and boost public […]
‘s Central Bank eyes full inflation targeting: Governor
June 20, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is planning to adopt a full inflation targeting framework probably by next year, Central Bank Governor Indrajit Coomaraswamy said. Delivering the keynote address at the launch of the Oxford Business Group’s 2017 report on Sri Lanka Monday, Coomaraswamy said this step will enhance greater transparency and predictability for […]
Those relegated to dustbin of history exploiting extremism: UNP
June 19, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s main ruling party, the United National Party, says political forces relegated to the dustbin of history are the ones who are attempting to exploit extremism and extremists in the hope of returning to power. Welcoming the decision of the cabinet to use full force of law against those […]
Sri Lanka’s Central Bank to sell USD515mn development bonds
June 19, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank will issue 515 million US dollar development bonds with a tenor of 1 year 7 months, 3 years, 4 years and 4 years 9 months. The Central Bank said the subscription will be at a floating rate of 6 month LIBOR for USD plus a margin […]
Sri Lanka calls EOIs for ferry system in Colombo
June 19, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Megapolis Ministry said it has called for expressions of interest to establish a ferry system in Colombo canals through a public-private partnership. “Tenders will close on 24 July and a potential shortlist of investors is to be announced in nine weeks,” issuing a statement, the ministry said. “The […]
Central Bank to stop making payments to wilfully defaced notes
June 16, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank said it will not make payments to wilfully mutilated, altered or defaced currency notes after the end of this year. The Central Bank advises the public to refrain from such practices and also requests the public to exchange such currency notes through banks. If not, holders […]