Economy

In Person — Budget 2004

Personal tax exemption threshold would be raised to Rs 300,000 from the current Rs 240,000 and the income slabs widened, with effect from …

Adding Roofs — Budget 2004

The government is coming up with a series of housing loan packages targeted at different segments, to help spur a construction boom.The housing programmes will …

Bargain Basement — Budget 2004

Giving a leg up to the local tourist trade, the government plans to develop Maskeliya and Puttalam as a future hotspot for the travel trade.Finance Minister K …

Lazy Bums — Budget 2004

Sri Lanka Wednesday announced it was shedding 300,000 state-sector jobs and offered a generous severance package that will effectively pay employees to stay at …

Broker Bonanza — Budget 2004

Stockbrokers are sitting on a potential gold mine as a result of a new tax on equity trading proposed in the budget.rnrnrnrnrnrnNew Page 2rnrnrnrnrnA …

Strong Rupee Policy

Finance Minister K N Choksy made the strongest statement yet that the government is committed to a strong rupee policy.ldblquote Sri Lankans have accepted with …

It Went Through — Budget 2004

A blocked nose and bad cold ridden throat could not keep away Finance Minister K N Choksy, adorned in a blue checkered tie, from walking down the pink carpeted …

Bond Raiser

The Board of Investment will tap into the local bond market, to raise up to Rs.2 bn to fund a new Economic Trade Zone, north of Biyagama.The second Economic …

Dicey Union

An impending marriage between the Marxist JVP and the main opposition Peoples Alliance Party re-surfaced on Tuesday resurrecting vibes that a snap poll was …

Stalemate

The much-awaited second rendezvous between the Executive and the Legislature ended on a stalemate with a committee appointed to look into their grievances.The …

Its Not Done

Sri Lankas parliament Wednesday ruled as illegal the presidents suspension of the assembly two weeks ago and said it will disregard any future attempt to …

French Toast

The government on Monday put forward alternative suggestions to solve the lquote Southern political impasse, but declined President Chandrika Kumaratungas …

Choksys Sweeteners

The UNF government, which has been progressively clubbing the opposite camp with the peace process, is getting ready to open a second front with the …

Second Rendezvous

The President has asked Premier Ranil to come alone to her chambers for a Tuesday morning rendezvous.The Premier was due to meet the President with other party …

Silent Business

Top business leaders and civil society organizations were staying quiet despite political moves that have jeopardized the peace process and the economic …

No Way

The Norwegians took their foot off the LTTE and the peace process on Friday, following a week of political uncertainty.The international donor community and …

Deadlock

Talks between President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe ended in an impasse with both parties expected to continue discussions …

Porn & Politics

In the heat of the moment, when passions raged and reached a climax over the Presidents swift move, PA parliamentarian Dr. Sarath Amunugama says her actions …

Presidential Guarantee

Moves of a Nov. 19 budget re-surfaced, as President Chandrika Kumaratunga met with representatives from multilateral donor agencies on Wednesday, to assure her …

Money Matters

Sri Lankas ruling party MPs have been offered up to four million dollars in cash and foreign scholarships to defect to the presidents party, a government …