Economy & Markets

More foreign aid needed to reach Millennium Development Goals: UNDP

April 04, 2007 (LBO) – Aid to poor countries has fallen since 2005, threatening the achievement of Millennium Development Goals, (MDGs) the head of the …

Sri Lanka bans cruelty to bulls in April races

April 04, 2007 (LBO) - Sri Lanka announced a cracked down on cruelty to bulls at cart races during next week's New Year celebrations, President Mahinda …

Closer regional ties could increase trade and reduce energy shortages: World Bank

April 03, 2007 (LBO) – South Asia’s high economic growth has created a new momentum for closer regional integration, which can increase trade and …

Sri Lanka’s central bank says ‘bad money’ is under control

April 03, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka central bank says it had met the 17.2 percent money growth number it had set for itself for March, with actual money …

Sri Lanka’s opposition pokes fun at government growth numbers

April 03, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party poked fun at the government's economic performance as two agencies produced two …

Sri Lanka’s inflation promoters call for higher minimum wage: report

April 02, 2007 (LBO) – A trade union connected to a Sri Lankan political party whose policy influence expanded the budget deficit and drove inflation to …

South Asia holds summit to build trade, fight terror

NEW DELHI, April 1, 2007 (AFP) - South Asian leaders meet in New Delhi this week to push for joint action against terrorism and efforts to overcome mistrust …

SAARC officials recommend Iran’s observer status

NEW DELHI, March 31, 2007 (AFP) - South Asian officials Saturday recommended observer status for Iran at next week's regional summit which will be dominated by …

Sri Lanka evaluates effectiveness of disaster warning system

March 31, 2007 (LBO) – Community-based disaster warning system technologies and their effectiveness were tested in a recent study conducted in 32 …

Inflation in Sri Lanka stabilizes in March amidst moves to change index

March 30, 2007 (LBO) – Consumer price inflation in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo fell by 1.7 percent in the month of March though the 12-month difference …

Sri Lanka government’s finances need fixing: Central Bank

March 30, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka's central bank called for better government budgets to avoid money printing, changes in badly run state firms, more …

Sri Lanka’ diesel-petrol price gap worsens

March 30, 2007 (LBO) – The gap between petrol and diesel prices in Sri Lanka has widened further overnight with a hike of 7 rupees a litre by state owned …

Sri Lanka says meeting money growth targets, inflation easing

March 30, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank said Friday it had met its targets for first quarter reserve money expansion, a sign that it had …

Sri Lanka president calls for hard work to sustain economic growth

March 30, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse Friday called for increased productivity and efficiency in both the state and private …

Sri Lanka grows by a blistering 7.7 percent in 2006

March 29, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka grew by a blistering 7.7 percent in 2006, which is the highest on record, the country's statistics office said Thursday. …

Sri Lankan money rates ease, stocks start slow

March 29, 2007 (LBO) - Sri Lankan money market rates eased further with more liquidity in the market and dealers saying they believe the rates should stabilize …

Sri Lanka money rates fall from record highs

March 27, 2007 (LBO) - The inter-bank call market call rates eased to 35 percent Wednesday, a day after rates hit a record 50 percent, dealer said. …

Sri Lanka scrambles to boost confidence after air raid

March 27, 2007 (AFP) - Sri Lankan authorities are struggling to restore investor confidence a day after Tamil Tiger rebels launched an audacious air attack …

Sri Lanka’s state investment promotion body says industrial parks safe

March 27, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka's state investment promotion body which runs industrial parks said they were not affected by a Tamil Tiger air raid, …

Sri Lanka needs more fiscal, monetary tightening; growth 6.1% in 2007 – ADB

March 27, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka needs more monetary tightening and a smaller budget deficit to improve its economic fundamentals and bring inflation …