Upward March
Continuing a robust recovery, Sri Lankas export earnings clocked in a double-digit growth for the first nine months of this year, which helped the trade …
Economy & Markets
Please Give
The government is hoping to persuade BOI firms to submit to the proposed Economic Service Charge.Finance Minister K N Choksy says the agreements with BOI firms …
Hidden Costs
World Bank is likely to chip in and help the government foot the hefty early retirement bill to off load around 300,000 public servants. rnrnrnrnrnrnrnNew Page …
Look Who’s Talking?
The main opposition Peoples Alliance is geared for Act Two of the ongoing political drama, with the President on Thursday setting a mid December deadline for …
Is It A Mirage?
The UNF government is prepared to forget the past and offer a greater role for the opposition in the current peace talks, if a consensus can be developed on …
Out Of Focus
The Treasury is taking a second look at budget proposal to slap a new tax on equity trading, following howling protest by market players.rnrnrnrnrnrnProposals …
Aye Aye — Budget 2004
All public servants will get a 10 percent pay hike each month in the new budget or a minimum Rs.1250 increase, whichever is higher, at a cost of Rs.12.5 bn to …
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 …
Economic Charge — Budget 2004
A new tax called Economic Service Charge (ESC) of one percent over turnover or assets will come into effect next year, in an attempt to net in firms not paying …
Express Service — Budget 2004
Two new export-processing zones will spring up next year, as part of the governments plans to spur economic activity.As Lanka Business Online reported on …
Southern Bound — Budget 2004
The government unveiled grand policies to develop the Southern province with plans to develop an airport, a port and set up an oil refinery.Finance Minister K …
Value Add — Budget 2004
The value added tax is to unified to a single 15 per cent rate from January 2004, from the current 10 and 20 per cent, while the government has abandoned plans …
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 …
So Far So Good
Sri Lanka enters the penultimate lap for its 2004 budget, with a great deal of apprehension as to whether Parliament will be dissolved on Tuesday …