Sri Lanka official reserves down to USD7.5bn by end-March
Apr 09, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s gross official reserves were 7.5 billion US dollars (USD7,525.7mn) by the end of March, down from 7.9 billion US dollars …
Economy & Markets
PwC expects real GDP growth in Sri Lanka to be less than 2-pct this year
Apr 09, 2020 (LBO) – PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) expects real GDP growth in the Island to be less than 2 percent this year even if the pandemic is contained …
Curfew, Lock down and Economic Livelihoods
By Sharhan Muhseen 6th April 2020 National policymakers have been grappling on the right balance between lockdowns (total or partial) and maintaining a …
COVID-19 prevention program proceeds with professional expertise: President
Apr 06, 2020 (LBO) - Presided by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a discussion took place at the Presidential Secretariat to review the progress of the COVID-19 …
Daraz can bring expertise from its parent company Alibaba during this time of crisis and potentially service 10,000 households daily
Daraz, Sri Lanka's largest e-commerce platform, ordinarily connects thousands of sellers to millions of consumers across the country. Now, however, the …
Central Bank further reduces policy interest rates by 25 basis points
Apr 03, 2020 (LBO) – The Monetary Board of the Central Bank today decided to reduce the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending …
First Capital Research cuts ASPI target to 5,000 for June 2020
Apr 03, 2020 (LBO) – First Capital Research has reduced its ASPI target to a mere 5,000 for June 2020 as earnings of most companies are likely to be negative …
World Bank fast-tracks USD128Mn COVID-19 support for Sri Lanka
Apr 03, 2020 (LBO) – The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors yesterday approved the $128.6 million Sri Lanka COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health …
Sri Lanka suspends all restrictions on foreign currency inflows
Apr 02, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka's Cabinet of Ministers has decided to suspend all restrictions on foreign currency inflows into the Island during the COVID-19 …
Sri Lanka’s headline inflation decreased to 5.4-pct in March
Mar 31, 2020 (LBO) – Headline inflation as measured by the year-on-year change in the Colombo Consumer Price Index declined to 5.4 percent in March 2020 from …
Central Bank facilitates finance & leasing companies to support businesses
Mar 31, 2020 (LBO) – The Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has decided to introduce a number of measures to provide flexibility to Licensed …
CSE to remain closed for trading from tomorrow until curfew is lifted
Mar 31, 2020 (LBO) – Colombo Stock Exchange will remain closed for trading from 01 April 2020 until the curfew is lifted, the exchange said in a notice. CSE …
‘A brewing storm’: Economic impact of COVID-19 on Sri Lanka
Kithmina Hewage Over a quarter of the world’s population is currently under movement restrictions. For the first time in recent human history, coronavirus …
H2O1 in discussions with the Water Board on feasibility of implementing advanced water treatment technology in Sri Lanka
H2O ONE and its Singaporean technical partner ACE WATER met with Deputy General Manager Lasantha Weerasekara and staff members at the National Water Supply and …
Sri Lanka’s President calls on international donor agencies to grant debt moratorium
Mar 25, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa requests international donor agencies to provide a debt moratorium or debt deferment facility …
Sri Lanka announces relief measures as country battles with COVID19
Mar 24, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka's government has announced a number of relief measures to people undergoing various hardships due to the prevailing situation …
Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation Donate Medical Supplies to 10 More Asian Nations
The Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation today announced plans to donate much-needed medical supplies to 10 more countries in Asia to help the global …
We are in global recession territory: Fitch Ratings
Mar 21, 2020 (LBO) – The coronavirus crisis is crushing global GDP growth according to Fitch Ratings in its latest quarterly "Global Economic Outlook". "The …
CSE trading closed as both indices drop over 5-pct
Mar 20, 2020 (LBO) - Trading at the Colombo stock exchange closed at midday as the S&P SL20 index of more liquid stocks fell 11.90 percent or 262.42 points …
Central Bank introduces urgent measures to ease pressure on exchange rate
Mar 19, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka's Central Bank has introduced several measures to ease the pressure on the exchange rate and prevent financial market panic …