Business Sentiment: Index Dips as Challenges Persist Having endured a challenging period, Sri Lanka formalised an agreement with its bilateral creditors led by Japan and India to the tune of US$ 5.8 billion recently. Sri Lanka also closed a US$ 12.5 billion International Sovereign Bond (ISB) restructuring arrangement with the parties reportedly agreeing on the…
By Dr. Dan Seevaratnam Sri Lanka continues to grapple with severe economic challenges that affect all its citizens, including those in the plantation sector. At a time when nearly one in four Sri Lankans has fallen below the poverty line as a result of the Sri Lankan economy’s historic downturn over the past 4 years,…
The skin they say is the largest organ of the human body. Despite conflict provocative news on tattoo studios, predominantly ‘Tan’ Sri Lankans may continue to make their skins fairer & mark it with tattoos. Tattooing goes back centuries even to the Iceman of the Italian-Austrian border who lived approx 5200 years ago. Globally, across…
Fitch Ratings: The majority of ratings on Sri Lankan finance subsidiaries are underpinned by the expectation parental support, says Fitch Ratings in a report. This often results in higher subsidiary ratings than that implied by their standalone performance. Fitch’s non-bank financial institution (NBFI) shareholder support framework considers the parent’s ability and propensity to support its…
When a Software Update Grounded the World: Lessons from the CrowdStrike Crisis and the Urgent Need for Cybersecurity Overhaul By Jithendra Antonio In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, the recent debacle involving CrowdStrike serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of our digital infrastructure. A seemingly innocuous software update spiraled into a global crisis,…
In 2023, overseas interest in Sri Lankan properties surged by 33% compared to the previous year, as reported in the Real Estate Market Outlook Report 2024 (REMOR24) by LankaPropertyWeb, the leading real estate portal in Sri Lanka. According to the report, the demand for residential apartments in Sri Lanka is set to dominate the market…
Harnessing Foreign Investment Amid Climate and Political Challenges – By Jithendra Antonio Sri Lanka, an island nation rich in history and culture, is grappling with severe economic vulnerabilities. With limited land and finite natural resources, the country faces significant challenges in commercializing these assets. Climate change further exacerbates these issues, casting a shadow over key…
In July 1921 the Communist Party of China (CPC) took the 1st centenary goal to eradicate poverty in China by 2021. It reached the goal in 2020 & on the eve of its 103rd anniversary members celebrated with a symphony concert at the CPC Museum in Beijing. CPC statistics indicate that the Museum opened in…
Positivity Back to June 2023 Levels – Mood of the Nation Survey by Verité Research. Over three times as many people approve of the government and feel better about the economy and the country’s economic trajectory compared to four months ago, according to the latest round of the Gallup style ‘Mood of the Nation’ poll…
Perceived Economic Opportunity Index [PEOI] 2024 Q2: April 01 to June 30, 2024 This is what we said at the end of 2024 Q1: “Hope continues to elude Sri Lankans despite a few downward adjustments in prices due to the strengthening currency. The only bright spot is that the perception of fighting corruption has increased…
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