Reuters – Japan unexpectedly slipped into a recession at the end of last year, losing its title as the world’s third-biggest economy to Germany and raising doubts about when the central bank would begin to exit its decade-long ultra-loose monetary policy. Some analysts are warning of another contraction in the current quarter as weak demand…
By Prof. Samitha Hettige Sri Lankans born before 1970 may remember the closed economy with Dr. N.M. Perera (minister of finance during 1970 – 77). Masses marked months to buy a refrigerator or get a telephone connection. Transistor radios, light bulbs, umbrellas, wrist watches, ball-point pens & even razor blades were a luxury those days….
Reuters – Global creditors and Moody’s, Fitch and S&P Global Ratings met on Wednesday to discuss ratings agencies’ actions after debt relief provided by official creditors to some of the world’s poorest nations, a source said on Thursday. The meeting also discussed methodology on credit action in the event countries carry out a debt swap…
Sri Lankans pay 2.5 to 3 times more for electricity than South Asian neighbours In 2023, Sri Lanka revised its electricity charges three times in February, July and October. The stated basis for the increase, was to recover the full cost of providing electricity. This analysis compares the electricity charges on households in Sri Lanka…
Reuters Breakingviews – The process of working out sovereign debts is not working. Countries such as Zambia are twisting in the wind because of long delays in restructuring their borrowings. It is harder to get all creditors to agree now that China is a big lender. A more integrated approach that better manages laggard lenders…
By Prof. Samitha Hettige The British allowed Sri Lanka (SL) to be independent in 1948 but SL depended on; British, Dutch, Portuguese & Indians from time to time prior to that. Unlike Nepal, Bhutan & Bangladesh etc. which depends on India more often in the absence of the British, SL depended on India for conflict…
The barometer of corporate sentiment comes under pressure amid multiple sensitivities The Annual Policy Statement 2024 claims that the nation has confronted its most challenging economic and societal difficulties in the post-independence era in recent years. It states that policy measures have played a pivotal role in restoring stability – albeit at a socioeconomic cost….
Advocata’s Bath Curry Indicator (BCI) which is a price-index that tracks the monthly changes in the retail price of a basket of commonly consumed food items using prices collected from the Pettah market (by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka), recorded a year-on-year increase of 33.72% in December 2023, compared to the same corresponding period…
By Rohan Parikh In the intricate case of Sri Lanka’s economic rejuvenation, the recent surge in the Value Added Tax (VAT) to 18 percent, coupled with the removal of certain industries from the exemptions list, has emerged as a focal point for concern among foreign investors assessing the country’s economic climate. This shift, occurring within…
By Prof. Samitha Hettige In few days the year of the ‘Dragon’ will dawn in China. In China the Dragon (loong) culture has a history of approx 5500 to 7000 years. The emergences of these practices are connected to nature worship. Social productivity during this period had been low. Primitive religions had prevailed & people…
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