Mr. Nishantha Hewavithana, Senior Vice President of the Research & Strategy Division at the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), provides a brief overview of the evolving landscape of sustainability, its interconnected dimensions, and the pivotal role corporations can play in building a sustainable future. What is Sustainability? Is it achievable? Sustainability, defined by the UN in…
By Chandula Idirisinghe and Nishamini Ihalagedara In 2023, Sri Lanka’s goods and services exports made up nearly 20.4% of GDP, with manufacturing exports contributing 14%. However, the country’s merchandise export mix remains highly concentrated, with 77% of export income coming from industrial goods, mainly apparel, and just 22% from agricultural exports. This lack of sufficient…
By Prof. Samitha Hettige Political ‘Retirement’ & ‘Rest & Recuperation’ are hot topics in the run-up to the 2024 General Election. Retirement is the ‘act of stop working & leaving a job, usually due to old age (Ref. Cambridge). ‘Rest & Recuperation’ (R&R) is a practice where individuals can take regular authorized time off to…
Reuters – The punishing post-COVID wave of sovereign defaults has finally crested, with the likes of Ghana, Sri Lanka and Zambia concluding years of painful debt reworks. But the International Monetary Fund and others worry that a dangerous liquidity shortfall could take its place in many emerging economies – setting back development, stunting climate change…
By Himani Vithanage Sri Lanka experienced six consecutive quarters of negative economic growth up to the third quarter of 2023. This downturn has had a direct impact on the labour market, leading to lower wage rates and discouraging workforce participation and skill development. As a result, productivity levels continue to fall, creating a vicious cycle…
By Priyanka Jayawardena The recent VAT revisions have hit the poorest the hardest, whereas the bottom 10% of income group households now spend about 10% of their income on VAT. The VAT burden has risen by approximately 50%, primarily due to the removal of VAT exemptions on around 100 items. This blog offers potential solutions…
Chinese leaders met two weeks back to set the nation’s economic working plan. Chinese plans to boost the economy with stimulus measures (which lifted the stock market to record highs) were announced last week. Below can be lessons for capitalists & socialists; Economy grew by 5% during Q1&2 in 2024 & market institutions predict a…
Fitch Ratings: Fitch Ratings believes Asia Pacific (APAC) regional credit conditions could be challenged by trade protectionism, weaker economic growth and mounting geopolitical tensions if Donald Trump wins a second presidential term. Our analysis focuses on the potential for major policy shifts if the Republican candidate wins November’s US presidential election. We do not assess…
A Nation’s Fight for Economic Survival and Sovereignty, A Strategic Blueprint for Sri Lanka’s Currency Revival By Jithendra Antonio A Nation at the Crossroads Sri Lanka’s currency, the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR), has faced an unrelenting battle over the years, weakening under the weight of global economic shifts, domestic instability, and mounting debt. The rupee’s…
Fitch Ratings: The Sri Lankan authorities’ confirmation that they endorse the targets set under the country’s IMF programme, and intend to implement debt restructuring based on the terms agreed with international sovereign bondholders in September, reduces risks to the debt treatment process associated with the outcome of the presidential election on 21 September, says Fitch…
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