Analysis

MAYDAY call for economy

Corporates continue to view the economy in an extremely pessimistic light “With the youth spearheading the nationwide demonstration and expressing their concerns, the voice of the people has started to rise and be heard,” notes NielsenlQ’s Director – Consumer Insights Therica Miyana – deniya. She continues: ” April has been a pivotal month; a turning…

(0)Comments | May 18, 2022 1:21 pm

Sri Lanka’s Disraeli may use the China – India bond for Nation building – By Prof. Samitha Hettige

The late H.D. Sugathapala, Ex Principal of Royal Junior School, Colombo 07 (founder of the “Navarangahala” theatre) at an informal discussion (in mid 1990s) with the late Justice Chris Weeramanthri and few others mentioned the name of Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli while analyzing his former students who were in politics (Lalith A, Ranil W, Dinesh…

(0)Comments | May 18, 2022 11:37 am

Is the Pandemic the Sole Cause for the Depletion in Sri Lanka’s Foreign Reserves?

Sri Lanka’s usable foreign reserves fell from USD 7,642 MN in 2019 to USD 1,579 MN by the end of 2021. When compared with Sri Lanka’s regional peers during the pandemic, the decline in its reserves appears to only have happened to Sri Lanka, while its other Asian countries have seen an increase in their reserve…

(0)Comments | May 18, 2022 8:24 am

Lesson for SL youth; Selecting a new Prime Minister – By Prof. Samitha Hettige

In 1919, the May 4th Movement spurred the spread of Marxism throughout China. Hence, in the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), 4th May is dedicated as Youth Day. When academics and intellectuals formed the Communist Party of China (CPC) on 23rd July 1921 they placed youth of the time on centre stage and took back…

(0)Comments | May 11, 2022 5:41 pm

“Export Outlook Dims amidst Economic Challenges”, Says Latest CCC-USAID Export Barometer Survey

Findings from the latest bi-annual Export Barometer Survey indicate that exporters are losing confidence in the industry’s outlook, as firms face mounting challenges posed by increasing local and global economic risks. This survey was conducted by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Partnership for Accelerating Results…

(0)Comments | May 6, 2022 11:19 am

Year on Year food price increase close to 50%

Advocata’s  Bath Curry Indicator (BCI) , which tracks the monthly changes in the retail price of food, recorded an increase of 14% from March 2022 to April 2022.  This is a year on year increase of 49% for this basket of food. This is driven primarily by prices of dhal and samba rice being the…

(0)Comments | May 6, 2022 9:14 am

Introduction to Hawala Transactions

These remitting channels work as network arrangements and can be sometimes found within a  particular community in the society. In these arrangements, the value transfers are facilitated by agents belonging to these networks who are located all over the world. In the Hawala channels, the Hawala agents or dealers (also known as Hawala Dars) live…

(0)Comments | May 5, 2022 11:53 am

Business Sentiment – Confidence Barometer Free Falls

Multiple crises and the rise of people power are taking their toll on business sentiment Be it the devaluation of the Sri Lankan Rupee – which has seen it shed nearly 75 percent in a matter of weeks – the ignominy of a virtually cashless treasury, shortages of essentials (not to mention galloping inflation), the…

(0)Comments | May 2, 2022 3:53 pm

Why should the world listen to President Xi Jinping?

By Prof. Samitha Hettige The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is the 21st century Silk Road launched in 2013. The ancient Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Road which took Chinese produce to the world and vice versa was the first ever global economic expansion drive which took place before Columbus reached the Red Indians…

(0)Comments | May 2, 2022 12:04 pm

Insolvent Sri Lanka Should Cancel Its Central Bank

By Andy Mukherjee Bloomberg Opinion – What was good for Sri Lanka under British colonial rule 75 years ago may be worth a try again. Or at least that’s what Mark Mobius, the former emerging markets guru at Franklin Templeton Investments, seems to be suggesting. To regain the confidence of investors, the bankrupt Indian Ocean…

(0)Comments | April 29, 2022 12:28 pm