By Prof. Samitha Hettige © There is discussion on the Millennium Challenges Cooperation (MCC) agreement once again in Sri Lanka. One feature in the MCC is developing transportation facilities to improve connectivity in Sri Lanka. Laos sometimes referred to as the land of million elephants is bordering the Peoples Republic of China. Transport facilities in…
Biz confidence rebounds following election and with an eye on the post-COVID era While the plaudits for Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 response continued to flow in and the successful conclusion of a largely peaceful election was duly recognised, the country faced yet another challenge in the form of a nationwide blackout in mid-August. A technical problem…
By Prof. Samitha Hettige © Everyone in Sri Lanka is discussing about power generation and distribution related issues during the past few days. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) or the 21st Century Silk Road has initiated more green energy initiatives with partner countries than any other international development initiative in the world. We should…
Expressway to development along the Belt and Road The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is the transnational development drive initiated by the Peoples Republic of China. It is also known as the 21st century Silk Road. Ancient Silk Road connected China with the Persian empire and Europe through Central Asia over land. Maritime Silk Road…
Coronavirus disruption keeps hope subdued. Will the gradual opening up of the economy and a win for President Rajapaksa at the general election improve the situation? The Covid19 lock-down and curfew disrupted most economic and social activity during March and April of 2020 and as a result our survey was not conducted for…
( LMD) Five years to July 2020 – Positive sentiment in relation to the economy has been maintained from the previous month with 44% (versus 42% in June) of corporate executives consulted in the latest LMD-Nielsen Business Confidence Index (BCI) survey stating that the economy in general ‘will improve’ in the coming 12 months. A…
Business confidence seems to have regained its footing despite the challenges Sri Lanka’s manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) improved to 67.3 in June, reflecting a month on month increase of 18 index points with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka attributing this to a “normalising of economic activities in the country following the complete relaxation…
Hot on the heels of a scathing review of the country’s monetary policy by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on 16 June, in response to the COVID-19 crisis, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka announced a further reduction of the Statutory Reserve Ratio (SRR) applicable on all rupee deposit liabilities of licensed commercial banks (LCBs). This lowering…
By Harini Weerasekera and Chamini Thilanka The susceptibility of smokers to contract COVID-19 has been recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other medical authorities. In Sri Lanka, concerned parties have called for a temporary ban of cigarette sales as a measure to contain the spread of the virus – a commendable move. However, beyond the pandemic, it…
Sri Lanka’s corporates would have breathed a collective sigh of relief in May as the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) opened for trading following an extended shutdown in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak and imposition of curfew. The move came at a time when businesses were looking to get back on track given the hit…
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