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Business Sentiment – Silver Lining amid the Gloom

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…

(0)Comments | July 28, 2020 6:15 pm

Travelling to Dubai and Beyond: new guidelines issued for passengers

Customers from across Emirates’ network can now travel to Dubai as the city has re-opened for business and leisure visitors with new air travel protocols that safeguard the health and safety of visitors and communities. From August 1, passengers will be required to have a COVID-19 negative test certificate that is valid 96 hours before…

(0)Comments | July 28, 2020 6:04 pm

Google Is Letting Employees Work From Home Until Next July

Bloomberg – Alphabet Inc.’s Google will let employees work from home until July 2021, once again pushing back the re-opening of its offices as the coronavirus continues to rage in many parts of the U.S. The company had previously said workers could stay home until the end of this year. The change was made to…

(0)Comments | July 28, 2020 5:42 pm

Strong majority govt. extremely beneficial for stock market – First Capital Research Head

A strong majority Government is extremely beneficial for the stock market as stock market investments are long term ideally 3-4 years, Dimantha Mathew, Head of Research at First Capital stated. “In relation to the bond market at the moment, since rates have dipped significantly there could be a selling pressure if a strong majority is…

(0)Comments | July 28, 2020 3:52 pm

Vallibel Finance records PBT of Rs.2.4bn amidst challenging market conditions

Vallibel Finance reported yet another year of highs despite market turmoil with Revenue amassing to Rs. 9.7 billion in the financial year ending March against the corresponding figure of Rs. 8.7 billion in the previous financial year. The top-line bolstered by a growth of 11.12% is all the more commendable weighed against a negative outlook…

(0)Comments | July 28, 2020 3:46 pm

United States works with Sri Lankan apparel industry to increase PPE exports

The United States is helping Sri Lankan apparel producers to export Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the United States. In partnership with the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), the program included two webinars for over 100 industry participants that prepared them to break into the U.S. market.  The project was funded by the…

(0)Comments | July 28, 2020 3:26 pm

New travel curbs imposed as world tackles second COVID-19 wave

SYDNEY/LONDON (Reuters) – Nations in Asia imposed new restrictions on Monday, while an abrupt British quarantine on travellers from Spain threw Europe’s summer reopening into disarray, as the world confronted the prospect of a second wave of COVID-19 infections. In the United States, still dealing with its first wave as infection rates have climbed since June,…

(0)Comments | July 28, 2020 1:30 pm

People’s Bank’s Rs. 20 billion Debenture Issue oversubscribed

Largest ever BASEL III, Tier 2 compliant, subordinated debenture in Sri Lanka signifies investor confidence in the State Bank People’s Bank’s BASEL III, Tier 2 compliant, Unlisted, Rated, Unsecured, Subordinated, Redeemable Debenture issue was oversubscribed receiving in excess of Rs. 20 billion worth of bids during the early hours of the opening day itself in…

(0)Comments | July 28, 2020 11:59 am

CBSL in talks with Reserve Bank of India for an additional $1bn special SWAP

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka yesterday (27) stated that further discussions are ongoing to secure an additional USD 1 billion, under a Special Bilateral Swap Agreement with the Reserve Bank of India. This is after CBSL entering into a $ 400 million bilateral currency SWAP agreement with the and the Reserve Bank of India…

(0)Comments | July 28, 2020 11:35 am

ComBank introduces the first QR-enabled payment option for Credit Cards in Sri Lanka

Commercial Bank Credit Card holders can now conveniently and instantly settle their Credit Card outstanding via their mobile QR payment App by scanning a QR code appearing on the Bank’s website. This is the first time any Sri Lankan Bank has enabled QR code payments to settle Credit Card dues. In order to make the…

(0)Comments | July 28, 2020 11:23 am