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Ceylon Chamber Advocates 12 Focus Areas to Accelerate Economic Growth

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce launched the working draft of the Sri Lanka Economic Acceleration Framework (SEAF) 2020-25 on September 17th, 2019. The document has identified over 140 interventions that require to be implemented in driving Sri Lanka’s GDP from USD 89 billion (2018) to USD 134 billion by 2025, propelling GDP growth in the…

(0)Comments | October 30, 2019 2:16 pm

ICRA Lanka reaffirms the [SL]A+ long term Ratings of Access Engineering PLC

ICRA Lanka Limited, Subsidiary of ICRA Limited, Group Company of Moody’s Investors Service has reaffirmed the Issuer rating of [SL]A+ (pronounced S L A plus) with Stable outlook for Access Engineering PLC (“AEL”/ “the Company”). ICRA Lanka has also reaffirmed the Issue Rating of [SL]A+(pronounced S L A plus) with Stable outlook for the Company’s…

(0)Comments | October 30, 2019 2:11 pm

Newly renovated Tourist Information Centre opens in Kandy

The newly renovated Tourist Information Centre (TIC) operated under the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) was ceremonially opened to the public recently, by Mr.  Kishu Gomes, Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), along with Mr. Samantha Rathnayake, President of Kandy Hoteliers Association and his key members, Mr. W.M.A.H. Bandara Director, Department of Trade,…

(0)Comments | October 30, 2019 1:10 pm

Sri Lanka Luxury tax not applicable for small vehicles – Finance Ministry

The Finance Ministry announced that the luxury tax imposed on motor vehicles will not be applicable to small motor vehicles. Issuing a statement yesterday (29) the ministry said that vans, cabs, double cabs, motorcycles, and three-wheelers will not be subjected to this luxury tax. Previously, double cabs were levied under the luxury tax, but it…

(0)Comments | October 30, 2019 11:36 am

Sri Lankan shares close at 13-week high; rupee weaker

(Reuters) – Sri Lankan shares closed at 13-week highs on Tuesday, led by financial and diversified stocks, while the rupee closed weaker on dollar demand from importers. ** Presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa released his election manifesto on Friday pledging a tax overhaul that would reduce the value-added tax to 8% from the current 15%, abolish…

(0)Comments | October 30, 2019 9:34 am

Cabinet approves US$480mn Millennium Challenge Corporation Grant

Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers today approved a US$480 million grant from the United States government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the Finance Ministry said in a statement. The full statement issued by the Ministry of Finance reproduced below: On a proposal made by the Minister of Finance  Mangala Samaraweera, the Cabinet of Ministers today approved…

(0)Comments | October 29, 2019 5:09 pm

Political uncertainty will downgrade SL’s Sovereign rating Q4 2019 – Janashakthi PLC CEO

Economic woes, political uncertainty on the local front will downgrade Sri Lanka’s sovereign rating in the fourth quarter of  2019, Director/Chief Executive of Janashakthi PLC Ramesh Schaffter said. “Sri Lanka’s GDP recorded only modest growth of only 3.2% in 2018, suggesting the economy continues to remain highly vulnerable to global and domestic disturbances. On the…

(0)Comments | October 29, 2019 3:46 pm

e-Government – Sri Lanka is still the leader in the region

It is customary to assess an aspect of the performance of a country using a composite index such as the Ease of Doing Business Index or the Network Readiness Index.  For government services, the indicator of choice is the e Government Development Index (EGDI), published every two years by the UN Department of Economic and…

(0)Comments | October 29, 2019 2:58 pm

SLASSCOM to host SLASSCOM AI ASIA Summit 2019

The Sri Lanka Association for Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM) will be hosting‘’ SLASSCOM AI ASIA Summit 2019’’ for the second consecutive year. The summit will be held on 6thNovember 2019 from 8.30 am to 5.30pm at the Shangri-La, Colombo. Following a highly successful summit last year, more than 400 participants are expected to take…

(0)Comments | October 29, 2019 2:55 pm

Governor recalls the importance of improving access to finance for SMEs

Access to finance is key to the creation, growth and productivity of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), Central Bank Governor Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy said. “Access to finance plays an integral role in SME development and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka is primarily trusted with the responsibility of facilitating supporting and strengthening the mechanism, for…

(0)Comments | October 29, 2019 1:31 pm