NSB presents Annual Report 2022 to President

The Annual Report of National Savings Bank (NSB) for the year 2022

SJB trade union seeks court intervention for SLT privatisation blue-print

‘Samagi Sewaka Sangamaya’, a trade union attached to the ‘Samgi Jana Balawegaya’ (SJB) political party, has filed a Fundamental Rights petition seeking Supreme Court’s intervention in regularising the proposed privatisation of Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT).

SLT-Mobitel unveils technologically advanced operational HQ in Welikada

SLT-Mobitel recently unveiled its technologically advanced, high-tech operational green headquarters, first in the history of SLT, located at Welikada, Colombo.

Monthly tourist arrivals fall below 100, 000 for first time this year

Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka fell below the 100,000 mark for the first time this year due to the drop in momentum in the month of May,

Every Canadian cigarette will soon carry a health warning

BBC: Canada will soon print warning labels directly on cigarettes in a world-first, the country’s health agency announced.

Tourist arrivals fall below 100,000 for first time in 2023

Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka fell below the 100,000 mark for the first time this year, with the month of May welcoming a total of 83, 309 international visitors.

Monetary Board relaxes policy interest rates

The Monetary Board of the Central Bank relaxes policy interest rates by 250 basis points. Accordingly, SDFR comes down to 13 percent and SLFR to 14 percent.

Colombo inflation eases to 25.2% in May

Headline inflation in Colombo district measured by Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI) decelerated to 25.2 percent in May from 35.3 percent in April largely owing to higher base effects in last year.

EDB to host ‘Open Day’ to encourage exports

The Export Development Board (EDB) will host an ‘Open Day’ event in mid-June, an effort towards providing businesses a platform to explore the opportunities and avenues to cater to the international market.

Food security seen improving, but prevalent within specific regions in SL: FAO

Food security in Sri Lanka is improving across all provinces, but is still prevalent within specific regions, the Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission (CFSAM) report revealed.

Prez asserts importance of Japanese investments for SL’s revival

President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday highlighted the importance of Japanese investments to push the revival of Sri Lanka while affirming commitment to stabilising and liberalising the economy and actively inviting new foreign ventures.

Fresh focus on Ceylon Tea in Tehran on International Tea Day 2023

Ceylon Tea came under fresh focus in Tehran recently, with the Sri Lankan Embassy promoting the premium product to locals on International Tea Day 2023, May 21.

ILO, CBSL join hands to create favourable ecosystem in SL for entrepreneurs

In an attempt to promote entrepreneurship among the youth of Sri Lanka, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) collaborated with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka this week to explore avenues that would help create a favourable ecosystem to build new businesses.

British Airways cancels dozens of Heathrow flights after IT problem

BBC: There has been a second day of disruption for travellers at Heathrow after British Airways cancelled at least 42 more short-haul flights following Thursday’s IT problems.

Build SL Expo 2023 puts construction sector under fresh spotlight

Construction and housing expo Build Sri Lanka 2023 kicked off yesterday at the BMICH, showcasing the latest development in the industry.

Ratnapura kithul reaches shelves of international market

The kithul industry in the Ratnapura district has developed into a high income generating industry by the Agriculture Ministry, with several product categories successfully reaching the shelves of international markets.

High volume, low quality, currency instability contribute to declining market at this week’s tea auction

The offerings at the Colombo Tea Auction totalled 7.1 MnKgs, similar to that of last week and were met with fair demand at easier rates.

Merchandise exports in April plunge amid global demand slowdown

Sri Lanka’s merchandise exports plunged 16.5 percent year-on-year (YoY) to US $ 814.1 million in April, bringing the cumulative export earnings for the first four months of 2023 to US $ 3.81 billion, an decrease of 9.78 percent YoY, data from the Export Development Board (EDB) showed.

Sri Lanka needs to boost entrepreneurship to overcome ongoing crisis: CB Governor

Sri Lanka needs to step up efforts in enticing a larger proportion of its population across all provinces towards embracing entrepreneurship so that the impacts of the ongoing economic crisis would lessen, the Central Bank asserted.

President says Sri Lanka will apply for RCEP membership

In an effort to become more integrated in global trade, Sri Lanka will apply for membership to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced yesterday.

Sri Lanka records Rs.48 bn primary surplus in 1Q

For the sixth time in its post-independent history, Sri Lanka has been able to record Rs.48 billion surplus in the primary balance of fiscal accounts during the first quarter of this year, State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya revealed.

Aitken Spence records Rs.30.1bn EBITDA with growth of 30.3% for FY23

The leading blue-chip conglomerate, Aitken Spence PLC reported an impressive EBITDA (earnings inclusive of equity accounted investees, before interest expenses, tax, depreciation, and amortization) of Rs. 30.1 billion with a growth of 30.3 percent, showcasing the contribution from all sectors for the year ended 2022/2023.

Browns Hotels and Resorts unveils Thaala Bentota

Thaala Bentota, formerly known as Avani Bentota, unveiled its rebranding yesterday, marking a new era of excellence in Sri Lankan hospitality.

Damith Pallewatte selected as next GM/CEO of HNB

Senior banker Damith Pallewatte is set to take reins from Jonathan Alles as the Managing Director/CEO of Sri Lanka’s second largest private bank, Hatton National Bank PLC with effect from August 24, 2024.

Tea production expected to rebound in second quarter

The downward trajectory of Sri Lanka’s tea production is expected to reverse in 2Q23, tea brokers said.

Agasthi Jayagoda to head Laugfs Group’s Strategy Division

Laugfs Holdings Limited, one of Sri Lanka’s largest diversified conglomerates with a portfolio of over 20 businesses spanning multiple industries, has recently appointed Agasthi Jayagoda as General Manager - Group Head of Strategy.

SL to get Cyber Security Authority this year

Efforts are underway to form a Cyber Security Authority this year, the Ministry of Technology announced today.

Despite tentative improvement IMF says SL’s macroeconomic and policy environment remains challenging

Concluding its visit to Sri Lanka, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff mission says the macroeconomic situation in the country is showing tentative signs of improvement, with inflation moderating, the exchange rate stabilizing and the Central Bank rebuilding reserves buffers.

Sancharaka Udawa kicks off after 3 years

The 10th edition of Sancharaka Udawa, Sri Lanka’s largest travel and tourism fair, kicked off yesterday, bringing together industry officials and professionals onto a single platform.

Rupee appreciates as CB takes breather from dollar purchases

Sri Lanka’s rupee further appreciated against the US dollar (US$) yesterday dropping below Rs.300 for the first time since April last year as the Central Bank (CB) took a breather from its dollar purchases to allow consumption to rebound.