The first Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) is to “end poverty in all its forms everywhere” by 2030. While achieving the goal of zero poverty is a lofty goal for any government, it is profoundly more so for those of developing countries.

The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index (GGGI) is a composite index that measures the extent of gender-based gaps in and among countries and tracks progress towards reducing these gaps over time. See Box 1 on calculation of the Gender Ga

The crude oil prices, which began to nudge ahead to reach pre-pandemic highs in recent weeks and the growing demand for oil due to the improving economic activities, both domestically and globally, could determine where the rupee would be in relation

The government revenues in the 11 months to November 2020 recorded a sizeable deficit compared to the same period in 2019, as the pandemic took a massive toll on business and personal incomes but the final three months of the year showed such revenue

China-backed multilateral lender Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) yesterday dismissed criticisms that the East Asian powerhouse is using loans to make countries fall into a “debt trap”, amid lingering concerns and distrust over Beijing

Sri Lankan shares dropped to their lowest in more than seven weeks yesterday as financial stocks slid ahead of the Central Bank’s decision on interest rates.

Despite the endless drumbeat of economic calamity about to befall due to public debt, particularly the foreign currency-denominated debt, the data showed that the government had paid down a sizeable amount of foreign debt during 2020 and also in 2021

Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka for the month of February nearly doubled from the January figures, with a total of 3,366 travellers having visited the island nation.

First Capital Research (FCR) this week asked those who have put their money into long-term bonds to ‘hold’ them until the picture becomes clearer on how the future yields would behave, a change from their earlier recommendation to ‘sell’, in

During these globally unprecedented times, a majority of the focus has been on the raging pandemic in terms of containment and cure. There is no doubt that getting ahead of the disease is paramount, be it in terms of a vaccine or keeping communities

The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to develop the West Container Terminal (WCT) of Port of Colombo on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis for a period of 35 years as a public-private partnership (PPP) with India’s largest terminal operat

Amidst concerns on the slow progress made over the implementation of large-scale development projects in 2020, the Cabinet of Ministers decided appoint a committee chaired by State Minister for Money & Capital Market and State Enterprise Reforms, Aji

The government borrowings from the Central Bank and the licensed commercial banks accelerated during January for the second month in a row after some slowdown seen in November last year as the State is making the most of the historically low interest

The official announcement of the initial public offering (IPO) of Windforce (Pvt) Ltd. is expected on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) this week, Mirror Business learns.

Laxapana Batteries PLC is entering the renewable energy business. Having evaluated prospects in this space, the company has stated its intentions to invest over Rs. 1 billion in generating renewable energy from rooftop solar projects.

Despite opposition from planters and private sector tea factory owners, the Wages Board for Tea and Rubber Growing and Manufacturing Trade on Monday gave the final approval for the Labour Ministry to implement the Rs.1, 000 minimum daily wage for ind

Cabinet nod has been received to appoint an Inter-institutional coordination committee compromising of industry players engaged in raw rubber manufacturing and rubber-based products as a joint endeavour to develop the sector while solving current iss

Bank credit to the private sector expanded in January, continuing the growth momentum set forth in August, last year, indicating the potential for higher economic growth at the dawn of the new year, after a pandemic-hit 2020. According to the latest

Vehicle registrations continued to languish in January, similar to that of last few months, as the government’s clamp down on vehicle imports, aimed at supporting the currency and the country’s foreign reserves position, persists.

Sri Lanka earned US $ 3.6 million from the tourism trade for the month of January, after opening its borders for international travellers on January 21.

With the economic activities and credit growth picking up pace, the Monetary Board of the Central Bank (CB) is likely to hold its key policy rates steady at their current levels, according to First Capital Research (FCR).

Leading supplier of renewable energy to the national grid Panasian Power PLC recently commissioned a 3MW ground solar plant in Matara, worth a total investment of Rs.420 million.

Vidullanka PLC yesterday said it completed the acquisition of a 51 percent stake in Orik Corporation Private Limited, which holds the rights and approvals to develop a 1MW ground-mounted solar power plant in Moneragala.

Despite the earlier objections from the private sector, the upper limit of compensation under the Termination of Employment of Workman Act (TEWA) has been increased from Rs.1.25 million to Rs.2.5 million, with effect from February 19, 2021, the Labou

Sri Lanka’s gem and jewellery industry says the US $ 1 billion export target set for the industry will be impossible to achieve, given the non-implementation of the polices that were approved by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and endorsed by Prime Mi

Sri Lanka’s apparel exports got off to a gloomy start in 2021 with export earnings recording 11 percent decline in January, which is below the US$ 400 million mark, as constant COVID-19 related disruptions undermined buyers’ confidence concerning

The share of foreign debt in the government’s overall debt stock declined to 40 percent at the end of 2020 from over 48 percent at end 2019, under its innovative policy measures to service current debt obligations while reducing reliance on externa

Sri Lanka’s vehicle importers have called on the government to pay heed to their concerns, and stressed it is time to conceptualize a plan to rescue the automobile imports sector from collapsing.

Consumer prices in Colombo rose in February predominantly due to the increase in food prices, even amid the record rice harvest and surge in other domestic produce since the onset of the pandemic last year.

The Finance Ministry plans to complete the legislation of all tax proposals presented in the Budget 2021 including special goods and services tax (GST) as well as the one percent tax rate on previously undisclosed funds, when the new tax year begins