Bangladesh, the second-largest apparel producer after China, is set to lose roughly US $ 6 billion in export revenue this financial year amid cancellations from some of the world’s largest brands and retailers, two major industry bodies said on Tue

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) yesterday provided guidance for listed companies on hosting the Annual General Meetings (AGMs), amid the coronavirus pandemic.

A US $ 100,000 (Rs.18.17 million) grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has funded the purchase of emergency medical supplies through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in support of Sri Lanka’s ongoing response to the novel corona

Sri Lanka’s largest apparel exporter Brandix Lanka Ltd (BLL) is rolling out several substantial cost-cutting initiatives, including up to 60 percent pay cuts for executive cadre and board members foregoing compensation for a period of six months, t

A day after the Monetary Board eased capital, regulatory and reporting rules on the banking sector, more or less similar relaxed rules have been offered to finance companies, including a lower floor for mandatory liquidity maintenance, to obtain thei

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) yesterday asked brokers and margin providers to refrain from charging interest and to provide a moratorium for the investors who have purchased stocks on margin facilities.

The banking and financial services industry will kick off a number of efforts starting this week to push the country towards embracing digital transaction methods, a decision that was collectively taken by the sector together with the Central Bank to

Italy’s business lobby Confindustria said yesterday it forecasts a severe recession in 2020, with the country’s GDP dropping by six percent if the acute phase of the coronavirus outbreak is over by the end of May.

Huawei said yesterday it had sustained solid growth in its global businesses in 2019 despite a US campaign to isolate the Chinese tech giant, but warned of its “most difficult year” ahead.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, hand sanitizer has been in high demand and hard to source.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and Rakuten Viber yesterday announced a new partnership to fight misinformation around COVID-19 with an interactive multi-language chatbot available globally.

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) yesterday said the market would be closed from tomorrow onwards until the curfew is lifted.

Sri Lanka (B2 stable) is among low-rated emerging markets with large near-term international bond repayments that are likely to face a marked weakening in debt metrics following the coronavirus outbreak and sharp commodity price declines, internation

European stock markets extended gains yesterday after a largely positive showing across Asia and as oil prices rebounded from 18-year lows, with a jump in Chinese factory activity providing a surprise boost for the virus-hit global economy.

Standard Chartered announced this week that it will globally commit US$ 1 billion of financing for companies that provide goods and services to help the fight against COVID-19, and those planning the switch into making products that are in high deman

The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) this week spelt out measures companies should take to carry out operations in the coming days with the island-wide curfew set to continue at least till April 4, which requires the business community to make

The confederation representing micro, small and medium enterprises have called for a Rs. 500, 000 interest-free loan, repayable in three years to resurrect micro and small scale entrepreneurs engaged in agriculture-based industries and manufacturing.

It is evident that the COVID-19 pandemic would create a significant economic impact globally. Whilst it is rather premature to predict the overall impact, one can safely conclude that the impact will last for a number of months (best-case scenario) p

COVID-19 has been rapidly outreaching across the globe, taking thousands of lives and pausing hundreds of economies. Its initial impact on China’s economy is pathetic and China’s slowdown may have adverse economic impacts on the rest of the world

The Colombo Tea Auction, the world’s oldest operational and largest single-origin tea auction, plans to conduct its next auction for the first time on an e-platform, aiming to avoid public gathering, to slow the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19)

A special ‘Tashi Air’ charter flight operated yesterday from Colombo to Paro, Bhutan, to carry Bhutanese students studying in various universities in Sri Lanka back to Bhutan.

Sri Lanka’s Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) have stepped up to provide immediate relief to all plantation workers while ensuring health and safety protocols are followed amidst the islandwide curfew imposed to slow the spread of the coronaviru

While the COVID–19 outbreak in the country has forced all citizens to remain indoors and has brought many banking activities to a halt, NDB has taken several steps to assist the bank’s customers to perform their banking transactions in a secure a

Sri Lanka’s earnings from exports dipped and imports surged, widening the hole in the trade deficit for January, as the country braces for deeper troubles in the trade account for months to come when the world battles what appears to be a prolonged

SriLankan Airlines, continuing to answer the call of the nation, airlifted a consignment of medical aid from Shanghai, China, on March 28, 2020.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic raises the spectre of another global debt crisis.

Sri Lanka is battling to control the coronavirus by getting the critical government machinery into full gear to put an end to the crisis and has set an example in taking preventive measures to gain control over the epidemic.

Today, mankind has enabled technological and scientific progress to eradicate diseases, helped increase life expectancy, reduced starvation and extreme poverty, revolutionised transport and communications, explored other worlds in the universe and ma

Over a quarter of the world’s population is currently under movement restrictions. For the first time in recent human history, coronavirus has shattered the myth that the economy must come first. While public health concerns, undoubtedly, should ta