Possible protectionism in advanced economies should not deter export-oriented growth in South Asia, a region that could even benefit from the backlash against globalization, a new World Bank report said this week.

By Why do the people in the world as a whole or within a given country, live where they do? Why are some places so densely populated and some so empty? In daily life, we take this variation in density as a matter of course, but in many ways it can be

It has been more than five months since President Trump’s surprise election victory infused new life into the eight-year long US equity bull market. Global markets have behaved as many, including us, anticipated: equities, riskier corporate bon

As production activities became increasingly fragmented and relocated across borders, a number of observers started to use the expression ‘global value chain’ (GVC). The term is often used without knowing what a value chain really is or l

Sri Lanka’s debt has increased from Rs.7.3 trillion to Rs.9.4 trillion in the last two years. With domestic rates moving up from 6 percent to 10.74 percent, on a domestic portfolio of Rs.4277.8 billion, there would be an additional cost of arou

Canon Singapore President/CEO Noriko Gunji was in Colombo recently on the invitation of Sri Lanka’s Metropolitan group, Canon’s local distributor for almost 40 years. Based in Singapore, Gunji is responsible for leading and overseeing the

General Electric (GE), one of the world’s largest publicly traded companies, has a large footprint in Sri Lanka’s energy, transportation and health sectors. In an interview with Mirror Business, GE South Asia President and CEO Banmali Agr

Economic growth appears to be strengthening across the large economies, but that does not mean financial sector regulation can now be relaxed. On the contrary, it remains more necessary than ever, as does international cooperation to ensure the safet

A team of representatives from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) met the officials of the Export Development Board (EDB) last week to strengthen trade between the two countries.  The EDB signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) w

Asia’s integration has been reshaping the global economic landscape. The emerging economies in the East and Southeast Asia (grouped together as emerging East Asia) now account for about 25 percent of total global trade and 21 percent of global

Debt is central to the functioning of a modern economy. Firms can use it to finance investments in future productivity. Households can use it to finance lumpy purchases, such as big consumer 

Garbage collection in the city of Colombo seems to be one grand mix up. Whilst all instructions coming from the National Solid Waste Management Support Centre (NSWMSC) say that we must separate our dustbins into three parts,

In an economy, the interest rate plays a major role, as it can have an impact on every part of the economy in different ways.

Dealing with China on security and economic issues is crucial for India but even if “we are no pushover, we cannot get provocative,” asserted Centre for Policy Research New Delhi Visiting Professor G. Parthasarathy.

Cities have powered the world economy for centuries. Large cities generate about 75 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) today and will generate 86 percent of worldwide GDP growth between 2015 and 2030. Population growth has been the crucia

The Indian Ocean will be where the big game will be played in the future. The existing global leader, the United States of America, 

Recommended at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, the World Water Day is held annually on March 22 each year. The objective is to focus attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the

Is the country you live in on the right track? If your answer is no, then you’re in good company. Nearly two thirds of people around the world believe their country is heading in the wrong direction.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership is dead; the largest free-trade zone in the world, the European Union, has splintered and the global economy is on the way to notching up a decade of sub-par growth in trade and output following the global financial cris

 No policymaker will deny the fact that Sri Lanka, at present, is facing an extremely precarious economic situation. The looming challenge, if not prudently managed, will drive the country into negative territory in international ratings, making

Following is the full text of the speech by World Bank Country Director for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Dr. Idah Z. Pswarayi-Riddihough made at a ceremony held at the Colombo Stock Exchange yesterday to celebrate the International Women’s Day. &

In recognition of its 150th year of Ceylon Tea, the Planters’ Association of Ceylon released a comprehensive list of the most recently available corporate sector data on the tea industry with a view towards providing a more comprehensive unders

Sri Lanka’s small hydropower industry has been etching a significant number of milestones since its inception in 1996.  

The proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Sri Lanka and China has become a point for discussion in various circles in the industrial sector today.  

The majority of us living and working in Colombo take access to decent, usable toilets for granted. That is until we venture out of our regular routes.

It has been over three months since the November 2016 surprise demonetisation of 86 percent of India’s currency in circulation. The short-run costs of the measure are becoming clearer

NDB Securities (Pvt.) Ltd (NDBS), a top brokerage firm in Sri Lanka, released an industry report on the healthcare sector recently.

It is widely assumed that reducing inequality goes hand-in-hand with poverty reduction – but this is not always the case.

Leaders from the South Asian capital market were united in their call for improved integration of regional markets as they shared their views on the way forward for exchanges in South Asia, at an event recently held at the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE

Greater consumer confidence could bring about higher returns from Sri Lanka’s retail sector, though the possibility of a further tightening of monetary policy by the country’s central bank might offset any near-term gains.