Sri Lanka’s small and medium-scale apparel exporters regret that they are yet to receive the relief package announced by the Gotabaya Rajapaksa-led government and it has caused several cash-strapped SME exporters to run into difficulties in paying

Fitch Ratings yesterday downgraded Sri Lanka’s Long-Term Foreign and Local Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) to ‘B-’, from ‘B’ with a Negative Outlook, saying that the shocks from the coronavirus pandemic will aggravate the risks associ

Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) assures that all imported containers at Colombo Port are free of any terminal rent from March 16, 2020 to April 9 and in addition SLPA-operated Jaya Container Terminal has also exempted their imported containers from

A Colombo Municipal Council worker sprays disinfectant at the Manning Market in Pettah, which now remains closed, in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Sri Lanka has so far reported over 320 confirmed coronavirus positive patients -Pic by Prade

As tourism sector stakeholders are adopting measures to stay afloat, authorities have been capitalising on the time available to chart out comprehensive plans that aim at redefining the industry in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak that has dealt a c

Over 50,000 Sri Lankan migrant workers stranded mainly in the Gulf countries are anxiously awaiting to return to the country amid health risks, job losses and pay cuts caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, according to the latest reports.

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) has called for a broad economic recovery plan based on a shared vision of public and private sectors aimed at an accelerated post-COVID-19 recovery of the country’s economy.

Sri Lanka’s Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) remain wary of the sector’s outlook due to whopping crop losses which has led to increased cost of production despite recently improved tea auction prices.

As Sri Lanka’s early but extreme actions to contain the spread of the new coronavirus is bearing fruit and the government is contemplating on reopening the economy by at least from May or even before, the pandemic could easily alter the country’s

Essential goods being taken to wholesalers in Pettah during curfew hours yesterday. The government announced that the curfew in Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Puttalam and Kandy districts will continue to be in effect until further notice. Pic by Pradee

Sri Lanka’s apparel sector is crumbling further as the prolonged curfew in place to contain the coronavirus outbreak, has placed the industry at a disadvantage with buyers choosing to divert orders to competitors due to lack of clarity as to when

Sri Lanka should engage with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and explore other debt inflows to the country to retain the investor confidence on the economy as the selling rate of the US dollar crossed Rs.200 for the first time in the country’

The Colombo Tea Auction saw high demand for teas in its first-ever online auction kicked off last Saturday with prices soaring across all types of teas amid an uptick in global tea consumption.

Despite the negative growth largely expected for the first quarter, the Central Bank does not think the coronavirus pandemic will completely decimate the economy beset by the lockdowns and would still be able to register at least 3.0 percent growth f

In what could be termed as the most blunt message issued so far, the Central Bank Governor Prof. W.D. Lakshman today asked banks to pass on the announced relief measures to their customers forthwith or face legal action.

The Monetary Board of the Central Bank has decided to further reduce its key policy interest rates by 25 basis points (bps) in a bid to cushion the impact of COVID-19 to the island nation’s economy.

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

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)

Sri Lanka’s merchandise export earnings for the months of January and February was US$ 1.93 billion, a 3.6 percent decline from the same period last year, according to an Export Development Board (EDB) statement relea

The government has requested all Board of Investment (BOI) companies to pay the March and April salaries of their employees despite measures taken to shut down some idling factories and send their workers who were stranded since curfew was imposed, h

Emirates ground crews around the world have bid farewell to their last operating flights back to Dubai. EK 005 to London Heathrow, which departed at 1605hrs on March 24 was the last flight to take off from Dubai. EK 262 from Sao Paulo, which landed a

The rubber exporters call the government to make it an essential service as the sector provides its products to the medical industry and agriculture sector.

The government has notified the public not to unnecessarily stock goods during the period the curfew is lifted, as there are ample stocks available in the market. Picture shows essential food items being unloaded at Sathosa outlets in Gampaha yesterd

As Sri Lanka is witnessing its economy coming to an almost stagnant state due to the unavoidable measures taken by the government to contain the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, a leading economist in the country stressed the priorities of the politi

Sri Lanka yesterday signed agreements to receive a US $ 500 million concessional loan from China Development Bank (CDB).

Central Bank, Governor, Prof. W. D. Lakshman requests the financial institutions not to overreact to current disruptions to the economy amid the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, while urging the banking sector to pass the benefit of the recent policy

As the government declared yesterday a public holiday with a view of preventing the spread of coronavirus across the country

In preparation to prevent coronavirus (COVID-19) entering the country from ships at ports, Sri Lanka Navy conducted a drill at the Colombo port on Friday. The Navy conducted the drill to rehearse the Standard Operational Procedure that could be adop