Economic

SLTDA streamlines and fast-tracks via ‘single application’ process by signing 8 MoUs with Central Environmental Authority, Departments of Wildlife Conservation, Agrarian Development, Irrigation, National Building Research Organisation, Forest Conservation, Archaeology, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
Similar MoUs signed with BOI, UDA and Coast Conservation previously
Four more line agencies, including Civil Aviation Authority, Colombo Municipal Council will be added by year-end to facilitate investments
Since its establishment 12 years ago, Investor Relations Unit has received 1,006 applications worth $ 7.6 b but 457 applications worth $ 3.8 b got approval
Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga says in past two years, 59 projects with investments of $ 300 m were approved out of 99 applications worth over $ 1 b received
Tourism Ministry Secretary S. Hettiarachchi points to red tape as major hindrance to boosting investments
Environment Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe describes tourism as key sector to pull SL out from forex crisis and put economy back on a growth path
SLTDA Director-General Dhammika Wijayasingha says digital ‘Investment Case Management System’ will be ready by March
Believes system will enhance efficiency and transparency

LOLC Finance PLC (LOFC) has got, in principle, approval from the Central Bank for the planned amalgamation of itself with Commercial Leasing and Finance PLC (CLC).

Department of Census and Statistics reveal food inflation up 21.5% in December from 17% in November
Headline inflation up 14% in December as opposed to 11% in November
SL suffers spike amidst decline in food prices globally in December according to the FAO

The Government yesterday announced plans to develop and promote heritage city Galle’s Port into a fully-fledged tourist port and leisure hub of South Asia with an investment of $ 175-200 million.

The Colombo stock market yesterday posted a one-year high turnover of Rs. 18.4 billion owing to an internal transfer within the single largest shareholder in JKH, though overall investor sentiment remained somewhat erratic.

Six importers have already been granted approval to import Molnupiravir, the oral antiviral pill to treat Covid patients, Dr. Saman Ratnayake, Secretary to the State Ministry of Drug Production, Supply and Regulation said yesterday.

The Colombo stock market posted its second consecutive sharp fall yesterday amidst relatively low investor activity and turnover.

Ceylon Association of Shipping Agents reveal over 640 TEUs of imports currently lying at Colombo Port
Nearly 130 TEUs have been lying for over 3 years; most of which are either detained, abandoned or subject to court cases
Warns exchange crisis, delays in obtaining import control licenses, SLSI clearance etc. further delaying clearing of container build-up
Delay in resolution will impact exports and transhipment biz as well
CASA’s concerns amidst 2021 seeing record $ 20.6 b in imports and $ 12.4 b in exports
Ships calling at Colombo Port in first 11 months of 2021 down 4.4%
Total container handling up by 4.8% to 6.6 million TEUs; transhipment up 3% to 5.3 million TEUs

Ups policy rates by 50 basis points; first time after August last year
Expects corresponding increase in interest rates, particularly in deposit rates, thereby encouraging savings while discouraging excessive consumption, which also fuels imports
Says anticipated adjustment in market interest rates will facilitate reduction in Treasury bill holdings of Central Bank through increased market subscriptions
Allows private banks to finance essential import bills for fuel purchases in proportion to their foreign exchange inflows
Mandates all registered tourist establishments to accept forex only in respect of services rendered to persons residing outside Sri Lanka
Extends ongoing Rs. 10 per dollar incentive for channelling remittances via banking channels till end-April; to reimburse Rs. 1,000 per remittance transaction
To offer higher interest rates for both foreign currency and rupee-denominated deposits of migrant workers
Estimates economy grew by 4% in 2021; forecasts 5% growth this year
Exports hit a record of $ 12.4 b in 2021; imports swell to $ 20.6 b

රජයට වැඩි ආදායමක් උපයන්න නම් වාහන ආනයනය කළ යුතුයි

The holding of Government Securities by the Central Bank by Friday had crossed the Rs. 1.5 trillion mark for the first time.

Dr. Prasantha Jayamanna yesterday assumed duties as the Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) following the appointment by Ports and Shipping Minister Rohitha Abeygu-nawardena.

පහළ ගිය බිත්තර මිල මෙන්න

ලෝක බැංකුව ඇතුළු ජාත්‍යන්තර මූල්‍ය ආයතන කුමක් පැවසුවද, වත්මන් ආර්ථික තත්ත්වය තුළ ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ ප්‍රගතියක් ඇතිවෙමින් පවතින බවත්, මෙම වසර තුළ සියයට පහක පමණ වර්ධනයක් දක්නට අති බවත් මහ බැංකු අධිපති අජිත් නිවාර්ඩ් කබ්රාල් මහතා සඳහන් කරයි.

The tourism industry yesterday welcomed the Central Bank’s decision to allow registered tourist establishments to accept foreign currency for services.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed recently between the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and the Maldives National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI) will enhance opportunities for bilateral trade, investment and tourism, giving new impetus to a proposed trade agreement between Sri Lanka and the Maldives, State Minister for Regional Cooperation Tharaka Balasuriya announced.

The Colombo stock market nearly struggled its way to close marginally on the up this week with mixed investor sentiment keeping turnover lower.

Access Group has been selected by the Government for a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) deal for a logistics facility in Ekala – Ja-Ela.