Stock market plunges further; Rs. 69 b in value wiped off One year loss of value is a staggering Rs. 766 b EPF and foreign buying saves Bourse after near 5% crash Rupee dips to all-time low of Rs. 120; likely to settle down though triggering panic in import trade Crisis could be an understatement ...

The Inter Company Employees’ Union (ICEU) affiliated to the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has written to the Labour Commissioner about the risk of employees at the Pelwatte Sugar Company losing their jobs and requested an urgent meeting to discuss several key issues. ICEU Head Wasantha Samarasinghe has stated in the letter that the Pelwatte Sugar ...

(EPF) that will be presented in Parliament today, ...

‘A ruler with a depleted treasury eats into the very vitality of the citizens and the country. A ruler, who impoverishes his own people or angers them by unjust exactions will also lose their loyalty Impoverishment, greed and dissatisfaction are engendered among the subjects, when the ruler among other things (i) fails to give what ought ...

Jan 15, Colombo: Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) and Marxist party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) have expressed concerns over the proposed amendments to the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) Act.

Last week there were more stories making the rounds on contemplated decisions made outside the cabinet meeting than decisions made inside. Of course, the usual briefing on cabinet decisions were spelled out, Thursday afternoon. For a regime that still wants to boast it has popular support, comparing itself to an opposition fractured and quarrelling red and green, it is ...

If the Governor of Central Bank has an urge to enter politics, he should come to Parliament without playing politics inside the CB, charges United National Party Parliamentarian and well-known Economist Dr. Harsha de Silva. Dr. de Silva notes that Governor Nivard Cabraal should respect the sanctity of the Central Bank and therefore if Cabraal ...

  By Padmini MatarageThe government has been contemplating introducing the amended Employees Provident Fund (EPF) Act in parliament on January 18, sources say. However, due to unprecedented opposition from trade unions, political parties and civil society, the government has decided to rethink

The Pathfinder Foundation with the assistance of Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance (VEGA) and USAID, recently commissioned a study to identify the policy and regulatory reforms that are required to make Sri Lanka a leading country in investor friendliness. Improving the business climate is not an end in itself. A better business environment is a ...

Market’s illiquid state compounded by seasonal demand for money, coupled with the lack of confidence in the establishment that is also driving demand for US dollars ($s) and rates as well, forced Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) to hold a reverse repo auction on Friday (December 16) to tide over the situation Overnight (O/n) ...

Debate on the the 2nd complete UPFA budget since the conclusion of the war in 2009 May, is now on both within the parliament and without. Heavy weights both critical and positive about this budget, have access to media. The debate is about urban middle class life and the Western Province economy. Not much is ...

What are the prospects for the Stock market in the near future? The IMF thinks that the growth rate this year will be closer to 7% rather than 8%. The third quarter company earnings are now being released. Here are some results: Good performers Distilleries Profit growth @ 78; Kelani Cables 259%; LOLC 68%; LWL ...

By Cheranka Mendis Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal yesterday declared that the country’s biggest fund, the EPF, was well managed and not corrupted, in remarks that signalled an apparent dismissal of allegations levelled by the main opposition UNP. Sri Lanka’s largest fund

Banks’ Profits Up 111% The banking industry achieved a considerably high level of profits in 2010. Profit after tax amounted to Rs. 57.5 billion last year, a 111% growth in comparison to a Rs. 27.2 billion profit in 2009. The significant growth in profitability was mainly attributed to a higher increase in fee-based income, a ...

By Dr.Vickramabahu Karunaratne We are happy to see that this May Day has become a day to challenge the Oppression of Mahinda state. Many strong trade unions have come together to challenge the chauvinist pro global capitalist government. Government is...

A political expert contacted for an explanation on how the Bill to establish a private sector Employees’ Pension Scheme could go through parliament so urgently. He insisted no “Urgent Bill” could be brought up for debate in parliament without first being presented in the Supreme Courts. This insistence took our mind back to an anecdote ...

by Dr.A.C.Visvalingam President -CIMOGG One hundred and sixty-one Members of Parliament, in their understandable admiration of President Rajapaksa’s leadership in eliminating the LTTE, appear to have taken up the position, by voting for the 18th Amendment ("18A"), that he can...

Inland Revenue claims Rs 2.8 million from directors Employed director faces music on his own Ranil Wickremesinghe appointed new board By Faraz Shauketaly The printing company set up by President Ranasinghe Premadasa for the United National Party (UNP)  did not pay its dues to the Inland Revenue and the directors have now been noticed to ...