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Monday September 25th, 2023

Boat service for public, launched; First month free

The boat service for transporting passengers operating along the Beira Lake from Union Place to Colombo Fort was launched under the auspices of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday (22 August)

Speaking at the launch, Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that Colombo City has been developed more over the past four years than it ever has in the previous six decades.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe declaring the Public Boat Service open

Speaking to RepublicNext, Project Manager of the Boat Service Ranushi Siripala said that the passengers could use the service free-of-charge for one month which started yesterday and there on, tickets would be priced at 50 Rupees for a one-way route on the transportation service.

Further, Siripala also confirmed that more ticketing schemes will be introduced such as monthly passes and more to make the service convenient for regular users.

Premier Wickremesinghe, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Southern Development Sagala Rathnayaka and Minister of Megapolis and Western Development Patali Champika Ranawaka on the first boat ride of the service.

The Navy operated boat service will carry 50 commuters from a jetty near Union Place to the Beira waterfront jetty in Fort in a 10-minute ride.

She further noted that the service would help reduce much of the traffic in the Colombo area during peak hours.

Minister of Ports, Shipping and Southern Development Sagala Rathnayaka, Minister of Tourism Development, Wildlife and Christian Affairs John Amaratunga and Minister of Megapolis and Western Development Patali Champika Ranawaka also attended the launch of the transport service.

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Sri Lanka sells 2028 bonds at 14.52-pct

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka sold all offered bonds in 2026 and 2028 maturities raising 220 billion rupees from an auction Monday, data from the state debt office showed.

The debt office sold 135 billion rupees of 1 June 2026 bonds to yield 15.64 percent.

Another 85 billion rupees in 01 July 2028 bonds were sold to yield 14.52 percent.

The 2028 bond is offered on tap at the weighted average yield. (Colombo/Sept25/2023)

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Sri Lanka’s stocks end down on Monday after slow day of trading

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka shares were down at close of trading on Monday.

Turnover was 550 million rupees.

The main All Share Price Index was down 0.36 percent or 40.02 points to 11,216.50, while the S&P SL20 was down 0.44 percent or 14.07 points to 3,164.52.

Trading in the Capital Goods Industry (174,037,134) drove turnover.

Commercial Bank, Expolanka Holdings, and Aitken Spence plc saw losses, while National Development Bank, John Keells Holdings and Melstacorp saw gains in the day’s trading.

The market saw a net foreign inflow of 13 million rupees, while the yearly net foreign inflow was 429 million rupees. (Colombo/Sep25/2023)

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Sri Lanka rupee closes at 324.75/324.90 to the US dollar

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s rupee closed at 324.75/90 to the US dollar on Monday, from Friday’s close at 324.70/325.00 dealers said.

Bond yields were up.

A bond maturing on 01.07.2025 closed up at 15.55/15.70 percent on Monday, after closing at 14.95/15.30 percent on Friday.

A bond maturing on 01.08.2026 closed up at 15.50/15.65 percent up from 14.95/15.10 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.09.2027 closed up at 14.75/15.50 percent from 14.55/15.00 percent.

A bond maturing on 01.05.2028 closed up at 14.25/14.60 from 14.00/14.30 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.05.2030 closed stable at 13.00/13.50.

A bond maturing on 01.07.2032 closed at 12.95/13.45 percent from 13.00/13.45 percent. (Colombo/Sept25/2023)

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