An Echelon Media Company
Monday September 25th, 2023

Sri Lanka lifts government fees on long-distance buses during Covid-19 crisis

RE-DEPLOYMENT: Transport Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has suggested that ‘semi-luxury’ buses with dustry drapes be used for office transport on expressways.

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka will lift a series of fees charged from inter-provincial private bus operators from March to December 2020 to reduce cost during a Covid-19 epidemic as buses are required to carry fewer passengers, the state information office said.

The cabinet of ministers had approved a Ministry of Transport proposal to waive permit updating charges, penalties, tender charges, logbook charges, access permit charges and temporary permit charges for expressways.

Sri Lanka’s private bus operators have asked for a ticket price increase or a diesel subsidy as they are required to carry passengers according to the number of seats or with a gap between seats.

Banks have also given low interest credit to bus operators to help with lease payments.

The government gives subsidies to state bus companies. (Colombo/Nov10/2020)

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Leave a Comment

Leave a Comment

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

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)

Continue Reading

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)

Continue Reading

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)

Continue Reading