Economy

Sri Lanka targets $ 879 m in local investments in 2025

Published

1 year ago

January 16, 2025

Sri Lanka expects about $ 879 million in investments from local investors in 2025 based on government incentives and an improved investment climate in the country, Economic Development Deputy Minister Prof. Anil Jayantha Fernando said.

Speaking in Parliament yesterday (7), he said that the government forecasts $ 879 million from local investors, an assumption based on the current situation and past trends.

He also added that the figure is forecasted based on the incentive packages that the government will provide, improvement in the investment climate and maintaining policy consistency.

Fernando said that the government will provide a conducive environment for local investors where they can have a level playing field with improved ease of doing business.

Moreover, he said that forecasts for foreign direct investments (FDIs) are also made based on the assumptions made for local investors.

However, Fernando said that the government is trying to move away from these assumptions as they have not been able to attract sufficient FDIs in the past based on these assumptions.

“We are trying our maximum to get at least $ 2 billion in FDIs annually, while priority will be given to investments to bring in new technology and capital requirements,” he added.

According to a response tabled at parliament by Finance and Planning Deputy Minister Harshana Suriyapperuma in December, the Board of Investment (BOI) has signed 74 projects in 2024, with an estimated investment of $ 608 million.

The statement said that the BOI signed 41 new projects and 33 project extensions between January and December 2024, the estimated total investment in the 74 projects is $ 608 million, which is only a mere $ 110 million growth in the second half of the year after recording $ 498 million investments in the first half.

Source – The Morning

Economy

Sri Lanka’s official reserves fall below US$ 7 billion

Published

1 hour ago

May 10, 2026

admin

Sri Lanka’s official reserve assets fell below the US$ 7 billion mark again in April 2026, according to the latest data released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

The country’s total official reserve assets declined from US$ 7.026 billion recorded at the end of March 2026 to US$ 6.759 billion by the end of April.

Data also showed that foreign exchange reserves — the main component of official reserves — dropped from US$ 6.8 billion to US$ 6.505 billion during the month.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s gold reserves declined slightly from US$ 222 million to US$ 219 million.

Economy

PayPal to launch in Sri Lanka from May 15

Published

2 days ago

May 8, 2026

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PayPal is set to launch in Sri Lanka on 15 May, in a move expected to expand formal digital payment channels, initially starting with business-to-business (B2B) payments to exporters.

According to sources, the initial rollout will focus on enabling inward payments to exporters, with several local banks already appointed as agents for the service.

While an official announcement is yet to be made, sources said the launch is currently scheduled for 15 May, with the Presidential Secretariat likely to host the event.

Banking sector officials have already participated in familiarisation sessions relating to PayPal’s entry into Sri Lanka, while PayPal representatives are understood to have visited the country last month for discussions with local stakeholders and financial institutions regarding the rollout framework.

The move follows months of engagement between the Government, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), and the private sector, aimed at enabling regulated inward remittance functionality through the global online payments platform.

In February, Digital Economy Ministry Secretary Waruna Sri Dhanapala said Sri Lanka had entered the final stage of enabling inward remittances through PayPal, describing it as a key milestone in modernising the country’s digital payments ecosystem.

Economy

Sri Lanka tests online ticket booking platform or intercity bus travel

Published

5 days ago

May 5, 2026

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Sri Lanka has launched a pilot programme to enable online seat reservations for long-distance bus travel, Transport and Highways Minister Bimal Rathnayake announced today.

Speaking at a media briefing, the Minister said buses remain the most widely used mode of daily transport in the country, even surpassing trains in popularity.

However, he noted that passengers currently face inconvenience as they must physically visit bus terminals to reserve seats, making travel planning difficult.

“This new system will allow passengers to reserve seats in advance and plan their journeys more efficiently. Our aim is to make daily life easier,” he said.

The initiative will initially be implemented through private bus operators, with plans to expand the service to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) at a later stage.

Sri Lanka Telecom Chairman Mothilal De Silva stated that the platform was introduced ahead of the New Year holiday period in collaboration with several private sector partners.