News.lk - The Official Government News Portal of Sri Lanka

Export of travel goods from Sri Lanka will enjoy duty free entry to the United States following a decision by the US administration to approve the inclusion of travel goods from all GSP beneficiary countries, including Sri Lanka, in the expanded US General System of Preferences (GSP) scheme on 1st July, 2017.

People’s Bank has joined the ‘Swashakthi’ Loan scheme initiated by the Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, disbursing loans via its branch network of more than 730 branches island-wide.

Ministry of Industry and Commerce has initiated a program to support local small scale industries, whose annual turnover is less than Rs. 250 million and permanent employment is less than 50 on the 1st January 2017, to obtain Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certificate with the intention of improving industry productivity, sustainability, food safety and hygiene.

The Hatton National Bank has disbursed 13 Loans under the ‘Swashakthi’ Million Jobs Program, refinanced by the CBSL and launched on an initiative of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) has released the estimated Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and other macroeconomic indicators for the fourth quarter of 2016 and for the year of 2016.

Year 2016 has recorded the highest foreign remittances amounting to USD 7241.5 million (Rs.1054.5 billion), said Foreign Employment Minister Thalatha Athukorala.

GSP+ concessions would massively benefit Sri Lankan fish exports industry, said Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Mahinda Amaraweera.