The sixth edition of “A Step by Step Guide to Doing Business in Sri Lanka” has been now published by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL). This publication contains useful regulatory information on starting, operating and closing a business enterprise in Sri Lanka. As proposed by the relevant institutions, the necessary amendments up to the first quarter of 2016 are incorporated into this edition.

This is a useful source document with all information in one place for the business community and foreign investors and will assist by reducing the search costs, time and inconvenience in accessing such information.

Sri Lanka’s external sector performance remained moderate in June 2016 with a widening trade deficit and relatively low growth in workers’ remittances and tourist earnings. The trade deficit which showed gradual improvements in the first four months of the year deteriorated in May and June with weak performance in both exports and imports. Earnings from tourism recorded a low growth in June compared to previous months of the year while growth in workers’ remittances also moderated. However, inflows to the financial account elevated with the receipts of the first tranche of the IMF Extended Fund Facility (IMF-EFF) and a syndicated loan facility. As a result of these inflows to the financial account and developments in the global economy with further rate hikes by the United States Federal Reserve still to materialise, foreign investments in the government securities market rebounded. This resulted in a net inflow of foreign investments in Government securities in June 2016 compared to continuous outflows experienced during the first quarter of the year.