Inflation rises in June : Central Bank
Sri Lanka's inflation rose to 9.3 per cent in June from 7 per cent in the previous month while annual average inflation increased to 5.8 per cent from 5.6 per cent in the same months, the Central Bank (CB) said this week in its monthly economic review.
It said Sri Lanka achieved all targets set under the Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) facility with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and thereby qualifies to receive the final ($420 million) tranche under the SBA facility. "Such disbursement, along with other expected significant foreign inflows, is likely to strengthen the external position of the country in the coming months, and enhance the gross official reserves, which stood at US$ 5.8 billion as at 31st May 2012, which is equivalent to 3.4 months of imports," the report said.
The government is also seeking another $500 million facility from the IMF.
The CB said the increase in inflation in June was mainly due to the lower base, the impact of the prevailing drought conditions on domestic fresh food prices and the recent revisions to administratively determined prices.
Credit growth by commercial banks reduced from its peak of 35.2 per cent in March to 33.5 per cent in May 2012. Thus credit extended in the first five months of the year, grew only by 10.5 per cent.
"In the meantime, provisional data shows that the growth of import expenditure has been shrinking sharply in the first five months of the year, thereby narrowing the trade deficit, compared to the high levels recorded in 2011," it said.
A revolutionary medical advisory service where Sri Lankans can call doctors and get advice on the phone for a small fee has been launched by Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel in partnership with Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA).
Mobitel customers around the country can obtain this initial medical advice from doctors who are members of the Sri Lanka Medical Association, the telcom company said.
Mobitel ‘Doc Call’ by dialling 247 will link customers with doctors through a Mobitel portal and receive immediate initial medical advice when in need.
The fixed fee for ‘Doc Call’ is Rs. 150 per Medical Advice and the charge for dialling 247 is Rs. 1per minute plus taxes. The total fee for
Mobitel ‘Doc Call’ by dialling 247 will link customers with doctors through a Mobitel portal and receive immediate initial medical advice when in need. The fixed fee for ‘Doc Call’ is Rs. 150 per Medical Advice and the charge for dialling 247 is Rs. 1per minute plus taxes.
the call (Medical Advice fee plus 247 dialling charges) will be added to the monthly bill of post-paid customers or deducted from the credited amount for pre-paid users.
The service is available 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Commenting on this landmark introduction by Mobitel, Prof. Vajira H. W. Dissanayake President, SLMA said, “Such services are available in other parts of the world, and the launch of this service in Sri Lanka is indeed timely. The Sri Lanka Medical Association is fully supportive of new technology to deliver medical services and this is our way of caring for the patients we serve”.