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Sri Lanka Tamils concerned over national anthem report
December 13, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Tamils expressed concern on Monday over a media report suggesting that the government was set to ban singing the national anthem in their language. Language and discrimination were key issues used by the Tamil Tiger separatists to gain popular support for their campaign. The main Tamil party, the […]
Sri Lanka said keen on public-private partnerships
Dec 13, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is keen on partnerships between the public and private sectors in developing its economy, the International Finance Corporation, which is supporting the initiative, said in a statement. Sri Lanka is actively considering options to increase private participation in development,” it quoted Sarath Amunugama, Sri Lanka’s Senior Minister of […]
Naval Amity
Dec 12, 2010 (LBO) – Warships from foreign navies, including India, joined Sri Lanka’s navy in a sail past Saturday amid improving maritime security co-operation to combat crimes on the high seas like human and arms smuggling. The Chinese navy sent the frigate ‘Lanzhou’ and Pakistan the frigate ‘Zulfiqar’ while the navies of Iran, Thailand […]
Indian microlenders face crisis, warns industry group
NEW DELHI, December 12, 2010 (AFP) – India’s seven-billion-dollar microfinance industry could be thrown into crisis by a bill that seeks to regulate lending to the poor more tightly, a lobby representing the sector has warned. The sector is also under fire in neighbouring Bangladesh where the micro lending model was pioneered, with Prime Minister […]
Sri Lanka spice firm registers trademark over McDonalds objection: report
Dec 12, 2010 (LBO) – Lanka Spice Limited, a Sri Lankan-based spice firm has successfully registered its trademark ‘McCurrie’ over objection of McDonalds, a US-based fast food chain, a media report said. Lanka Spice has been in the market since 1982 The Sunday Times newspaper said. The report quoted Lanka Spice chairman Nalin Pathikirikorale as […]
Baby Saga
December 10, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s child protection authorities have traced the biological mother of a six-year-old girl who was suspected to have been sold as an orphan after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, police said Friday. Staff at the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) took custody of the child after neighbours complained that […]
Nations set up global climate fund
CANCUN, December 11, 2010 (AFP) – Global talks on climate change on Saturday set up a new fund to manage billions of dollars in aid to poor nations in a hard-fought package urging deep cuts in industrial emissions. After two weeks of talks in Mexico and two virtually sleepless final days, more than 190 countries […]
Court orders Air India to rehire overweight air hostess
NEW DELHI, December 10, 2010 (AFP) – An Indian court ordered state-run Air India on Friday to rehire an airline hostess that the carrier had sacked nearly a decade ago for being overweight. Dismissed overweight women have previously unsuccessfully challenged Air India’s policy in Indian courts, which upheld clauses in the group’s employment contracts. Neepa […]
Sri Lanka policy consistency seen needed for investor confidence
Dec 11, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka should have consistent government policies to increase private sector confidence to invest more in the economy which in turn would boost economic growth, a senior chartered accountant said. A total of 57 awards were given out at the ceremony for finance, banking, hotel, health, manufacturing and insurance sectors. […]
Sri Lanka stocks close down 0.2-pct
Dec 10, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks continued their slide Friday, ending down 0.20 percent with institutions staying out and the retail investors selling, brokers said. The All Share Price Index closed at 6,432.75, down 0.20 percent (13.02 points) while the Milanka index of liquid stocks dipped 0.44 percent (30.44 points) to close at […]