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SYDNEY, July 5, 2010 (AFP) – Human Rights Watch urged Australia’s new prime minister on Monday to lift a controversial freeze on Afghan and Sri Lankan asylum claims and end “refugee-bashing” ahead of elections. The New York-based group said Julia Gillard, who has signalled a tough approach on immigration, should resume processing Afghan and Sri […]
Sri Lanka trade gap widens in April amid economic recovery
July 05, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s foreign trade volumes and a trade gap widened in April 2010 amid as an economic recovery with exports growing 24. 2 percent and imports growing 55. 8 percent, official data showed. Exports grew to 543.5 million US dollars with tea growing 61 percent to 93. 7 million US […]
” on immigration
SYDNEY, July 4, 2010 (AFP) – Australia’s new Prime Minister Julia Gillard Sunday vowed not to let “political correctness” get in the way of tackling immigration, signalling a tough line on the issue. Gillard, who ruthlessly deposed former leader Kevin Rudd and solved the mining tax row that weakened him a week later, said people […]
Sri Lanka may lose US$500mn in exports with GSP+ end: report
July 04, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka may lose around 500 million US dollars in apparel exports a year, due to the end of trade concessions from the European Union from August, a media report quoting an industry official said. Sri Lanka’s apparel exports to the United States have been declining steadily over the last […]
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July 04, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s main opposition poked fun at a budget for 2010 which had less ‘grasping government’ elements in it and was more affordable to the poor, by throwing the ruling coalition’s own slogans of yesteryear, back at it. In 2006, Sri Lanka’s Mahinda Chinthana platform justified a spending spree saying […]
Sri Lanka expects record tourist arrivals this year: official
July 03, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka expects to get 600,000 tourists this year with the end of a 30-year war making the island an attractive destination once again, a senior tourism official said. Kalaiselvam said the country has accommodation to cater to only 750,000 tourists a year and that 3,000 more rooms would be […]
Sri Lanka state-run budget carrier gets more competition
July 03, 2010 (LBO) – Middle East budget carrier Flydubai has started four weekly flights to Colombo, providing fresh competition for state-run Mihin Lanka, which lost 900 million rupees last year. Mihin’s single aircraft doesn’t always fly direct. Mihin’s Dubai-Colombo run is via Kuwait. After losing billions of rupees since its start and after briefly […]
Sri Lanka cracks down on illegal electricity connections
July 03, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s state-run power utility the Ceylon Electricity Board has begun raids on homes and businesses illegally tapping power from its grid, the power and energy ministry said in a statement. The ministry statement said the CEB earned Rs14mn through fines and arrears from power pirates after the raids in […]
‘s Howard veto
LONDON, July 2, 2010 (AFP) – Australia great Steve Waugh on Friday blasted the International Cricket Council’s decision to block the bid of former Australia Prime Minister John Howard to become president of the global governing body. For a start, many officials were believed to be unhappy that Howard – who has no track record […]
Sri Lanka sovereign rating may be raised: report
July 03, 2010 (LBO) – Standard & Poor’s may upgrade Sri Lanka’s credit when it next reviews the island’s sovereign rating with the resumption of an International Monetary Fund loan and strong foreign reserves, a media report said. “The new budget and continued IMF program are positives,” Benard said. “Still, to have effect on the […]