Sri Lanka inflation slows to 6.3-pct in March

Mar 31, 2010 (LBO) – Consumer prices in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo rose 6.3 percent in March 2010 from a year earlier, down from 6.9 percent in February with the index falling 1. 0 percent in the month, the government’s statistics office said. In the month of March the Colombo consumer price index fell 1.0 […]

Sri Lanka grey market dollar premium high

Mar 31, 2010 (LBO) – Foreign exchange premiums in Sri Lanka’s kerb or black market have widened in recent months to about three rupees above the bank currency rate from below the rate a few years ago. A US dollar note is being sold in the kerb market for around 117.25/50 rupees compared to a […]

Sri Lankan stocks close 1.08-pct down

Mar 31, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed lower Wednesday after the price of Environmental Resources Investments, an index heavy firm, fell owing to heavy retail selling with an ex-rights issue expiring Tuesday, brokers said. Colombo’s All Share Price Index closed at 3,724.59, down 40.48 points, while the Milanka index of more liquid shares […]

Fixed Interest

Mar 31, 2010 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings Lanka said it has assigned an ‘A-(lka)’ National Long-term rating to People’s Leasing Company Limited’s (PLC) proposed senior unsecured redeemable debentures of up to 630 million rupees. The rating agency said in a statement it has confirmed PLC’s national long-term rating at ‘A-(lka)’ with a stable outlook. The […]

Finance Demand

Mar 31, 2010 (LBO) – An initial public offering (IPO) by Sri Lanka’s Vallibel Finance to raise 114. 4 million rupees has been oversubscribed and will close Wednesday afternoon, a stock exchange filing said. The firm offered 5.2 million shares at 22 rupees each. The stock exchange filing said applications for 8,310,900 shares were received, […]

Sri Lanka tea wage hike erodes Malwatte Plantations profit

Mar 31, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Malwatte Valley Plantations said 2009 annual profits fell 99.3 percent to 2.15 million rupees from a year ago with a big loss in the December quarter on higher wage costs and gratuity provisions. Its financial results filed with the Colombo stock exchange showed December quarter losses shot up […]

Transit Point

KUALA LUMPUR, March 31, 2010 (AFP) – Malaysia on Wednesday launched a national plan against human trafficking as the country moves to quash its image as a transit point for traffickers. Home minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the five-year plan would strengthen anti-trafficking legislation and training and improve border security among measures to tackle the problem. […]

” computer growth: official

WASHINGTON, March 31, 2010 (AFP) – India is about to witness an explosion in the spread of personal computers and Internet connectivity, visiting Minister of State for IT and Communications Sachin Pilot said Tuesday. Asked about US computer giant Dell’s reported intention to move its manufacturing facilities from China to India, Pilot only could confirm […]

Now comes tough part for Bharti: making Zain purchase pay

NEW DELHI, March 31, 2010 (AFP) – Indian telecoms tycoon Sunil Bharti Mittal has finally achieved his dream of breaking into the African market with a 10.7-billion-dollar deal to buy Kuwait-based Zain’s Africa assets. But now comes the tough part — making the purchase pay off. Mittal’s Bharti Airtel, the top mobile operator in India, […]

‘s aborted Sri Lanka concert

March 30, 2010 (AFP) – The Maldives stepped in on Tuesday to offer US rap star Akon a replacement concert after his scheduled appearance in Sri Lanka next month was scuttled by protesting Buddhist monks. “We are very happy he is planning to come and perform,” President Mohamed Nasheed’s press secretary Mohamed Zuhair told AFP […]

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