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Myanmar dissidents condemn S.Lanka over junta visit
November 11, 2009 (AFP) – Dissident Myanmar monks living in Colombo on Wednesday criticised the Sri Lankan government for inviting junta leader General Than Shwe for a state visit. The monks said Sri Lanka’s increasingly close relations with Myanmar’s military regime would further raise international concern over the island’s human rights record. They said President […]
” for Australian ship to stay
JAKARTA, November 11, 2009 (AFP) – Indonesia has “no problems” with extending permission for an Australian customs ship loaded with 78 Sri Lankan asylum seekers to stay in the country, the foreign ministry said Wednesday.Indonesia will look at any request by Australia to extend the stay of the Oceanic Viking, which is anchored off Bintan […]
Sri Lankans should ask for single digit wage hikes: Treasury official
Nov 11, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan workers should ask for to 3.0 to 5.0 percent annual wage hikes with the Central Bank targeting low inflation in the future, the island’s most senior Treasury official said. The output of Sri Lanka’s people have largely appropriated by a top heavy state sector. Last year more than […]
‘s central bank battles inflation expectations
Nov 11, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank is in a battle to dampen high public inflation expectations after capping price rises in the island’s capital Colombo to low single digits for more than a year.In 2009 the Central Bank is hoping to end the year with inflation at 3.5 percent after seeing only […]
Sri Lanka state to recruit 17,000 unemployable graduates
Nov 11, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government is to recruit 17,000 graduates from state universities unemployable in productive sectors, expanding an already bloated public sector, ahead of planned national polls due early next year.Graduates from state universities, who are educated at the expense of the people through general taxes, have successfully cultivated a perception […]
‘s boat people: Dying to strike it rich
MARAWILA, November 11, 2009 (AFP) – For 50 young Sri Lankans who had paid up to 1,500 dollars each for the chance of a new life, a five-week voyage in the hold of a fishing boat ended in an Australian camp for illegal migrants.Their families had sold property and whatever other assets they had to […]
Sri Lanka rupee opens stronger
Nov 10, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s rupee traded stronger against the US dollar moving up to 114.45/50, with a state bank that usually acts for the monetary authority signaling the new rate, dealers said. The rupee moved up to 114.65 against the US dollar from its long-standing peg at 114.80 levels on Monday. Central […]
Sri Lankan stocks slide on forced selling
Nov 10, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares closed down Tuesday mainly on forced selling by retail investors trying to meet settlement commitments and minimize losses in margin trading on borrowed funds, brokers said. Political uncertainties generated by talk of elections and continued media coverage of alleged insider dealing by US hedge fund manager Raj […]
Bank Numbers
Nov 10, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Pan Asia Banking Corporation (PABC) said September quarter profits rose 49 percent to 69 million rupees on income from trading government securities, despite higher bad loans and a shrinking loan book. Group interest income rose 9.0 percent to 788 million rupees, while interest expenses were flat at 450 […]
Bank Number
Nov 10, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Hatton National Bank (HNB) said September quarter group profit rose 17 percent to 945 million rupees with interest margins improving slightly although asset quality deteriorated.HNB’s group gross income for the quarter grew by six percent to 10.3 billion rupees, with deposits increasing while lending fell, according to a […]