All Blogs
Trouble brewing for Sri Lanka tea farmers
KOTMALE, June 28, 2009 (AFP) – World tea prices have rocketed but along misty tea-growing mountain slopes in Sri Lanka’s central hills, farmers are facing disaster. “Earlier we were concentrating mainly on enhancing yields — drought was not an issue then — but we are now focusing on drought-tolerant varieties,” Gunasekare said. World tea prices […]
‘ll have to learn to drive first
MUMBAI, June 28, 2009 (AFP) – When Ratan Tata, the head of India’s Tata Motors, said the company was planning to build the world’s cheapest car, he could have had in mind Maruti Jaywant Bhandare as his ideal client.The first stop after picking up the car from the dealership will be the nearest temple to […]
Trade Links
June 27, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan freight forwarders have complained that the lack of Customs automation is a serious obstacle to improving efficiency of trade and achieving the island’s aim of becoming a logistics hub. Waidyaratne said the freight forwards association has decided to approach the government at the highest level and prepare a […]
Capital Threshold
June 27, 2009 (LBO) – Fitch Sri Lanka has upgraded state-run People’s Bank’s (PB) long term rating by one notch to ‘A(lka)’ from ‘A-(lka)’ and changed its outlook to ‘stable’ from ‘positive’ at the new level, after reaching minimum capital requirements. The achievement of capital adequacy ratios came form a 1.5 billion rupees capita injection […]
India to play triangular tournament in Sri Lanka
NEW DELHI, June 27, 2009 (AFP) – India will play a triangular one-day international tournament in Sri Lanka in September with New Zealand as the third team, the country’s cricket board said on Saturday.The teams will play each other once with the top two advancing to the final, the Board of Control for Cricket in […]
Fitness will be key against Sri Lanka, says Alam
LAHORE, June 27, 2009 (AFP) – Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam said his players’ fitness will be the key on their tour of Sri Lanka as the 15-man Pakistan team set off on Saturday.Alam, who led the team to the World Twenty20 title in England last week, warned that the biggest problem for the tourists will […]
Sri Lanka accuses IMF of playing politics
WASHINGTON, June 27, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka on Friday accused the International Monetary Fund of politicizing financial aid following the fund’s delay in considering a 1.9-billion-dollar bailout for the war-ravaged economy. “Never ever has the IMF taken political factors into account. Now, it seems for the first time they are doing that — indirectly,” […]
Sri Lankan shares down 0.2-pct during week
June 26, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks recovered on Friday, pushed up by retail investors who targeted blue chips and midcap shares, while foreign investors were net sellers during the week, brokers said. The benchmark Colombo All Share Price Index closed up 1.16 percent (28.03 points) to end at 2,447.04 Friday while the Milanka […]
Indian Trade
June 26, 2009 (LBO) – A contract to build a new container terminal in Sri Lanka’s Colombo port, despite delays, will be awarded before the year-end, and the facility will be assured of cargo given Indian growth, a senior official said.Sri Lanka Ports Authority chairman Priyath Bandu Wickrama said that although India had begun expanding […]
Public Bail
June 26, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Seylan Bank will be bailed out with the help of money from state institutions while a bid from a private investor was rejected because it did not meet ownership limits, the Central Bank said. There will be no change in the board. Seylan will also continue its link […]