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Sri Lanka tea board discourages new cultivations
June 24, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tea board is not encouraging the expansion of tea cultivation in an effort to prevent over-supply from depressing prices and has warned the industry against being carried away by current high prices. “If the decrease in availability of tea is more than 10 percent a greater price hike […]
Sri Lanka govt promises action over media death threats
June 24, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s government moved Tuesday to deflect a barrage of criticism over its press rights record by promising to help journalists receiving death threats. “There is no censorship and you don’t have to go by what is said in the (defence ministry) website,” said another minister and panel member, Rajitha […]
Sri Lanka chamber says trade missions yield contracts, orders
June 24, 2008 (LBO) – Business promotion missions to Iran and Pakistan organized by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) have resulted in several contract agreements and confirmed orders for Sri Lankan companies with others under negotiation. The CCC said in a statement it was now doing a study to explore possibilities of leading two […]
Bangladesh rickshaws get modern makeover
DHAKA, June 24, 2008 (AFP) – The backbreaking job of pedalling a rickshaw in Bangladesh could soon be history with a local company saying it has come up with battery-powered, rechargeable cycles.Bangladesh Diesel Plant, an agricultural farm tool manufacturer owned by the country’s powerful army, says it has created an electric rickshaw and plans to […]
” inflation options
MUMBAI, June 23, 2008 (AFP) – The governor of India’s central bank said Monday he was looking at new options to halt a surge in inflation, currently running at a 13-year high. “We are currently in the midst of intensive examination of issues and options,” Reserve Bank of India chief Y.Y. Reddy said at a […]
Olympic athletes set to shine through smog, doping scandals
PARIS, June 24, 2008 (AFP) – Beijing Games organisers will be hoping that the exciting crop of competitors in the blue riband event of athletics can dispel the sordid spectre of doping and provide a feast of top-class sport.Certainly, there is a raft of big-name draw cards and record-breakers for whom the stage is set […]
Sri Lanka sells US$230mn in two year bonds
June 23, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka sold 2-year bonds worth 230 million US dollars priced at 294 basis points above the London Interbank Offered (LIBOR) rate, the government’s debt office said. At the same time 250 million dollars of old Sri Lanka Development Bonds also matured, indicating a net pay down of 20 million […]
Sri Lanka stocks end up on retail activity in energy counter
June 23, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka stocks Monday edged up again on the back of Friday’s gains propelled by heavy trading in Vallibel Power Erathna, which announced a takeover deal, and trading in Dialog Telekom and Hayleys. Brokers said retail activity might pick up this week as investors may be more liquid with Sri […]
Sri Lanka tea board to tighten laws on exports
June 23, 2008 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka Tea Board is seeking new laws to tighten quality control on exports and prevent shipments of what are considered teas below a certain minimum standard, a senior official said. Sri Lanka Tea Board chairman Lalith Hettiarachchi said national legislation was required to enforce the ISO 3720 standard […]
Malaysia releases Sri Lankan accused of nuclear links
KUALA LUMPUR, June 23, 2008 (AFP) – Malaysia said Monday it had released a Sri Lankan man held for four years over alleged links with a nuclear black market run by Pakistan’s Abdul Qadeer Khan, saying he did not pose any threat. Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said Buhary Syed Abu Tahir remained in the […]