All Blogs
Taxes in Sri Lanka: limiting damage or doing good?
Sept 10, 2007 (LBO) – Once Parliament figures out what really happened when the taxation provisions were supposedly debated and passed on the 6th of September, hopefully, we will find out that the regressive LKR 50 tax on mobile subscribers has been removed. So much for the braggadocio of the Government Whip, Minister Fernandopulle, about getting […]
Asia Pacific leaders close summit with trade plea
SYDNEY, Sept 9, 2007 (AFP) – Key world leaders called Sunday for “urgent” efforts to salvage global talks on trade as they wrapped up a summit marked by unprecedented security and wrangling over a plan to tackle climate change. Representing 21 economies that account for nearly half the world’s trade, Asia Pacific leaders said it […]
Changing Fortunes
September 09 (LBO) – Thanuja was orphaned at a very young age. She started to study the art of making coir products at the village Kohu Samithiya, or coir association from the time she was 17 years old. Realizing that she had a knack for it, she decided to strike out on her own. Unbankable […]
Home Truths
Sept 09, 2007 (LBO) – Trade analysts say that Sri Lanka should make the most of existing trade deals like the Bay of Bengal Initiative before negotiating more bilateral and multilateral agreements. Japan has played a big role in enhancing Sri Lanka™s infrastructure and is a major investment partner in the services sector. Sri Lanka […]
Sly Workers
Sept 9, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lankan authorities have launched a crackdown on Indian nationals who arrive as tourists and stay on to work, an immigration official said Sunday.Eight Indian men were arrested Friday in the south of the island, where they had been employed as farm workers, the official said, adding that all had […]
Asia-Pacific summit pumps up brothel business
SYDNEY, Sept 9, 2007 (AFP) – Sydney brothels have had to import prostitutes from other states to get over a demand hump caused by security agents and delegates attending an Asia-Pacific summit, an industry spokesman said Sunday. APEC groups Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua […]
Britain sued over colonial rule and mistreatment of Indians in Malaysia
WASHINGTON, Sept 8, 2007 (AFP) – A Malaysian human rights lawyer has filed a four trillion dollar lawsuit against Britain for alleged atrocities suffered by Indians whose forefathers were brought as indentured laborers to Malaysia during colonial rule. Among them were South Africa, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Fiji and Mauritius, he said. […]
Hafeez helps Pakistan stun Sri Lanka
JOHANNESBURG, Sept 9, 2007 (AFP) – Pakistan warmed up for the Twenty20 world championships with a five-wicket win over World Cup finalists Sri Lanka in a practice match here on Sunday.The world championships open on Tuesday with hosts South Africa battling the West Indies at the Wanderers here. Mohammad Hafeez led the way with an […]
Sri Lanka rupee firms in dull trading
Sept 07, 2007 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka rupee closed firmer at 113.25/28 against the greenback Friday, up from yesterday’s close of 113.27/32, dealers said. There were some swap deals in the market. A state name was also seen buying dollars, in what was a fairly dull Friday, dealers said. However there was liquidity in […]
Sri Lanka eco-lodge on track for global award
Sept 08, 2007 (LBO) – A Sri Lankan eco-lodge built in the shape of an elephant has been nominated for a top slot at the World Travel Awards, its operators said. KumbukRiver, in Okkampitiya in the Buttala area is about 250 kilometres away from the capital Colombo and are among the eight lodges nominated for […]