All Blogs
Hard Sell
June 01, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s insurance policy lapse rate is far too high and might mean the industry’s sales pitch is overenthusiastic, an international expert told a gathering of industry professionals in Colombo. Rudy Verrilli, consultant to the Life Insurance and Market Research Association (LIMRA) stressed the importance of “ethical selling” and of […]
Sri Lanka revives tourist police to counter harassment
June 01, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lankan police have revived their tourist police branch to better protect tourists in the face of increasing complaints of harassment and a sharp downturn in arrivals. It will re-establish a network of tourist police stations in key resort areas, senior superintendent Maxi Proctor, director of the new unit, said […]
Hospital Sale
June 01, 2007 (LBO) – A private Sri Lankan hospital is offering to sell a prime property in a posh residential suburb of Colombo ahead of a move to a new location. The hospital share closed up one rupee at 38 rupees on Friday. Asha Central Hospital has offered its current 291-perch land in Horton […]
Online Cusdecs
June 01, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment has cut down export document processing time by starting an internet-based system to submit information, officials said. The Board of Investment operates several export processing zones where investors have special facilities to make it easier to import raw materials and export finished products. The new […]
French Link
June 01, 2007 (LBO) – The growing interest in Asia by French businessmen would be supported by the efforts of Franco-Sri Lankan technologists group, the French Agency for international business development has said. “Today, French businessmen are more and more interested in developing countries and, as such, in Sri-Lankan potentially growing economy,” Jacques Dasset of […]
Opposition Despots
June 01, 2007 (LBO) – The Free Media Movement has slammed the opposition United National Party over its continued attempts to intimidate newspaper editors using parliamentary privilege. The full statement from the FMM is reproduced below: The Free Media Movement (FMM) expresses its surprise and dismay at the statement issued by the United National Party […]
Japanese minister commits suicide over corruption inquiry
TOKYO, June 1, 2007 (AFP) – Japan was expected on Friday to name a replacement for agriculture minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka, who committed suicide earlier this week amid allegations of corruption, news reports said.Matsuoka, 62, known as a fervent lobbyist for farmers in his district, hanged himself Monday as he was set to face questioning in […]
Tough times for South Asian budget airlines
BANGALORE, India, June 1, 2007 (AFP) – Indian liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya bought a 26 percent stake Thursday in Air Deccan, throwing a 5.5 billion rupee (135 million dollar) lifeline to the loss-making discount carrier.Jet Airways bought rival Air Sahara for 340 million dollars in April. Bangalore-based Deccan will issue new preferential shares to Mallya’s […]
” Tamils from capital
COLOMBO, June 1, 2007 (AFP) – Hundreds of minority Tamils have been asked to leave Sri Lanka’s capital and return to their villages, some in conflict areas, because they are a “threat to national security,” police said Friday. Police Inspector-General Victor Perera said Tamils from the embattled northern and eastern provinces were spending long periods […]
Sri Lankan president ready for peace talks amid fighting
June 1, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s president is ready to resume peace talks with Tamil Tiger rebels even as security forces are locked in combat with the guerrillas, a presidential spokesman said Friday.President Mahinda Rajapakse would enter negotiations with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) if the guerrillas agreed to resume where they […]