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‘s tourism sector
COLOMBO, Jan 24, 2007 (AFP) – A mass gathering of Islamic pilgrims, who are jamming Sri Lanka’s hotels and shopping malls, has unexpectedly boosted the island’s war-hit tourism sector, officials said Wednesday.Sri Lanka’s 24-billion dollar economy earned 380.3 million dollars from tourism between January and October last year, retaining its place as one of the […]
Loud Call
January 24, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lankan mobile phone operator Celltel Lanka Ltd Wednesday said it hoped to increase its subscriber base by 50 percent to 1.5 million users by the end of the year. Sri Lanka had over 5.8 million cellular subscribers as at end 2006, , according to Central Bank figures, with four […]
Climate change, Middle East top agenda in Davos
DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 24, 2007 (AFP) – The world’s business and political elite kicked off its annual retreat in Davos on Wednesday, with climate change and the Middle East riding high on the agenda — at least in public.The four-day gathering of movers and shakers in the Swiss ski resort boasted the usual impressive guest […]
India plans to announce 3G policy by March
NEW DELHI, Jan 24, 2007 (AFP) – India, one of the world’s fastest-growing mobile phone markets, said Wednesday it plans to announce its next generation — 3G — policy by March that telecom players expect will ease congestion. “The policy will be ready by March 2007,” Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran said on the sidelines of […]
Rights report slams Sri Lanka over child soldiers
Jan 24, 2007 (AFP) – A leading human rights group Wednesday slammed Sri Lanka for conscripting hundreds of child soldiers to fight against Tamil rebels, saying the police had turned a blind eye to the practice for years.New-York based Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused the government of “hypocrisy”, saying in a 100-page report that Colombo […]
Sri Lanka restores mobile phones after fall of Tiger town
COLOMBO, Jan 24, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka has begun restoring mobile phone services to half a million subscribers in the war-hit island’s east after lines were shut down during a battle, telephone operators said Wednesday. The move comes after the capture of the main Tamil rebel bastion in the restive area by government forces. […]
IMF closing office a sign that Sri Lanka can manage on its own: treasury chief
January 24, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s treasury chief said Wednesday that the International Monetary Fund’s decision to close offices in the island was a good sign that the country is moving away from being overly reliant on foreign donors. The Washington based lender will wind up operations later this month, as they have no […]
Race leaders
January 23, (LBO) – Associated Motorways (AMW) has cornered 31 percent of Sri Lanka’s brand new car market the budget agency Maruti winning 28 percent, Fitch Ratings Lanka said, awarding the firm a A (lka) rating with a stable outlook. “The rating reflects AMW’s position as the country’s leading distributor of new passenger automobiles, its […]
Hemas and Minor Group of Thailand to re-brand Sri Lanka hotel chain
Jan 23, 2007 (LBO) – Serendib Group of Hotels signs agreement with the Minor Group of Thailand to develop and manage properties owned by the Serendib Group with the re-branding of Hotel Serendib, Bentota. Hemas Holdings Ltd is one of Sri Lanka’s top conglomerates with a focus on FMCG, Healthcare, Transportation, Leisure and Strategic Investments. […]
Migrant Perks
January 23, 2007 (LBO) – The government plans to raise the duty free allowances for Sri Lankans retuning from foreign employment to 5,000 dollars, an official from the Labour Ministry said Tuesday. Sri Lankans returning from a stint abroad are currently given a duty free allowance of up to 1,750 dollars if they stay away […]