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Independent central bank needed for stable cost of living in Sri Lanka: economist
August 27, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka should have an independent central bank which can conduct prudent monetary policy in order to have low inflation, a prominent European economist said. “You know richer people, who can get the help of good accountants good advisors can normally avoid the biggest suffering even from inflation,” says Deutche […]
Battle Plan
August 26, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is trying to clinch a free trade deal with Canada to push its apparel exports, with the industry also promised a government goodie bag like cheap land and electricity, to battle China and Vietnam. “We are working with the government for a duty free deal with Canada it […]
Sri Lankan rebels release policeman after nearly one year
26, 2006 (AFP) – A Sri Lankan policeman was released Saturday after being held for nearly a year by Tamil Tigers when he pursued a suspected British paedophile into rebel-held territory, ceasefire monitors said. The officer and two others were seized in September last year after they went into the jungle and crossed into the […]
Explosion kills six in Sri Lanka as foreigners prepare to ship out
Aug 26, 2006 (AFP) – A bomb killed six Sri Lankan soldiers and wounded 11 Saturday as they cleared up after fierce fighting with Tamil Tiger rebels in the besieged northern Jaffna peninsula, a military source said. In some areas fuel was being sold at four times the normal price and piped water was available […]
Rocket Ride
August 25, 2006 (LBO) – Cheque usage in Sri Lanka has rocketed up, after an image clearing system is speeding up clearing, an official said. Sri Lanka’s central clearing house, LankaClear (Pvt) Ltd says usage has almost doubled within months of introducing an image clearing and truncation system, which has eliminated the physical transportation of […]
Oil prices spike, nickel and coffee hit peaks
LONDON, Aug 25, 2006 (AFP) – Crude oil prices rebounded, while nickel hit a historic peak and coffee futures in London reached their highest level in seven years in a volatile trading week for commodities. On Friday, the Commodities Research Bureau’s index of 17 commodities finished at 336.20 points, up from 330.62 points the previous […]
Malaysia calls for “toilet revolution”
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 25, 2006 (AFP) – Malaysia’s deputy premier has called for a “toilet revolution” in the country, saying dirty facilities frighten away tourists and reflect poorly on the country.Opening the nation’s first ever “toilet expo” on Thursday, deputy prime minister Najib Razak said the cleanliness and beauty of a country’s toilets were a […]
WSJ to team up with new Indian business newspaper
NEW DELHI, Aug 25, 2006 (AFP) – The Wall Street Journal said Friday some of its pages will appear in a business newspaper soon to be launched in India by the country’s second-largest print media company, HT Media.HT Media Ltd earlier this year announced plans to launch a national business newspaper aimed at “global Indian […]
Umpire Hair no stranger to controversy
LONDON, Aug 25, 2006 (AFP) – Australian umpire Darrell Hair is no stranger to controversy. Hair, who sparked international cricket’s latest crisis after Pakistan’s forfeiture of the fourth and final Test, is a love-hate figure within the cricket world.He also delivered a bouncer to the ICC on Friday by revealing he had offered his resignation […]
Aid ship docks at Jaffna as five killed in Sri Lanka clashes: military
Aug 25, 2006 (AFP) – A food relief ship began unloading in northern Sri Lanka Friday to lift a two-week siege of the Jaffna peninsula as fresh clashes left five rebels dead, the defence ministry said.Workers began the slow task of unloading 1,500 tonnes of food for the 350,000 civilians trapped by fierce fighting between […]