Fighting cuts off Jaffna from rest of Sri Lanka

COLOMBO, Aug 13, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s northern Jaffna peninsula has been cut off from the rest of the island as hundreds of residents try to flee heavy fighting in the area, military officials said.Fighting that started on Friday and continued through the weekend has cut the main road connecting government-held regions of the […]

Sri Lanka says ready to talk peace as fighting rages

COLOMBO, Aug 13, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops and Tamil Tiger rebels waged artillery and ground battles Sunday as the weekend death toll rose to 186 by official count, but both sides said they were willing to talk peace.Policy Planning Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) made an overture […]

Running battle raise war fears in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO, Aug 13, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops and Tamil Tiger rebels traded artillery fire Sunday, a day after at least 177 people were killed in fierce battles, officials said, amid fears of a return to full-scale war.Security forces shelled positions held by the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as sporadic face-to-face […]

Sri Lankan Muslims say fighting has further marginalized them

KANTALAI, Sri Lanka, Aug 12, 2006 (AFP) – At an overcrowded mosque in Sri Lanka’s northeast, thousands of Muslim refugees displaced by fighting between government troops and Tiger rebels gather to console each other. His message blared from megaphones outside the mosque, but the men were not easily placated, demanding protection from the government, and […]

International donors express serious concern over Sri Lankan crisis

WASHINGTON, Aug 12, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s international donors have expressed serious concern over a growing humanitarian crisis stemming from the island’s ethnic conflict and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. The United States, Japan, the European Union and Norway said they were “deeply concerned” by continued violence which they feared was “seriously […]

Heavy shelling in Sri Lanka as fresh fighting flares

COLOMBO, Aug 12, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops and Tamil Tiger rebels shelled each other’s positions in the island’s embattled northeast Saturday, killing at least two people and wounding many more, officials and rebels said. The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) pounded the port city of Trincomalee early in the day, killing […]

Sri Lanka government raises US $ 175 million dollars

August11 (LBO) – A Sri Lankan government 3-year dollar bond issue had been more than twice oversubscribed allowing the government to raise more money than originally sought.Successful bidders will have to make payments for SLDBs on or before August 18, after a Notice of Acceptance of Application issued by the Central Bank. Investors flocked to […]

’ Cry

Sri Lanka’s banks are asking authorities to revive stalled plans to strengthen the Credit Information Bureau (CRIB), while the sector is also facing the prospect of a relaxation of debt recovery laws. Analysts say relaxing debt recovery laws, and making it easier for defaulters to escape notice, may push up Sri Lanka’s national non-performing loan […]

Harrods designs Ceylon teas from Sri Lanka

Aug 11 (LBO) – A top UK department store says it is expanding its selection of up market Ceylon Teas by introducing more custom made designer teas to tempt the palate of its customers. A soon to be introduced Harrods “Eagle Nest” tea is manually hand rolled to exacting specifications of the posh Knightsbridge department store. […]

Big Favours

August 11 (LBO) – Sri Lanka™s Board of Investment is to expand a selective list of exporters and importers who get Green Channel or speedy clearance through customs. We are in the process of considering further investors who are eligible for the scheme and we will add on another five to ten a month to […]

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