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Peacebroker Norway concerned about Sri Lanka violence
KILINOCHCHI, Sri Lanka, May 23, 2006 (AFP) – Peacebroker Norway is “extremely concerned” about the high level of violence in Sri Lanka, Oslo’s ambassador said Tuesday after meeting a top Tamil guerrilla leader. “We are extremely concerned and I think it’s very important that international and diplomatic attention continues to be on the high levels […]
‘s flashpoint
MUHAMALAI, Sri Lanka, May 23, 2006 (AFP) – A narrow strip of land in Sri Lanka’s northern peninsula of Jaffna is a flashpoint that could ignite a new war in the country, according to senior military commanders. “Tension is very high, very high,” the officer told AFP on Monday.“Anytime, this can accelerate.” In the past […]
Dire Straits
May 23, 2006 (LBO) – Cash strapped retail fuel supplier Lanka IOC has put a break on future imports, citing an unpaid 7.44 billion rupee subsidy payment at the centre of a dispute with the government. A unit of the Fortune 500 Indian Oil Corp., Lanka IOC says they have sufficient stocks to cover 43 […]
Sri Lanka banks on Europe to tame Tigers amid ‘major war’ threat
May 22, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka was banking on the European Union to tame Tamil Tiger guerrillas as the rebels warned that the killing of their top intelligence operative could force them into a “major war.” Scandinavian truce monitors have said that the February 2002 truce now existed only on paper.The rebel Liberation Tigers […]
Getting Co-operation
May 22, 2006 (LBO) – More than 25 co-operative societies have responded positively to the government’s call to revamp their banking units, Commissioner of Co-operatives Leslie Tissera said. Co-operative banking units have more than 20 billion rupees in public deposits, but the sector is under capitalised and poorly regulated. Tissera’s office has sent out proposals […]
High Speed
May 22, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Monday offered mobile operators the chance to set up a next generation or third generation mobile phone network, with aim of offering high speed wireless services, the telecom watchdog said. Mobitel, a unit of Sri Lanka Telecom, is expected to start test runs on 3G as early as […]
Thousands of textile workers protest for higher wages in Bangladesh
DHAKA, May 22, 2006 (AFP) – Several people were injured when security forces fired live rounds to disperse tens of thousands of textile workers protesting for higher wages near the Bangladesh capital Monday, police said.The protest started around noon at the Export Processing Zone, and its adjoining areas at Ashulia, 40 kilometres (25 miles) north […]
Indian stocks recover after plunge halts trade, close down 4.18 percent
MUMBAI, May 22, 2006 (AFP) – Indian share prices recovered from a 10 percent plunge Monday that halted trading for an hour to close down 4.18 percent as domestic funds helped prop the market, dealers said. “In light of the developments in the stock exchanges, the RBI has been in touch with major settlement banks […]
Japan considering further cut in foreign aid, defense spending: report
TOKYO, May 22, 2006 (AFP) – The Japanese government is considering whether to continue slashing foreign aid and defense spending through fiscal 2011, a news report said Monday. The latest proposal would ensure that the current policy of cutting government spending would continue after Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi steps down in September, the Nihon Keizai […]
Decline in English proficiency in Philippines threatens economy
MANILA, May 22, 2006 (AFP) – For decades the troubled Philippines economy has been able to bank on one key asset in attracting foreign investors — proficiency in the English language.In recent years it has helped win outsourcing contracts in the booming business process and call center sectors, one of the few areas of the […]