Trade Fiasco
July 25, 2006 (LBO) – India has said that few Sri Lankan vanaspati manufacturers have put in bids to resume exports of the vegetable oil, though both …
Sri Lanka urges nationals in Lebanon to stay put
July 25, 2006 (AFP) - Sri Lanka, which has the largest contingent of expatriate workers in Lebanon, wants those trapped in the conflict to stay put and those …
Breakthrough
July 25, 2006 (LBO) – The Sri Lankan government bought two weeks grace period from petroleum sector trade unions late Tuesday, with fuel stocks expected …
WTO collapse set to fuel Asia’s “noodle bowl” effect
TOKYO, July 25, 2006 (AFP) - The breakdown of the WTO talks is likely to encourage the further proliferation of bilateral free trade pacts in Asia that have …
Singapore to shut ‘open outcry’ facility, one of last in Asia
SINGAPORE, July 25, 2006 (AFP) - There will be no more shouting or waving of hands in obscure signals from September when one of Asia's last traditional "open …
Empty Tank
July 24 (LBO) – An ongoing strike by trade unions at Sri Lanka’s petroleum distribution facility could cripple supplies at fuel sheds, if it …
Tamil politician shot dead in Sri Lanka
COLOMBO, July 24, 2006 (AFP) - Suspected Tamil Tiger rebels shot dead a pro-government Tamil politician in Sri Lanka's main city of Colombo Monday, police …
Sri Lanka seeks help for tens of thousands in Lebanon
July 24, 2006 (AFP) - Sri Lanka is seeking urgent help to evacuate workers trapped in Lebanon, despite the vast majority of its estimated 80,000 nationals …
Romantic proposals to get hitched being ditched: British poll
LONDON, July 24, 2006 (AFP) - The classic romantic wedding proposal where a man offers his would-be fiancee an engagement ring while down on bended knee, is …
Macau to lead the way in Asia’s gaming boom: industry
SINGAPORE, July 24, 2006 (AFP) - Casino gaming is increasingly accepted as a revenue stream for Asian governments and the sector is set to continue growing …
Sri Lanka Central Bank ups rates; more hikes likely
July 24, 2006 (Dow Jones)--The Central Bank of Sri Lanka raised the repurchase rate and the reverse repo rate by 12.5 points each over the weekend, the second …
Txt Me
LONDON, July 24, 2006 (AFP) - Mobile phone text messages are changing the way people approach romantic relationships, according to a survey published Monday in …
Square One
GENEVA, July 24, 2006 (AFP) - Key negotiators have made no progress as they try to bridge persistent differences and end a deadlock in the World Trade …
IFC to pilot online accommodation booking service for Sri Lanka
July 24 (LBO) – International Finance Corp is to pilot an online accommodation booking portal in Sri Lanka, so small and medium hotels can access global …
Finance Rating
July 24 (LBO) – Lanka Ratings Agency (LRA) has given a BBB3 rating to the deposit-taking finance company LB Finance. LRA said it had a favourable view of …
Sri Lanka security alert as Tigers mark Black July
July 23, 2006 (AFP) - Sri Lanka Sunday stepped up its already tight security arrangements in the capital as Tamil Tiger rebels marked "Black July," or the 23rd …
Burgeoning trade ties no guarantee of Asian peace: analysts
SINGAPORE, July 23, 2006 (AFP) - Burgeoning economic links through a web of free trade agreements (FTAs), financial cooperation and investments may reduce the …
Cooking oil cars turn the table on high fuel prices
WASHINGTON, July 21, 2006 (AFP) - A growing number of Americans are setting up mini-refineries in their homes to produce biodiesel, a fuel made from waste …
Lace Curtain
July 22, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is to form a national media policy to regulate content aired on local television channels, President Mahinda Rajapakse …
Back Onboard
July 22, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka's main port is limping back to work following government assurance to consider striking workers demand for a pay hike, an …