Author: LBO

Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapakse on Wednesday swore in a 25 member cabinet and named 23 others for non-cabinet ranks, officials said.Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapakse on Wednesday swore in a 25 member cabinet and named 23 others for non-cabinet ranks, officials said. Wednesday’s ceremony also saw the appointments of 29 deputy ministers. Rajapakse retained […]

Sri Lanka’s new government will maintain a state of emergency and the national parliament will be asked to ratify the tough laws, officials said.Sri Lanka’s new government will maintain a state of emergency and the national parliament will be asked to ratify the tough laws, officials said. President Mahinda Rajapakse, who was sworn in Saturday […]

Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers remained mute on peace talks offered by the new president whom they had dubbed the “war candidate” while a pro-rebel newspaper said Sunday new talks were not on the cards.Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers remained mute on peace talks offered by the new president whom they had dubbed the “war candidate” while […]

The unprecedented move to roll back Sri Lanka’s budget for 2006 could scare off investors and undo fiscal discipline if new President Mahinda Rajapakse’s subsidy-laden manifesto is translated into action, analysts said.The unprecedented move to roll back Sri Lanka’s budget for 2006 could scare off investors and undo fiscal discipline if new President Mahinda Rajapakse’s […]

Sri Lanka’s President Chandrika Kumaratunga has relinquished her office, ending 11 turbulent years in power and bringing down the curtain on the Bandaranaike dynasty.Sri Lanka’s President Chandrika Kumaratunga has relinquished her office, ending 11 turbulent years in power and bringing down the curtain on the Bandaranaike dynasty. She came to power in 1994 promising to […]

Sri Lanka’s socialist president-elect Mahinda Rajapakse has set himself a challenge to deliver the raft of subsidies he promised voters in South Asia’s most liberal and war-battered economy, analysts said Friday.Sri Lanka’s socialist president-elect Mahinda Rajapakse has set himself a challenge to deliver the raft of subsidies he promised voters in South Asia’s most liberal […]

Sri Lanka’s tiny stockmarket plunged when trading opened on Friday as investor dumped stocks on news that premier Mahinda Rajapakse had taken an early lead in Thursday’s presidential poll, brokers said.Sri Lanka’s tiny stockmarket plunged when trading opened on Friday as investor dumped stocks on news that premier Mahinda Rajapakse had taken an early lead […]

Colombo’s commercial hub closed shop by noon on Thursday along with most other businesses across the island as the country went to polls to elect Sri Lanka’s fifth president.Colombo’s commercial hub closed shop by noon on Thursday along with most other businesses across the island as the country went to polls to elect Sri Lanka’s […]

The frontrunner in Sri Lanka’s presidential vote, Ranil Wickremesinghe, claims credit for freezing a decades-long ethnic war but that has not translated into deep support among the Sinhalese majority crucial to victory.The frontrunner in Sri Lanka’s presidential vote, Ranil Wickremesinghe, claims credit for freezing a decades-long ethnic war but that has not translated into deep […]

Sri Lanka’s Mr. Pain Killer and Presidential Candidate Victor Hettigoda says he would have encouraged toddy-tapping apart from giving every home a milch cow if he presented the 2006 annual budget.Sri Lanka’s Mr. Pain Killer and Presidential Candidate Victor Hettigoda says he would have encouraged toddy-tapping apart from giving every home a milch cow if […]