Author: LBO
Finance Minister says govt.’s expectations well realized at the Development Forum
Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama says the government’s expectations have been well realized at the end of the first day’s sessions at Sri Lanka Development Forum 2005.Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama says the government’s expectations have been well realized at the end of the first day’s sessions at Sri Lanka Development Forum 2005. The two day forum […]
Politics steals the thunder from Sri Lanka’s aid parley
KANDY, Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka’s hopes to firm up two billion dollars in pledged tsunami aid at a donor meeting here Monday will be overshadowed by political chaos, deadlocked peace talks with Tamil Tigers and delayed economic reforms, diplomats said.“The bilateral donors are looking more at the politics while multilateral lending institutions are keen […]
US agrees to defer US$ 40 mn in Sri Lanka’s debt, repayable over 4 years
The United States will defer US$ 40 mn in Sri Lanka’s debt for one year, on condition the savings are routed for tsunami relief in affected coastal regions of the island, US officials said Friday.The United States will defer US$ 40 mn in Sri Lanka’s debt for one year, on condition the savings are routed […]
US boost for Sri Lanka’s tsunami-hit tourism industry
Sri Lanka will spend 7.3 million dollars to woo high-spending holiday makers from Europe and neighbouring India to fill hotel rooms left empty after the December tsunamis, officials said Wednesday.Sri Lanka will spend 7.3 million dollars to woo high-spending holiday makers from Europe and neighbouring India to fill hotel rooms left empty after the December […]
Sri Lanka’s president pushes tsunami deal with rebels despite threat
Sri Lanka’s president vowed to reach a deal with Tamil rebels on the distribution of aid after the December tsunamis despite the risk it could see her shaky coalition collapse, state-run media said Wednesday.Sri Lanka’s president vowed to reach a deal with Tamil rebels on the distribution of aid after the December tsunamis despite the […]
Oil, fertiliser and fabric swelled Sri Lanka’s import bill by 10%
Oil, fertiliser and fabric swelled Sri Lanka’s import bill by 9.9 percent to US$ 1.2 bn in the first two months this year, with much of the growth – US$ 200 mn, spent on petroleum imports. Oil, fertiliser and fabric swelled Sri Lanka’s import bill by 9.9 percent to US$ 1.2 bn in the first […]
Sri Lanka’s Central Bank cuts government securities to curb inflation
Sri Lanka’s central bank has reduced its holdings of government securities since the end of last year to reduce excess liquidity as part of efforts to curb inflation, a senior official said Monday.Sri Lanka’s central bank has reduced its holdings of government securities since the end of last year to reduce excess liquidity as part […]
Sri Lanka warns Tigers against provoking troops, vow to ‘protect peace’
Sri Lanka accused Tamil Tiger rebels of provoking government security forces and said the military was ready to take action to “protect peace,” a state-run daily reported Friday. Sri Lanka accused Tamil Tiger rebels of provoking government security forces and said the military was ready to take action to “protect peace,” a state-run daily reported […]
Sri Lanka’s decision making could put it out of service
Policy analysis must begin from a realistic assessment of where we are and what we are. We are a small island nation in South Asia, home to the world’s largest concentration of poor people.We are about the size of greater Mumbai, one city in India, in population and we may be smaller than Mumbai as […]
IMF cuts Sri Lanka’s growth targets, warns there is little political will to push painful reforms
The International Monetary Fund has trimmed Sri Lanka’s 2005 growth by 0.75 percent, and warned that there was little political will to tackle painful reforms. The International Monetary Fund has trimmed Sri Lanka’s 2005 growth by 0.75 percent, and warned that there was little political will to tackle painful reforms. In its semi-annual World Economic […]
Don’t Cry Wolf
Sri Lanka needs a well-oiled disaster management system to avoid false warnings and unnecessary panic, as most underwater earthquakes do not generate tsunami, say experts. Sri Lanka needs a well-oiled disaster management system to avoid false warnings and unnecessary panic, as most underwater earthquakes do not generate tsunami, say experts. "Over 75 percent of large […]
Two more killings in Sri Lanka’s troubled east
A policeman and a civilian were shot dead in two separate incidents in Sri Lanka’s restive eastern province, the military said Wednesday.A policeman and a civilian were shot dead in two separate incidents in Sri Lanka’s restive eastern province, the military said Wednesday. Unidentified gunmen shot dead a policeman guarding a warehouse holding tsunami relief […]