Sept 11, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka and China is committed to its bi-lateral relationship which was elevated to ‘strategic co-operation’ level earlier this year, the government said following a visit by a senior Beijing official to Colombo.Liu Yunshan, one of seven members of the central secretariat of the Communist Party of China visited Sri […]

‘s war ravaged provinces grow fastest in 2012

Sept 10, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s war ravaged Northern and Eastern provinces grew fastest in 2013, though starting from a low base, helped by construction but also banking and agriculture, the Central Bank said. The share of Central Province was flat at 9.8 percent. The North Central (4.7 percent), UVA 4.5 percent and Sabaragamuwa […]

Gas Premium

TOKYO, September 10, 2013 (AFP) – Japan called Tuesday for a reduction in the price of liquefied natural gas and a rebalancing of the global market.“I don’t understand this phenomenon,” he told the conference. Hirose added that the vast utility was diversifying its energy sources in order to reduce costs. But officials from gas-producing nations […]

UN raises fresh fears for Sri Lanka rights defenders

GENEVA, September 9, 2013 (AFP) – The UN rights chief Monday raised fresh concerns for the safety of Sri Lankan journalists and activists she said had been harassed by the authorities for meeting with her. Navi Pillay told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva she was worried about those she met during her week-long […]

No Nationalism

BRUSSELS, September 10, 2013 (AFP) – The EU presents a radical shake-up of the telecoms sector Wednesday, aiming to enforce a single telecoms market and remove unpopular mobile phone roaming charges it claims are unjustified.Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso will unveil the plans to the European Parliament in his last annual ‘State of the Union’ […]

Rape Crisis

BANGKOK, September 10, 2013 (AFP) – Nearly a quarter of men surveyed in six Asia-Pacific countries admit to committing rape, often against their own partners, according to a UN report published Tuesday that exposes widespread violence against women.Based on anonymous interviews with more than 10,000 men aged between 18 and 49-years-old in Bangladesh, China, Cambodia, […]

Bank Report

Sept 10, 2013 (LBO) – Bad loans rose across Sri Lanka’s listed banks as economic conditions weakened and defaults in gold loans took their toll, but capital remained strong, and loan to deposit ratios were narrowing, an equities research report said.A report by CAL Research said gross NPL ratios of banks had risen 72 basis […]

”’ by RAM

Sept 10, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s EAP Broadcasting Company Ltd (EAPB), has been rated ‘BBB’ by RAM Ratings which said the firm was planning a billion rupee listed debenture sale.“The ratings are upheld by the Company’s notable presence in TV industry,” RAM Ratings said. “EAPB has one of the largest television networks in Sri […]

‘s Ceylease rating upgraded and withdrawn: Fitch

Sept 10, 2013 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings said it had upgraded and Sri Lanka-based Ceylease Ltd’s rating to ‘BBB(lka)’ from BB+(lka)’ and withdrawn it following the firm’s merger with MCSL Financial Services. Both are units of state-run Bank of Ceylon. Fitch Upgrades and Withdraws Ceylease’s Rating; Affirms MCSL Financial Services Fitch Ratings-Colombo-09 September 2013: Fitch […]

” hailed as cost of living goes up

TOKYO, September 9, 2013 (AFP) – Japan’s economy in the April-June quarter expanded more than initially estimated, revised data showed Monday, offering another boost for Tokyo’s bid to reverse years of tepid growth. The Cabinet Office put second-quarter growth at 0.9 percent from the previous quarter, up from a preliminary reading of a 0.6 percent […]

”s Avic

Sep 09, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Lee Hedges Plc is seeking shareholder nod to sell land worth 1.24 billion rupees to a Chinese led mixed development project. Lee Hedges said it is selling 181 perches of land (about 1.2 acres) to Avic International Hotels Lanka Ltd, promoted by Chinese defence contractor Avic. The firm […]

Sri Lanka rubber exporter hit by falling prices

Sep 09, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Eastern Merchants, a rubber export firm said it lost 17 million rupees in the year to March 2013, from a profit of 105 million rupees a year earlier as world rubber prices dropped.Car sales in India had plunged 20 percent and listed Indian tyre companies had also performed […]

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