Sri Lanka seen needing big investments to lift estate living standards

Feb 17, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s plantations still need huge investments to upgrade the living standards of workers, some of which would have to come from buyers through higher prices, an official said. In recent years investments had been made in housing, roads, water and sanitation, child development and nutrition by plantations companies with […]

Red Ink

Feb 17, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s The Finance Company slipped back into the red in the December quarter having broken even the previous quarter although losses were much less than a year ago. The troubled finance firm, which was re-structured under regulatory guidance, made a December 2011 quarter loss of 17.5 million rupees compared […]

Taking Logistics

Feb 17, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s plans to become a logistics hub stand to gain from the shift in Asian manufacturing from China to countries like Vietnam that could yield more cargo for ports like Colombo, a logistics expert said. “Logistics is like an orchestra in which the container terminal operator plays a key […]

Sri Lanka shares end marginally higher

Feb 17, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares ended slightly higher Friday after a roller-coaster ride with heavy trading again in stocks favoured by speculators while there was also some buying into banks, brokers said. The main All Share Price Index closed up 0.12 percent (6.08 points) at 5,285.17, for the third day, after a […]

Sri Lanka rupee stronger after opening

Feb 17, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s rupee was quoted around 118.30/50 against the US dollar in mid morning trade, up from opening and stocks rose nearly 2.0 percent before easing back, dealers and brokers said. . The rupee opened around 118.80/119.20 and strengthened against the US dollar as the currency moved to consolidate towards […]

Sri Lanka urges removal of non-tariff barriers to South Asia trade

Feb 16, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has called for the removal of non-tariff barriers to trade in South Asia, saying reducing or elimination of tariffs alone is not enough to increase intra regional trade. The volume of trade among South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation member states has still not reached anywhere near the […]

Sri Lanka Aviva December net down 21-pct

Feb 16, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Aviva NDB Insurance said December 2011 quarter net profit fell 21 percent to 482 million rupees from a year ago with sales down 34 percent to 2.9 billion rupees. Gross written premium from life and general businesses fell 26 percent to 2.3 billion rupees in the December 2011 […]

Electronic Books

Feb 16, 2012 (LBO) – Etisalat’s Sri Lankan unit has teamed up with booksellers and a software firm to launch an electronic book store for local publishers and authors, officials said. The online e-book store, called ‘Book Hub’ to be commercially launched by end of March, will be in all three languages and available on […]

Sri Lanka fishermen shot to death in fuel protest

Feb 16, 2012 (LBO) – A Sri Lankan fisherman was shot and killed as police quelled a protest following protests after a weakening exchange rate forced a sudden fuel price increase to reduce credit financed losses in the largely state-run energy sector. The Island newspaper said both police and the military were involved in quelling […]

Sri Lanka Kelani Valley Plantations December net up 13-pct

Feb 16, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Kelani Valley Plantations said December 2011 quarter net profit rose 13 percent to 187 million rupees from a year ago as tea and rubber prices fell and costs rose. December 2011 quarter sales of the firm, which is part of the Hayleys group, rose 48 percent to 1. […]

Orix Net

Feb 16, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s LOLC group which has interest in financial services, plantations, trading and leisure said net profits for the December 2011 quarter fell 6 percent to 673 million rupees. The group reported earnings of 1.42 rupees for the quarter. For the nine months ended December 2011 the group reported earnings […]

Sri Lanka shares end up five percent

Feb 16, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares ended firmer for the second day Thursday, after a nine-day slide, with the main index shooting up five percent with steep gains in illiquid stocks, brokers said. The main All Share Price Index closed up 5.08 percent (255.15 points) at 5,278.95, while the more liquid Milanka index […]

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