Sri Lanka inflation panic level above 7.0-pct: Treasury secretary

July 26, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka should keep inflation below 7. 0 percent to ensure economic stability Treasury Secretary P B Jayasundera said, as lower levels of inflation may be beyond the capacity of economic policies to deliver. Additional inflation is created by central bank credit, such as liquidity facilities given to banks or […]

India hikes rates by surprise 50 basis points

MUMBAI, July 26, 2011 (AFP) – India’s central bank hiked interest rates by a higher-than-expected 50 basis points on Tuesday, its 11th increase since March 2010, as it struggles to combat near double-digit inflation. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raised its repo rate at which it lends to commercial banks to 8.0 percent and […]

Tele Trends

July 26, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s mobile users grew 18. 5 percent in the first quarter of 2011 to 17.8 million, a lower pace than in previous years, but there was strong growth in internet users, official data showed. A category called ‘internet and email’ users which the central bank said included mobile broadband […]

Rural Rating

July 26, 2011 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings Lanka said it has given Sri Lanka’s Regional Development Bank, an investment grade rating of ‘BBB+(lka)’ with a stable outlook on its state ownership, though the bank was still small to be systemically important. “The rating could be upgraded if the systemic importance of RDB to the government […]

Sri Lanka stocks recover losses

July 26, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks recouped some losses Tuesday after falling to a seven month low a day earlier, and debutant Browns Investments closed below its initial offer price amid active trading, brokers said. The benchmark All Share Price Index edged up 0.92 percent or 59.24 points to 6,493.58, while the Milanka […]

Sri Lanka Tamil party sweeps north local bodies

July 25, 2011 (LBO) – A Tamil minority party has swept the polls in Sri Lanka’s former war torn northern areas while the ruling coalition consolidated its gains elsewhere in a local government body poll. Out of 65 local bodies where elections were held over the weekend, the ruling United National People’s Alliance won 54 […]

Sri Lanka lawmaker challenges minister to debate over land deal

July 25, 2011 (LBO) – A Sri Lankan lawmaker has challenged a government minister to a television debate over the sale of state land to a Chinese firm. Harsha de Silva, a lawmaker representing Sri Lanka’s main opposition United National Party, referred to a statement attributed to deputy economic development minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene by […]

A new face for India-Pakistan peace talks

NEW DELHI, July 25, 2011 (AFP) – The foreign ministers of India and Pakistan will hold peace talks in New Delhi on Wednesday overshadowed by triple bomb blasts in Mumbai and intense media interest in Islamabad’s new top diplomat. They will be the first foreign minister-level discussions between the nuclear-armed neighbours and arch-rivals for a […]

Tied Hands

July 25, 2011 (LBO) – The chairman of Sri Lanka’s state-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, Ashantha de Mel had “no choice” but to use zero costs derivatives to which went against him when oil price fell “dramatically” in 2008, according to a ruling by a London court. A London court which dismissed a counter claim by […]

Learning Centre

July 25, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Laugfs group has started an educational facility with Australia’s University of Canberra to offer courses on customs, border management, tax and excise administration, officials said. LAUGFS Australia Higher Education Services, a unit of the Laugfs group has tied up up with Centre for Customs and Excise Studies (CCES) […]

Sri Lanka first half tourism revenues up 50-pct

July 25, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has earned 370. 1 million US dollars in revenues in the first half of 2011, up 50.9 percent from a year earlier, amid a strong increase in arrivals, official data showed. Foreign visitors have been flocking to the country since the end of a 30-year war […]

Sri Lanka stocks slump to seven-month low

July 25, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka share prices fell steeply Monday to a seven-month low after a brief rally in the morning to close more than 100 points lower on continued selling pressure, brokers said DFCC Bank closed at 127.50 rupees, down 2.50 with 555,800 shares traded, including a single crossing or off-market private […]

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