” is chomping up US orchards

WASHINGTON, June 29, 2011 (AFP) – A stink bug from Asia is chomping up US vegetable fields, orchards and vineyards, causing experts to scramble through an arsenal of weapons to try and halt this stealthy, smelly predator. Pesticides, parasites and traps have all been tried but none have succeeded in killing off the brown marmorated […]

Sri Lanka to cancel deals of promoters who delay in Eastern resorts

June 29, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka may cancel deals of four investors who were given state land to build hotels in Pasikudah in the Eastern coast of the island, deputy economic development minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene said. He said four parties who got land had not used the land so far. “If they do […]

Parental Support

June 29, 2011 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings Lanka has assigned DFCC Vardhana Bank’s (DVB) proposed subordinated debentures of up to a billion rupees a national rating of ‘A+(lka)’. The agency has simultaneously confirmed DVB’s National Long-Term rating at ‘AA-(lka)’ with a stable outlook, a statement said. The proposed debt issue has tenures ranging from five […]

Sri Lanka stocks close 0.22-pct up

June 29, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka stocks ended higher Wednesday with Orient Garments, the first apparel exporter to list, which opened trading, the most actively traded share and the day’s fourth highest gainer, brokers said. The main All Share Price Index closed at 6,878.15, up 0.22 percent (15.32 points) while the more liquid Milanka […]

Sri Lanka Treasuries yields flat

June 29, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Treasury bill yields were stead at this week’s auction with the 3-month yield flat at 7. 12 percent, data from the government’s debt office showed. The 6-month yield edged up 01 basis point to 7. 23 percent and the 12-month yield was flat at 7.35 percent. The debt […]

Sri Lanka to allow cross-border deals in Renminbi

June 29, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will allow international transactions to be conducted through banks in Renminbi, China’s currency, as trade and investment with the country grows, the island’s central bank said. China’s currency is pegged to the dollar, and has large US reserves, indicating that the currency is ultimately mostly backed by US […]

Sri Lanka apparel exports recovery faster than expected: exporter

June 27, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is seeing a surge in demand for apparels abroad which may allow the sector to meet industry targets earlier than planned, the island’s largest single garment exporter said. Sri Lanka’s Joint Apparel Export Forum, an industry body has forecasted apparel exports to reach 5.0 billion dollars by 2015, […]

Sri Lanka apparel firm to trade from June 29

June 28, 2011 (LBO) – Orient Garments, Sri Lanka’s firm apparel manufacture to be listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange will be offered for trading from June 29, at an introductory price of 23 rupees. Orient Garments had posted revenues of 2. 8 billion rupees in the year to March 2011 with profits of 125. […]

Sri Lanka airline catering unit listing shelved

June 28, 2011 (LBO) – A plan to take public SriLankan Catering, a wholly owned unit of Sri Lanka’s state-run national carrier has been shelved amid a flood of private sector initial offers, Treasury secretary P B Jayasundera said. Several Sri Lankan private sector firms have raised money from capital markets in recent weeks. “Now […]

Sri Lanka air taxi on honeymoon flight

June 28, 2011 (LBO) – SriLankan Air Taxi, a floatplane service operated by Sri Lanka’s state-run national carrier has carried its first honeymoon couple to a hotel in the South of the island. “It was a fantastic ride and we both enjoyed the breathtaking scenery on a clear sunny day and above all being up […]

Watch List

WASHINGTON, June 28, 2011 (AFP) – The United States on Monday removed the Philippines and Singapore from a human trafficking watchlist that had drawn concerns from the close allies, but it reported record abuses around the world. The State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report has become increasingly sensitive for Southeast Asian governments, which face […]

Off Line

June 28, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s logistics industry has warned that lengthy delays in automating cargo clearing procedures were eroding the island’s competitiveness as it seeks to position itself as a cargo hub. “It now takes too much time and money to get things done. We must look at ways and means of improving […]

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