Author: lbostgadmin
Australian PM defends boat people riot response
SYDNEY, March 16, 2011 (AFP) – Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Wednesday defended the police reaction to riots at the remote Christmas Island detention centre after “bean-bag bullets” and tear gas was used. The facility, which houses some 2,539 boat people, has been hit by a series of disturbances this week involving hundreds of […]
Sri Lankans to apply for Indian visas online
Mar 16, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lankans travelling to India will be required to apply for visas online from March 25, the Indian High Commission said in a statement. “Henceforth, applicants will be required to apply online at www.indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa,” it said. Applicant will be required to download the filled-in application, sign and submit it with […]
Sri Lankan Airlines to operate special Japan flight on Mar17
Mar 16, 2011 (LBO) – State-run Sri Lankan Airlines said it will operate a special flight from Tokyo’s Narita airport on March 17 for Sri Lankans who want to come back to the island. Some airlines have also cut flights to Tokyo. The airline said flight UL1423 will depart Tokyo at 1630 hours on March […]
Sri Lanka cricket surveillance nets terror bomb suspect
Mar 16, 2011 (LBO) – A Maldivian wanted for a 2007 terror bombing in Male was arrested there after his transit through Sri Lanka was detected by an INTERPOL team deployed for Cricket World Cup security support. INTERPOL said in a statement the Maldives national Iqbal Mohamed was arrested less than six hours after his […]
India set to hike rates again in anti-inflation battle
NEW DELHI, March 16, 2011 (AFP) – India is set to raise borrowing costs on Thursday for an eighth time in just over a year as it struggles to bring down an inflation rate that is the highest of any major Asian economy. “We maintain the bank will increase rates by 25 basis points,” said […]
Media Studies
Mar 16, 2011 (LBO) – The United States Agency for International Development has given 20 scholarships to students at the Sri Lanka College of Journalism in Colombo, the US embassy said. The scholarships are for the 2011 diploma program. The scholarships provide tuition and a monthly stipend. During the 12-month program, scholarship recipients choose from […]
Fast Cash
Mar 16, 2011 (LBO) – Customers of Sri Lankan banks will be able to get cash over-the-counter quicker from April 01, following technical upgrades to speed up processes, the island’s central cheque clearing house said. LankaClear, Sri Lanka’s central clearing house, already provides next day credit for cheques with the use of electronic clearing (cheque […]
Sri Lanka stocks recover
Mar 16, 2011(LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed 1.2 percent higher Wednesday with the market rallying following three days of losses and investors doing some bargain hunting, brokers said. The All Share Price Index closed at 7,115. 62, up 1.23 percent (86.60 points) while the Milanka Price Index of more liquid stocks closed at 6,643. […]
Sri Lanka Treasuries flat
Mar 16, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Treasuries yields were flat with only a part of a 9.0 billion stock of maturing bills being sold to real buyers at Wednesday’s auction, the government’s debt office said. Sri Lanka’s inflation rose to 7. 8 percent in February and markets have become jittery with two way quotes […]
Fresh riot by asylum seekers on Australian island
SYDNEY, March 15, 2011 (AFP) – Australia’s remote Christmas Island detention centre was hit by a second night of riots on Tuesday, with up to 200 asylum seekers destroying closed-circuit television cameras. It followed a “significant and serious incident” on Monday when police used tear gas to quell a protest of 300 detainees. “We saw […]
Mobile Market
Mar 15, 2011 (LBO) – Profit margins of Sri Lankan mobile phone operators are likely to come under pressure as the market matures and competition intensifies, a Fitch Ratings report said. The industry is now benefitting from the pentup demand from the north and east since the end of the island’s ethnic war in May […]
Sri Lanka, India talks to end poaching issue
Mar 15, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is to send a team of officials to India for talks on ending poaching by Indian fishermen in the island’s northern waters, fisheries minister Rajitha Senaratne said. “We hope to sign an agreement with India,” he told a news conference. “We are confident we can resolve this problem […]