Author: lbostgadmin
China, Pakistan to formalise 10 billion dollar deals
ISLAMABAD, December 18, 2010 (AFP) – China and Pakistan are set to conclude another 10 billion dollars’ worth of deals on Saturday, the latest signings on a trade focused trip to South Asia for Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. Business leaders are scheduled to formalise deals at Islamabad’s five-star Marriott Hotel, where a devastating suicide truck […]
Expert Visit
December 18, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka has softened its stance and agreed to welcome a panel of experts appointed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to probe alleged war crimes, a minister said Saturday. UN sources said no dates had yet been finalised for the UN experts to visit Sri Lanka, but noted that […]
SriLankan Airlines gets another Airbus A320
Dec 17, 2010 (LBO) – SriLankan Airlines has taken delivery of another Airbus A320 aircraft as it continues to expand its global route network, a statement said. The newest arrival swells SriLankan’s fleet to 15 aircraft four A320s, five A330s, five A340s, and a De Havilland Twin Otter. The A320 will join the narrow-body fleet […]
US cable points to Sri Lankan links with paramilitaries
NEW DELHI, December 17, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s government was complicit in the activities of paramilitary groups engaged in political killings, kidnappings, extortion and prostitution, a leaked US diplomatic cable suggested Friday. The 2007 cable, written by the then US ambassador to Sri Lanka, Robert Blake, cited evidence provided by “trusted embassy contacts” that […]
Sri Lanka tea prices seen firm in 2011 first quarter
Dec 17, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tea could see strong demand in the first quarter of 2011 as it is a low cropping period and supply and demand are finely balanced at the end of this year, brokers said. There was good demand at the penultimate auction this week and prices were mostly firm. […]
Sri Lanka battles coconut price spike
December 17, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s authorities have imposed price control coconuts — a dietary staple — by setting a ceiling price and arranging imports to bring down prices. So important is the coconut to the national cuisine that shortages in the past have had serious political implications and even been held responsible for […]
Finance Upgrade
Dec 17, 2010 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings Lanka has upgraded Singer Finance (Lanka) Limited’s (SFL) national long-term rating to ‘BBB+(lka)’ from ‘BBB(lka)’ with a stable outlook, a statement said. SFL is a registered finance company and a fully-owned subsidiary of SSP. It has a network of six branches and six service centres in Sri Lanka. […]
Share Demand
Dec 17, 2010 (LBO) – An initial public offer by Singer Finance (Lanka) to raise 400 million rupees was oversubscribed 120 times, drawing applications worth 48 billion rupees, a statement said. The IPO is mainly to fund Singer Finance’s hire purchase business growth which is reawakening after the 2008-09 business downturn. Updated The firm had […]
Sea Travel
Dec 17, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s cabinet of ministers had given the nod for two ferry services to be set up with India between Colombo and Turicorin and Thalaimannar and Rameswaram, the government said. A large number of Sri Lankans also travel to India on business and pilgrimages. The government’s information office said a […]
Sri Lanka stocks close flat
Dec 17, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka stocks closed flat Friday, with trading seen in the farming sector stocks, brokers said. The All Share Price Index closed flat at 6,360. 84 while the Milanka index of liquid stocks rose 0.18 percent (12.30 points) to close at 6,834.07, according to Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) provisional figures. […]
Sri Lanka economy expands 8.0-pct in 3Q, 2010: Statistics office
Dec 16, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s economy has expanded 8. 0 percent in the third quarter of 2010 from a year earlier, compared to an 8.5 percent growth in the second quarter, the government’s statistics office said. The services sectors 8.0 percent growth (up from 5.1 percent last year) came with hotels and restaurants […]
Sri Lanka hotels, industry to face higher power tariffs
Dec 16, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s industries and hotels will face sharply higher power costs of around 25 to 100 percent under new tariffs proposed for 2011, industry representatives told a public hearing called by the regulator. Sri Lanka’s industry has been getting subsidized power, though most of the subsidies went to domestic users […]