Author: lbostgadmin
India inflation nears double-digits, rate hike seen
NEW DELHI, April 15, 2010 (AFP) – India’s inflation rate crept closer to double digits, official data showed Thursday, as analysts forecast another hike in interest rates to contain prices in Asia’s third-largest economy. Year-on-year wholesale price inflation, India’s main cost-of-living measure, edged up to 9.9 percent in March from 9.89 percent the previous month, […]
Banking Reach
Apr 15, 2010 (LBO) – Commercial banks are opening branches in Sri Lanka’s former war zone in the north and east and are also ready to increase lending to the region, the Central Bank said. “Several licensed banks are showing keen interest to facilitate economic activities in the Northern and Eastern provinces,” it said in […]
Bus Loss
Apr 15, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s state bus service had lost 5,183 million rupees in 2009 despite getting another 4,135 million rupee handout in peoples’ money from the Treasury for operating ‘uneconomic routes’, the latest official data reveals. SLTB data showed that its workforce had increased to 35,895 in 2009 from 34,074 in 2008. […]
Sri Lanka shares end down 0.07-pct
Apr 15, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed weaker Thursday, easing off record highs on thin volumes as investors took a break for the traditional New Year celebrations in a short trading week, brokers said. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘lbo’ and send to 678 The All Share […]
” petroleum price formula: Central Bank
April 14, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka needs a price formula to match import costs to retail prices as a part of a reform of the energy sector, the Central Bank said as the state petroleum utility lost 12. 3 billion rupees in 2009. “A realistic pricing formula needs to be developed to price petroleum […]
Iran to buy more Sri Lankan tea: government
April 14, 2010 (AFP) – Iran plans nearly to double its purchase of Sri Lankan tea, the island’s main export commodity, Sri Lanka’s government said Wednesday, announcing a move that could boost tea prices. Sri Lanka’s tea promotion board said they expected the Iranian move to further strengthen prices, which have risen by 29. 47 […]
India plans launch sale of 4G mobile services: report
NEW DELHI, April 14, 2010 (AFP) – India plans to hold an auction of ultra-high-speed fourth-generation (4G) mobile phone spectrum soon after completion of 3G access now underway, a report said Wednesday. It will also heat up the battle for customers in the world’s fastest-growing mobile market. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has […]
Caught
MIAMI, April 13, 2010 (AFP) – US police backed by helicopter units swooped on a group of illegal immigrants smuggled in from the Bahamas, arresting 15 from Haiti, Jamaica and Sri Lanka, smuggled in by sea by Cubans, authorities and local media said Tuesday. The Bahamas are a frequent stopover point for human trafficking operations […]
Sri Lanka president calls for unity in New Year message
April 13, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapakse Tuesday appealed for unity as the country prepared for its first traditional New Year after the end of a 37-year civil war. Rajapakse said he was seeking peace and reconciliation between his majority Sinhalese and the ethnic Tamil minority ahead of celebrations for Wednesday’s New […]
Sri Lanka exporters demand streamlined customs
Apr 13, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan exporters have called for more streamlined customs clearance to help reduce costs and be more competitive in overseas markets. Although clearing facilities are available for airfreight cargo round-the-clock, seven days of the week, “in regard to other cargo only perishable cargo is provided such a facility,” the NCE […]
Sri Lanka state power, petroleum utilities could be listed: Central Bank
Apr 13, 2010 (LBO) – Units of Sri Lanka’s state petroleum and power utilities could be listed in the Colombo Stock exchange to broad base their ownership and make them more transparent and accountable, the Central Bank has said. Last year the state-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation had lost 12. 3 billion rupees partly due to […]
‘s Tata Tea in joint-venture talks
NEW YORK, April 12, 2010 (AFP) – US soft-drinks and snacks giant PepsiCo and India’s Tata Tea will explore the formation of a joint venture in “healthy” non-carbonated beverages, the companies said in a statement received Monday. “More details will only be available once the definitive agreements for the joint venture are finalized and executed, […]