Author: lbostgadmin
Sri Lanka poverty subsidy helping not only the poor: CBSL
Apr 12, 2010 (LBO) – A Sri Lankan poverty alleviation subsidy programme provides benefits to well over a quarter of the people, an unrealistically high number, and not only the poor, the Central Bank has said. “The potential for linking some of these food programmes with community-driven development programmes needs to be explored as malnutrition […]
Indonesia hails new Australian asylum-seeker policy
JAKARTA, April 12, 2010 (AFP) – Indonesia said Monday that Australia’s decision to stop processing asylum seekers from Afghanistan and Sri Lanka will be “positive” for the region’s fight against trafficking. Foreign ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah said the tough new policy, which has been condemned by rights watchdogs and refugee supporters, would have a direct […]
‘s tennis star Mirza
HYDERABAD, April 12, 2010 (AFP) – Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik and Indian tennis star Sania Mirza married Monday after a troubled engagement in a union that bridges the two nations’ bitter sporting and political divide. The wedding was the final chapter in a complex and often contradictory saga during which Malik consistently denied claims by […]
‘s industrial output posts double-digit growth
NEW DELHI, April 12, 2010 (AFP) – India posted double-digit industrial growth for a sixth straight month in February, data showed Monday, adding to pressure on the central bank to further hike interest rates to tame inflation. Output by factories, mines and utilities grew 15.1 percent year-on-year in February, according to the government figures, lifted […]
Bunker Business
Apr 12, 2010 (LBO) – Indian Oil Corp’s Sri Lankan unit aims to expand bunker sales by selling fuel to ships passing the island, a much bigger market than the vessels which call at Colombo port, officials said. With bunker prices falling and the price difference between Colombo and Singapore narrowing, more ships have begun […]
Sri Lanka shares end up 0.49-pct
Apr 12, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed firmer Monday with some large deals done while activity petered off towards the end of trading ahead of a long holiday this week although sentiment remained positive, brokers said. “Investors are placing buy orders but at lower levels compared to prevailing prices.” There were several large […]
Sri Lanka Treasuries flat ahead of traditional New Year
Apr 12, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Treasury bills yields were flat at Monday’s auction, held early ahead of a two-day holiday for a traditional New Year, following a fully rejected auction a week earlier. The government’s debt office said 3-month bills were sold at 8. 52 percent, 6-month bills at 9.24 percent and 12-month […]
IMF chief says no to higher inflation to reduce debt
Apr 11, 2010 (LBO) – The head of the International Monetary Fund played down suggestions that inflation should be raised to slash the real value of state debt, but said future growth should be used cut the burden. Strauss-Khan said public debt in advanced economies were forecast to rise about 35 percentage points to about […]
Re Poll
April 11, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka will rerun voting at 18 polling booths where last week’s parliamentary election was affected by violence, officials said Sunday. The elections department cancelled voting at the booths in two electoral districts after allegations of intimidation and other violence. The final official results have yet to be declared because […]
Rajapakse wins again, but battle for unity remains
April 11, 2010 (AFP) – It seems Sri Lanka’s president, Mahinda Rajapakse, just can’t stop winning. His ruling party’s landslide triumph in parliamentary elections this week capped a trio of historic victories following the military defeat of Tamil Tiger rebels a year ago, and a thumping presidential re-election win in January. Now with his ruling […]
Sri Lanka ex-military chief, TV star, cricketers as lawmakers
Apr 10, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s brother Basil pulled in 425,861 ‘preferences’ from voters becoming a top draw in a parliamentary poll that also saw an army general, popular cricketers and a television star elected. Sri Lanka’s former military chief Sarath Fonseka now facing a court martial after running for presidential […]
Australian freeze on asylum seekers may face challenge
SYDNEY, April 10, 2010 (AFP) – Australia’s decision to temporarily block asylum-seekers from Afghanistan and Sri Lanka could face a legal challenge, lawyers said Saturday. On Friday, Canberra announced it would immediately stop taking fresh applications from asylum-seekers from those two countries, as it attempts to thwart people smuggling operations. But the Australian Lawyers Alliance […]