Rating Risk

Feb 24, 2010 (LBO) – A fresh risk evaluation of Sri Lanka by London insurers, considered critical in attracting investors after the end of its ethnic war, has been delayed by elections, official involved in the matter said. London underwriters have reduced the risk rating after the 30-year ethnic war ended in May 2009, with […]

Sri Lankan stocks close 0.14-pct higher

Feb 24, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares edged up Wednesday, boosted by renewed buying interest on plantation, construction and insurance stocks, brokers said. The All Share Price Index closed at 3,775. 51, up 5.11 points, while the Milanka index of more liquid shares gained 0.39 percent (16.78 points) to close at 4,331.98. Turnover was […]

Sri Lanka short-end Treasuries edge up

Feb 24, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s three, six and 12 month Treasury bill yields edged up at Wednesday’s auction, the government’s debt office said. This was higher than the 12.5 billion rupees of maturing bills. The 3-month yield edged up 09 basis points to 8. 26 percent, the 6-month yield was up 06 basis […]

Sri Lanka to keep limit on foreign owned rupee debt for now

Feb 24, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will hold a 10 percent limit of foreign holdings of rupee Treasuries for the time being, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said, despite a widening fiscal deficit putting pressure on financial markets. Foreign investors were allowed to buy into bonds to the tune of about 30 million US […]

World Bank, Shakira join forces to aid young children

WASHINGTON, February 22, 2010 (AFP) – The World Bank and Grammy Award-winning singer Shakira teamed up Monday in a 300-million-dollar joint initiative aimed at helping young children in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Colombian artist is the founder of ALAS, a coalition of Latin American artists and business leaders that promotes early childhood development […]

‘s Supreme Court refuses to free Fonseka

February 23, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court refused Tuesday to order the release of detained opposition leader and former army chief Sarath Fonseka as it deliberates a petition challenging his arrest by the military. As the battlefield architect of the victory over the Tamil Tiger rebels last May, Fonseka had been hailed as […]

Australia tightens rules on colleges for foreigners

SYDNEY, February 23, 2010 (AFP) – Australian colleges catering to foreign students will face more rigorous regulation by year’s end as the government weeds out unscrupulous operators, the education minister said Tuesday. Under a bill passed Monday, all colleges and schools providing courses to international students will have to re-register with the government under strengthened […]

‘s Maruti recalls 100,000 A-Star cars over fuel leakage

MUMBAI, February 23, 2010 (AFP) – India’s biggest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India announced Tuesday it has recalled 100,000 of its best-selling A-Star hatchback cars due to a fuel leakage problem. “No problem has been reported by customers. ” The recall covers those A-Stars made between November 2008 and August 2009. The company, the leader in […]

Design Economy

Feb 23, 2010 (LBO) – A wooden chair becomes a news paper holder when it is turned over once. When it is turned again, it becomes a small table. A small bench table can be lengthened into one five metres long, allowing more people to sit. A ten metre high mini library has a work […]

Shunned Jobs

SEOUL, February 23, 2010 (AFP) – Migrants who tackle jobs shunned by most South Koreans urged the government on Tuesday to ease regulations complicating their lives and improve education to discourage discrimination. “They come for the 3D — dirty, dangerous and difficult — jobs, which are necessary here,” Aung Tin Htun, a Myanmar manager of […]

Sri Lanka January tea crop back to normal

Feb 23, 2010 (LBO) – Production of tea, Sri Lanka’s main export crop, showed a return to normal levels in January as the industry recovered from the effects of drought and labour action that sharply reduced output last year. The Tea Board has said it expects annual tea production this year to be more than […]

Regional Finance

Feb 23, 2010 (LBO) – An affiliate of Sri Lanka’s Sampath Bank in Bangladesh is planning to list its stock brokering firm in the country’s booming stock market, a media report said, though there were fears of a correction. Bangladesh’s stocks have been going through a bull run prompting fears of a bubble. On Monday […]

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