Author: lbostgadmin
” on asylum boats
SYDNEY, October 22, 2009 (AFP) – Australia’s Prime Minister Kevin Rudd Thursday angrily denied extremists were among hundreds of asylum-seekers arriving in the country, as another two boats were stopped off the northern coast.Rudd demanded that opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull withdraw support for renegade backbencher Wilson Tuckey, who said there were “narrow odds” some of […]
Sri Lanka budget airline to get six planes
Oct 22, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s loss-making state-owned budget airline, Mihin Lanka, is to buy six aircraft, Ports and Aviation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa said.He made the revelation during a debate in parliament on Sri Lankan Airlines, the national carrier, also state-owned, our sister news website, Vimasuma.com reported. Rajapaksa did not give further details about […]
”s cheapest car
NEW DELHI, October 22, 2009 (AFP) – The world’s cheapest car, the Nano, launched by Indian maker Tata earlier this year, faces possible checks after owners complained of fires apparently caused by short circuits.But Tata Motors said it would not order a recall of the Nano, at least 7,500 of which have been delivered since […]
Australia set for decades-long mining boom: top official
SYDNEY, October 22, 2009 (AFP) – Australia could be set for a decades-long commodities boom fuelled by rocketing demand from China and India, a senior official said in the country’s latest upbeat economic assessment. Treasury secretary Ken Henry also said a return to full employment was a “conceivable possibility” in the coming years, with major […]
Nomadic Workers
Oct 22, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s migrant workers and their remittances are unlikely to be seriously affected by the global economic slowdown, the Institute of Policy Studies said in a report. But unskilled migrant workers, especially those in the construction industry, may be affected by the slowdown in construction and service sectors in Gulf […]
Sri Lanka tea output down in September
Oct 22, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s production of black tea in September 2009 fell three percent to 25.5 million kilos from a year ago, according to the Sri Lanka Tea Board’s statistics. The deficit of 42 million kilos makes up for the bulk of the global tea production shortfall that has driven up prices […]
Deposit Franchise
Oct 22, 2009 (LBO) – RAM Ratings Lanka said it has assigned long- and short-term financial institutions rating of A and P1 to Sri Lanka’s State Mortgage and Investment Bank (SMIB). “The ratings are primarily based on the state ownership of the bank, tempered by the wide asset-liability maturity mismatch (ALMM) inherent in its business […]
Sri Lankan shares down 0.85-pct
Oct 22, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares failed to hold onto morning gains Thursday as retailers with weak finances sold to meet margin calls, while some investors were seen taking profits from yesterday’s gains, brokers said. The All Share Price Index closed down 0.85 percent (25.73 points) to end at 2,992.87, while the Milanka […]
Sri Lanka exports picking up: Central Bank
Oct 21, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s exports, which down 6.7 percent in August from a year earlier were showing a steady month on month rise with a recovery seen in the key apparel sector, the Central Bank said. Mineral exports recorded a decline of 30.1 per cent, largely due to lower gem exports. In […]
Hearings begin for migrants arrested off Canadian coast
VANCOUVER, October 21, 2009 (AFP) – Detention hearings began Tuesday for two of 76 migrants who were arrested Saturday on a mystery ship off Canada’s coast and are believed to be Tamils fleeing Sri Lanka, Immigration adjudicator Leeann King of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board ruled late Tuesday that the first two of the migrants […]
Sri Lanka hydro power producer gets more generating licenses
Oct 21, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan mini hydro power company Vallibel Power Erathna said it has bought a firm that has approvals for two power plants and deals to sell electricity to the state utility. Vallibel Power, which is being eyed by a US investor, said in a stock exchange filing that it has […]
SriLankan Airlines says bookings up, to increase flights
Oct 21, 2009 (LBO) – SriLankan Airlines said it will increase flights this winter season to a dozen cities throughout Europe, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, and Far East as bookings were on the rise. The move is based on its projection that passenger numbers will “definitely increase” following the end of the island’s […]