Author: lbostgadmin
Sri Lanka government 2009 budget bill to parliament on Oct 9
Aug 07, 2008 (LBO) – The appropriation bill for Sri Lanka’s budget for 2009 will be presented to parliament on October 9 for its first reading, the government said Thursday. The budget speech and second reading of the budget will be on November 6, a government spokesman said. The cabinet this week approved a proposal […]
Names to look out for at Beijing Games
PARIS, Aug 07, 2008 (AFP) – AFP Sports Service has chosen a selection of athletes who could be grabbing the headlines during the Beijing Olympics. Here is Part One: ATHLETICS Muna Lee (USA): Two weeks after her car was struck by a drunken driver and her shoulder was hurt, this thin 27-year-old speedster known more […]
US, UN condemn military coup in Mauritania
WASHINGTON, August 6, 2008 (AFP) – US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday condemned the military coup in Mauritania and called for the release of the African country’s president and prime minister. “The United States condemns the Mauritanian military’s overthrow of the democratically elected Government of Mauritania and welcomes the statements by the African […]
German insurer Allianz warns on profits after weak second quarter
FRANKFURT, August 7, 2008 (AFP) – Shares in the German insurance group Allianz plunged on Thursday after the group warned that it would not reach its operating profit target going into 2009 following a difficult second quarter.Allianz shares showed a loss of 3.52 percent to 109 euros in initial trading on the Frankfurt stock exchange […]
India completes key trade road in Afghanistan
KABUL, August 07, 2008 (AFP) – India has almost completed a key road linking Afghanistan to Iranian sea ports despite Taliban attacks that claimed more than 100 lives in two years, the deputy public works minister said.The 217-kilometre (134-mile) route connects a nearly completed ring road around Afghanistan to the Iranian port cities of Bandar-i-Abas […]
Sri Lanka business chamber touts virtues of Indian trade deal
Aug 07, 2008 (LBO) – A Sri Lankan business chamber has said the proposed new trade deal with India would give businesses an opportunity to penetrate the rapidly expanding Indian market and offer protection against trade barriers.The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said it welcomes the expansion of the current Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India […]
Sri Lanka blamed for serious security lapse at South Asian summit
August 07, 2008 (AFP) – India said there had been serious security lapses during a visit to Sri Lanka by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh despite the island nation’s promise of “ultimate security.” The Sri Lankan bodyguard assigned to protect Singh did not turn up during a regional summit last weekend, while the motorcade for India’s […]
Domestic Help
KUALA LUMPUR, August 7, 2008 (AFP) – Malaysian women will be encouraged to train as domestic helpers, in a government programme aimed at reducing the country’s dependency on foreign workers, reports said Thursday. Women and Community Development Minister Ng Yen Yen said the course would give instruction in managing the home and caring for children […]
Sri Lanka to more than double spending on fertilizer subsidy
Aug 07, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has decided to spend at extra 25 billion rupees (230 million US dollars) on a politically important fertilizer subsidy, a senior minister said, as the country is seeking commercial funding for vital infrastructure projects.In the fiscal budget for 2008, Sri Lanka allocated 15 billion rupees for fertilizer subsidies, […]
New Money
Aug 07, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is negotiating additional funds to re-start work on a section of a highway to the island’s south that is now suspended, but the first part is on track for completion by 2010, a top official said.The head of the island’s road development authority R W Pemasiri says negotiations […]
Sri Lankan shares fall, Arisaig Fund sells stake in Richard Pieris
Aug 07, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares ended weaker Thursday but turnover was pumped up by the sale of a big stake in Richard Pieris & Co held by Arisaig India Fund, brokers said. “It’s only the company’s plantations which are doing well,” he said. “Also, Richard Pieris is a highly geared company, having […]
” lawmaker
Aug 06, 2008 (LBO) – A Sri Lankan ruling party lawmaker who has earned notoriety for frequent attacks on the media appears to be above the law and police powerless to stop him, a media watch dog has said. The Free Media Movement (FMM) said in a statement that it was “outraged” to record the […]