Author: lbostgadmin
Tele Cash
November 27, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has raised about 40 million rupees from June-Sept by taxing foreign movies, dramas and sitcoms aired on local television stations, the finance ministry said. Introduced in June, the ministry said the levy on telecasts of foreign films, teledramas and commercials are aimed at safeguarding the local film industry […]
Global tea experts call for formal standards on world market
NAIROBI, Nov 27, 2006 (AFP) – Global tea experts meeting in Kenya Monday called for tough minimum quality standards to address the growing problem of poor tea entering the international market and depressing prices.“In targeting potential growth markets, recognition of and compliance with food safety and quality standards is essential,” said Kaison Chang, a senior […]
Audit Block
Nov 27, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s audit examiners will stop visiting government offices to carry out audit work following on a pay dispute, putting the brakes on the country’s already slow auditing process. “The most important aspect of the state audit mechanisms is the audit examination,” the Union said in a statement. “We wish […]
Taiwan Connection
Nov 27, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Ports Authority has signed a terminal service agreement with Wan-Hai lines of Taiwan to increase container traffic to the island.The three-year Terminal Service Agreement (TSA) will bring in a guaranteed amount of volume for the SLPA, says Irshad Musheen Executive Director of SLPA. “We are actually pleased as […]
Tiger leader faces deadline for war or peace in Sri Lanka
COLOMBO, Nov 26 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s elusive Tamil Tiger supremo marks his 52nd birthday Sunday with a self-imposed deadline to decide the course of Asia’s longest-running ethnic conflict.The TNA is the third largest group in the 225-member assembly and their votes would be crucial for any political deal to end separatist violence, which has […]
Sri Lanka President pushes joint sea patrols on Indian visit
NEW DELHI, Nov 26, 2006 (AFP) – The visiting Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse Sunday sounded out India on joint patrolling of their maritime border in a bid to halt smuggling and cross-border terrorism.Rajapakse, who began a five-day working visit to India Sunday, told reporters he planned to talk to Indian leaders about strengthening patrols […]
‘s annual speech
COLOMBO, Nov 26 (AFP) – Sri Lankan security forces went on high alert Sunday, officials said, as Tamil Tiger rebels remembered 18,742 comrades killed in their decades-long campaign for a separate homeland.More than 3,400 people have been killed in an upsurge in violence in the past year in Sri Lanka, where over 60,000 have died […]
US Dollar falls against Euro
NEW YORK, Nov 24, 2006 (AFP) – The euro soared against the dollar Friday in volatile trading which saw the euro surpass the 1.30 dollar mark, hitting the highest level against the US currency since April 2005, traders said. The euro was changing hands at 1.3094 dollars at 1900 GMT, up from 1.2948 dollars late […]
Sri Lanka bombs Black Tiger base
COLOMBO, Nov 25, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lankan war planes bombed a suspected base of Tamil Tiger suicide bombers in the island’s north Saturday, the defence ministry said, as the rebels commemorated their war dead. The defence ministry said a base housing “Black Tiger” suicide bombers was hit causing “heavy damage”, but gave no details […]
‘s worst conflicts to meet in Singapore
SINGAPORE, Nov 25, 2006 (AFP) – Mediators who have tried to settle Asia’s most intractable conflicts will gather in Singapore Monday for a closed-door “retreat” to discuss peacemaking, organizers said. The Geneva-based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD Centre) will co-host the three-day meeting with Singapore’s Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), HD Centre said in […]
Envoy returns expressing deep concern over Sri Lanka bloodshed
COLOMBO, Nov 24, 2006 (AFP) – A top Indian envoy left for home Friday after conveying New Delhi’s “deep concern” over escalating violence in Sri Lanka, as government troops and Tamil Tigers were locked in long-range attacks. Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon left for New Delhi following meetings with top leaders, including President Mahinda […]
Sri Lanka violence leaves 30 dead: army
COLOMBO, Nov 24, 2006 (AFP) – Renewed fighting in Sri Lanka’s embattled northern and eastern regions has left at least 30 people dead, according to defence ministry figures Friday. The bitter ethnic conflict has claimed at least 60,000 lives since it began in 1972. Security forces killed 19 Tamil Tiger rebels in two clashes Thursday […]