Author: lbostgadmin
Work Anyone?
May 31, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lankans make model workers, a local study shows, with most happy in their jobs, with their pay and are content to stay there. Their grouse, if at all, is sick leave. But though employees were happy with their pay, other benefits did not go down well, sick leave and […]
‘s credit outlook
May 31, 2006 (LBO) – Hatton National Bank Ltd, the island’s fourth largest lender in terms of assets, got its credit profile upgraded to ‘A+(lka)’ by Fitch Ratings Lanka. With a positive outlook, the upgrade also elevates HNBs subordinated debt to ‘A (lka)’ from ‘A-(lka)’, the rating agency said Wednesday. Fitch gave HNB good marks […]
Bond yields rise, on rising inflation; tourism stocks drag Colombo bourse down
May 31, 2006 (LBO) – Stocks in Sri Lanka weakened as investors shied away from tourism related firms fearing a European wide ban on Tamil Tiger rebels and continuing violence would deter tourists from visiting the island, brokers said. Overall sentiment remained weak as investors were rattled over a two-hour artillery exchange between the rebels […]
Sri Lanka ships more goods in April; trade deficit widens
May 30, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s trade deficit – the broadest measure of international trade – expanded during the four-months to April to 1,057 million dollars, on costly oil import bill, the Central Bank said Tuesday. However, the deficit was somewhat contained as Sri Lankans residing abroad sent home 221 million dollars – up […]
Sri Lanka to raise import tariffs for wheat to prop up rice prices
May 30, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka plans to raise import tariffs on wheat to encourage paddy sales and shore up prices, treasury secretary P B Jayasundara said Tuesday. The government recently slapped a 15 percent import duty on wheat flour and six-percent duty on imports of wheat grain. “We are planning a further upward […]
‘s Tamil rebels on terror list
BRUSSELS, May 30, 2006 (AFP) – The European Union put Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers on its list of terrorist groups on Monday, despite a warning from the rebels that the move could force them back to war.The EU ban, agreed in principle on May 18, was made official at a meeting of ministers from the […]
Donors warn Sri Lanka, Tamil Tigers
TOKYO, May 30, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s key foreign aid donors warned the government and Tamil Tiger rebels Tuesday that they must take steps to end growing unrest or risk losing international support. Donors led by Japan pledged 4.5 billion dollars in 2003 as an incentive for the island to end three decades of […]
12 Sri Lankan workers killed execution-style
May 30, 2006 (AFP) – Suspected Tamil Tiger rebels lined up and shot dead 12 construction workers in an execution style massacre in the island’s restive eastern province, the military said Tuesday.A total of 14 construction workers from the majority Sinhalese community had been taken away by suspected Tamil Tiger rebels on Monday, military spokesman […]
Military option rejected as donors warn Sri Lanka against war
May 30, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s president Tuesday ruled out military action against the Tamil Tigers as international donors warned the two sides to halt a slide back to war and police found the bodies of 12 victims of an execution-style massacre.In what Western diplomats here saw as a last ditch attempt to stall […]
WHO accuse tobacco industry of continuing misleading labels
MANILA, May 30, 2006 (AFP) – The World Health Organization (WHO) Tuesday accused the global tobacco industry of continuing to use misleading labels to lure millions of people, including children, to take up smoking.On the eve of World No Tobacco Day, WHO said it would focus on the “tobacco industry’s lies” and the great variety […]
Rise of migrants is damaging planet: British think-tank
LONDON, May 30, 2006 (AFP) – The growing number of people who migrate from developing countries to over-populated Western states in search of a better life is damaging the planet and could be avoided, a think-tank said Tuesday.Governments and aid agencies should encourage families to stay put by tackling environmental degradation, such as the spread […]
Stressed-out Southeast Asians unhappy with their sex lives:survey
SINGAPORE, May 30, 2006 (AFP) – Southeast Asias have the unhappiest sex lives in the world, making love less often than people elsewhere and getting the least satisfaction from it, a global survey showed Tuesday.Mexicans scored the highest sex satisfaction levels with 74.5 percent declaring they were very satisfied, followed by Brazil at 64.5 percent […]