Author: lbostgadmin
Breaking Barriers
DHAKA, Apr.20 (AFP) – The trade ministers of seven South Asian nations said Thursday they had “fruitful” discussions on barriers still impeding a planned regional free trade area.Fruitful discussions were held in a very cordial atmosphere; the implementation of the SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Agreement) is now our prime task,” Bangladesh Trade Minister Altaf […]
‘s hospitality industry shows record growth in March
Apr. 20 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s leisure industry greeted record 54,746 visitors in March, as key western countries warned nationals to avoid traveling to the north east of the country as violence intensified in the region. The tsunami-hit island welcomed 54,746 visitors (up 8.6 percent over 2005) in March, which helped swell arrivals for the […]
Quit Notice
Apr.20 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s State Banks & Development Minister Wijedasa Rajapakse Thursday resigned his ministry ending a short stint which was surrounded by rumbles of discontent. “I resigned over personal reasons,” Rajapakse told LBO. Rajapakse, who is a President’s Counsel, also resigned as organizer for the Maharagama electorate of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party […]
Norway envoy holds talks with Sri Lanka PM on saving truce
Apr.19 (AFP) – Norway’s new peace envoy to Sri Lanka has held talks with Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake on moves to salvage the island’s tottering ceasefire, government officials said Wednesday.Jon Hanssen-Bauer advanced his meeting with the prime minister to Tuesday, shortly after arriving in the island amid an upsurge in violence which the Colombo government […]
Ten killed in Sri Lanka, foreigner among injured
Apr. 19 (AFP) – Ten more people have been killed in Sri Lanka, police and Tamil Tiger rebels said Wednesday, as two Claymore mine blasts wounded four people.A foreign national, believed to be a Southeast Asian, was among those wounded Wednesday, police said adding that his vehicle was hit by a Claymore mine in the […]
More bloodshed as Norway pushes for Sri Lanka peace
Apr. 19 (AFP) – Another 10 deaths were reported Wednesday in Sri Lanka’s embattled north and east as Norway’s new peace envoy launched a fresh attempt to salvage the island’s collapsing ceasefire.Two Claymore mine attacks also rocked the troubled regions Wednesday, wounding at least five people including a Korean businessman and two of his Sri […]
Oil For Poor
TEHRAN, Iran, Apr.19 (AFP) – Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called on oil producers, in particular fellow OPEC members, to sell a part of their crude production to poor countries at “better prices”, the ISNA news agency reported Wednesday.“Oil producing countries, in particular OPEC members, could determine quotas for poor consumers with better prices,” the […]
New Platforms
Apr.19 (LBO) – Sri Lankan based software firm specializing in securities trading platforms says regulatory changes in the United States and Europe, is expanding the markets for their products. MillenniumIT which started with equities trading software, now offers fixed income securities trading with latest versions catering to commodity trading and futures contracts. In addition to […]
Treasury yields creep up
Apr.19 (LBO) — Sri Lanka’s Central Bank sold 8,395 million rupees in treasury bills Wednesday at slightly higher yields above the previous week’s, the bank said.Today’s auction, offering t-bills worth 10,758 million rupees, was oversubscribed with bids amounting to 17,940 million rupees. The Central Bank bought 1.5 billion rupees worth of bills and retired 863 […]
‘s Central Bank reports highest ever cash outlay last week
Apr.19 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank issued 165 billion rupees in cash, the highest ever so far, to meet last week’s New Year shopping spree, an official said Wednesday.“There was high demand for currency due to the holiday season and the recently concluded election,” the bank’s Senior Deputy Governor W A Wijewardene said. The […]
Gunbattle in Sri Lanka as Norway moves to save truce
Apr. 18 (AFP) – Troops found more Claymore mines in Sri Lanka Tuesday after suspected Tiger rebels attacked police and killed a constable amid moves by peace broker Norway to save a shaky truce, police said.Two bombs were found Tuesday in the northeastern Trincomalee district and defused by security forces, they said. Suspected Tamil Tiger […]
” by Sri Lankan parties
OSLO, Apr.18 (AFP) – The main mediator in the Sri Lankan conflict, Erik Solheim of Norway, said Tuesday he was frustrated by the government’s and Tamil rebels’ lack of flexibility, which he said was endangering talks aimed at saving a shaky truce.“I have to admit that we’ve become a bit frustrated these past few days […]