Author: lbostgadmin
Bad manners bad for tourism business
Feb 09 (LBO)-Sri Lanka’s tourism branding came under heavy criticism on Thursday for the island’s lack of focus, inability to deliver on promise and for bad public practices. Destination branding was taken up in one of the technical session at Thursday’s Chartered Institute of Marketers (CIM) one day conference. Industry officials said among the many […]
Tightening Laws
Feb 08 (LBO) – Sri Lanka, noted as hot bed for human trafficking, is now tinkering with its penal code to strengthen laws against the illegal trade. The amendments to the penal code are expected to facilitate prosecution of traffickers and to protect their victims. Sri Lankan authorities however are still unaware of the extent […]
’s Cleanup
Feb 08 (LBO) – The Social Service Ministry hopes to put-up Colombo’s estimated 1523 homeless in transitional housing by end 2006. Secretary to the Ministry V. Jegarasasingham said that poverty, the war and domestic abuse among other reasons has led over 1523 Sri Lankan men, women and children to take shelter on Colombo’s streets. Not […]
Fine Tuning
Feb 07 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s telecom watchdog says it has started to crack down on errant state and private sector frequency users to collect overdue fees. The crackdown is part of a programme to clean up Sri Lanka’s commercial important spectrum, which is currently near full capacity. Already, the regulator is seeing a crunch […]
Out of the house
Feb 07 (LBO) – The State Mortgage and Investment Bank (SMIB) plans to change their governing act to get more freedom to lend and change its name as part of a complete make-over, a top official said. SMIB Chairman Chandima Weerakkody said proposed amendments have been submitted to the subject minister Wijedasa Rajapakse, who is […]
Now or Never
Feb 07 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) chief warned Tuesday that the island would suffer irreversible costs if the south port project does not take off before next year. SLPA Chairman Dileepa Wijesundara told LBO that construction work on Colombo’s South Harbour project would not be delayed, with funding options expected to be […]
’s top donors not convinced that the situation is conducive for reconstruction and investment
Feb 06 (LBO) – A drop in violence and impending peace talks between warring factions has failed to convince Sri Lanka’s top donors that the situation is conducive for reconstruction and investment, officials said Monday. Top officials of the tropical island’s key donors – the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) – said […]
Plan B
Feb. 06 (BLO) Sri Lanka’s key information technology communication agency, ICT Agency, plans to opt for a consortium built fibre optic internet backbone or data only licenses instead of the disputed regional telecom network licenses. Sri Lanka’s three-fixed line and four cellular network operators took the state ICT policy implementing body to courts in early […]
Sailing Offshore
Feb. 06 (LBO)-Sri Lanka’s only commercial ship building and repair firm Colombo Dockyards Limited (CDL) plans to invest over Rs.660 million to upgrade infrastructure in order to lure new business and face up to competition from India. The investment spread over 2005 and 2006 is expected to improve CDL’s profitability, especially from its shipbuilding operation, […]
Sri Lanka shows military might as Tigers protest anniversary
Feb 4 (AFP) – Sri Lanka put on a bristling display of its military might to mark freedom day Saturday as Tamil rebels forced a work stoppage ahead of key talks to save a tenuous truce in the strife-torn island.Shops were closed and public transport was off the streets in the restive northeastern port district […]
Sri Lanka frees 2,000 prisoners to mark Freedom Day
Feb 4 (AFP) – Sri Lankan authorities Saturday freed nearly 2,000 convicts to mark the island’s 58th anniversary of independence from Britain, a prison spokesman said. A presidential pardon helped 1,995 inmates, including 57 women, serving time for minor offences to leave prisons across the island, the spokesman said adding that 450 of them were […]
Trimmed Changers
Feb 04 (LVP) – Five moneychangers have lost their license after they failed to comply with new capital requirements set by the regulator. Moneychangers operate as a supplement to commercial banks, and can buy foreign exchange from the public in return for domestic currency. Most operate in Colombo’s Fort area. Sri Lanka’s Central Bank, which […]