Author: lbostgadmin
Election Sniper
Gunmen have shot dead a political activist in eastern Sri Lanka in a second murder believed to be related to next months elections, police said Tuesday. The attackers gunned down Ponniah Yogendran, 28, from the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) in the district of Batticaloa on Monday night, police said.rn rnThe EPDP said the slaying […]
Montero Monks
Buddhist monks launched their formal drive for Sri Lankas parliament from a historic temple town Tuesday with a vow to cleanse politics and restore “ultimate peace”. The saffron-robed monks chanted prayers here before being driven to the islands holiest Buddhist shrine, the Temple of the Tooth, in the central town of Kandy, 112 kilometres (72 […]
On Test
The much-hyped third generation cellular services will soon be a reality, with the first of three trial networks launched by Dialog GSM on Tuesday. Though only on a test basis, CEO Dr.Hans Wijayasuriya says it creates an opportunity for Sri Lankans to interact with new age technology and offer application providers a platform to test […]
Steady Growth
Hayleys will delve deep into its traditional operations to increase profits in 2004-05 while pegging growth prospects on agriculture and transportation. The transport sector is earmarked as a key area of growth for the Hayleys Group with growth estimates of between 20 percent and 25 percent during the year.rn rnExpansion into shipping and the recent […]
Be Generous
Commercial Bank of Ceylon is in talks with its Unions to ask them to contribute part of their earnings towards a bank pension schemeInitial discussions made some headway, with Unions agreeing not to include employees who join after January 1, 2004, from contributing to the Fund.rn rnThe Pension Fund is presently, non-contributory to employees, while […]
Phase II
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Monday approved US$ 800,000 for a second phase private sector development programme to push through reforms to the financial sector and the states privatisation programme. The monies will be diverted to design of the second phase, which will aim to foster a competitive capital market and nonbank financial sector, […]
Woof, Woof
Getting its campaign on the road, on Monday the UNF asked Sri Lankas 12 million voters to decide between clarity and chaos at the April polls.Citing the lack of consensus within the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) on peace process fundamentals, the UNF called on voters to decide between the stability of clearly mapped out […]
Bow-wow
The red-blue Alliance says the UNF failed to deliver on its promises, its only success was in delivering misery to the People. Alliance members on Monday accused the UNF for letting prices of essential goods rise out of control, especially as the cost of food, fuel, medicines, travel, water and electricity among other commodities shot […]
Oh Dear!
Moderate Tamils warned Monday they would declare independence from Sri Lanka unless the government that came to power after snap April elections revived peace talks with Tamil Tigers.The warning came as gunmen shot dead an ethnic Tamil candidate, the first to be killed in the run-up to the polls.rn rnThe Tamil National Alliance, which includes […]
Cosy Chat
The Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna says it will re-negotiate the US$ 567 mn structural loan facility with the IMF, when it comes to power next month.The IMFs concessionary loan package endash the largest ever granted to Sri Lanka last April endash was to be disbursed in equal tranches of US$ 81 mn over a three-year […]
Muddy Waters
Sri Lankas Buddhist clergy Monday accused President Chandrika Kumaratungas Marxist allies of launching a “smear campaign” against them in the run up to parliamentary elections. The Marxist JVP, or Peoples Liberation Front, which partnered with Kumaratungas Freedom Alliance for the snap April 2 polls, had began clandestinely distributing pamphlets protesting the entry of clergy into […]
Hard Sell
Modeled on the likes of top branded resorts like Banyan Tree, Jetwing Hotels is revamping its hotels and spas into three core brands endash Eco, Ayurveda and beach holidays.The group is making a determined shift up-market, in efforts to lure the discerning high spenders with more than just the best package deal.rn rnldblquote In the […]