Sri Lanka state non-tax revenues up in first quarter

June 21, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has seen steep increase in non-tax incomes in the first quarter of 2010 which accounted for more than half the revenue gains made by the state, official data shows. State revenues increased by 26.3 percent in the first quarter to 182. 7 billion rupees with tax revenues gaining […]

State Banking

June 20, 2010 (LBO) – Lankaputhra Development Bank, a state bank set up to fulfill an election promise, has increased its bad loans to 55. 9 percent in 2009, from 19.2 percent a year earlier, a government report has revealed. Lankaputhra or ‘sons of the Lanka’ bank was set up to fill a supposed lack […]

Arsenic in water poisoned 77 million Bangladeshis: report

DHAKA, June 20, 2010 (AFP) – Up to 77 million Bangladeshis have been exposed to toxic levels of arsenic from contaminated drinking water, and even low-level exposure to the poison is not risk-free, The Lancet medical journal reported. Over the past decade, more than 20 percent of deaths recorded in a study that monitored nearly […]

Cricket-mad Indian touted as next Deutsche Bank CEO

BERLIN, June 20, 2010 (AFP) – Anshu Jain already captains Deutsche Bank’s cricket team, and a boardroom reshuffle last week means that the Indian big-hitter is now seen as a prime candidate to be chief executive too. Jain, 47, has just been appointed sole head of the German lender’s most powerful division, its corporate and […]

India oust Pakistan in Asia Cup thriller

DAMBULLA, June 19, 2010 (AFP) – Harbhajan Singh smashed the penultimate ball from Mohammad Aamer for a six as India knocked Pakistan out of the Asia Cup with a three-wicket win on Saturday. Raina and Harbhajan then stepped in to lead a brilliant recovery and crush a valiant Pakistan side’s hopes of staying alive in […]

Japan backs UN war crimes probe into Sri Lanka war

June 20, 2010 (AFP) – A visiting Japanese envoy said Sunday his country backed efforts by the United Nations to investigate alleged war crimes committed in Sri Lanka during the final months of its ethnic conflict. Yasushi Akashi, whose country is a major donor to Sri Lanka, ended a five-day visit saying he detected a […]

” govt: report

June 20, 2010 (AFP) – A senior leader of Sri Lanka’s defeated Tamil Tiger rebels has agreed to help the government in its post-war reconstruction efforts, a state-run newspaper reported Sunday. The UN estimates that up to 100,000 people were killed in Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict which began in the 1970s. The UN has also […]

Future of whaling in the balance at global meet

PARIS, June 19, 2010 (AFP) – Pro- and anti-whaling nations face off next week in a battle over the 24-year-old ban on the commercial killing of whales. Gathering in Agadir, Morocco, the 88 countries of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) will tussle over controversial changes to a moratorium that has become an icon of green […]

Sri Lanka forum promotes joint South Asian stand at trade talks

June 19, 2010 (LBO) – South Asian countries like Sri Lanka have a common interest in forging a common regional stand in world trade talks, trade experts and economists told a meeting in Colombo. “If formalities are made to delay imports it becomes a trade barrier,” Sen said. He said South Asian countries should get […]

Dilshan shines as Sri Lanka crush Bangladesh

DAMBULLA, June 18, 2010 (AFP) – Tillakaratne Dilshan starred with bat and ball as Sri Lanka trounced Bangladesh by 126 runs on Friday to virtually book their place in the Asia Cup final. Dilshan smashed 71 off 51 balls and claimed three wickets as the defending champions piled up a commanding 312-4 in their 50 […]

Sri Lanka seeks to raise rubber output with rain guards

June 18, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is to encourage small farmers tapping rubber to use rain guards to reduce production disruption by rain and provide more supplies for industry helped by high prices, an official said. Small farmers are likely to be the main suppliers of rubber in future, he said. Local consumption of […]

Sri Lanka to ink trade deal with India after addressing concerns: minister

June 18, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka wants to extend economic links with India by signing a new trade agreement once concerns are addressed, 10 years after the first free trade deal was inked with the neighbour, a government minister said. The agreement is also expected come with mutual recognition of standards to prevent health […]

Page 1859 of 3386