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Sri Lanka gross foreign reserves at US$4.5bn mid Oct
Oct 21, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s gross official foreign reserves topped 4.5 billion US dollars by October 13, and end-August reserves were at 3,890.1 million US dollars, the Central Bank said. The Central Bank said it had bought 2,529.3 million US dollars from the forex markets this year. During the year 212.7 million US […]
Sri Lankan shares bounce back
Oct 21, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares made a strong recovery to edge back over 3,000 points in late afternoon trade Wednesday as panicky investors calmed down on news a US hedge fund whose founder faces fraud charges had claimed adequate liquidity, brokers said. Conglomerate John Keells Holdings recovered to close at 140.25 rupees, […]
Big Number
Oct 21, 2009 (LBO) –Sri Lanka’s The Finance Company (TFC), a former unit of the troubled Ceylinco Group, said it made a 2.5 billion rupee loss in 2008, owing to a slump in property prices and a run on deposits. TFC said in a statement the company had been adversely affected by the high profile […]
‘s economy seen growing 6.5 pct this year: panel
NEW DELHI, October 21, 2009 (AFP) – India’s economy has withstood the global financial crisis well and should grow by 6.5 percent this fiscal year, a top government panel forecast Wednesday. The panel, which advises India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on economic policy, put the estimated growth range for the country between 6.25 percent and […]
SriLankan Airlines says bookings up, to increase flights
Oct 21, 2009 (LBO) – SriLankan Airlines said it will increase flights this winter season to a dozen cities throughout Europe, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, and Far East as bookings were on the rise. The move is based on its projection that passenger numbers will “definitely increase” following the end of the island’s […]
Sri Lanka hydro power producer gets more generating licenses
Oct 21, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan mini hydro power company Vallibel Power Erathna said it has bought a firm that has approvals for two power plants and deals to sell electricity to the state utility. Vallibel Power, which is being eyed by a US investor, said in a stock exchange filing that it has […]
Hearings begin for migrants arrested off Canadian coast
VANCOUVER, October 21, 2009 (AFP) – Detention hearings began Tuesday for two of 76 migrants who were arrested Saturday on a mystery ship off Canada’s coast and are believed to be Tamils fleeing Sri Lanka, Immigration adjudicator Leeann King of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board ruled late Tuesday that the first two of the migrants […]
Sri Lanka exports picking up: Central Bank
Oct 21, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s exports, which down 6.7 percent in August from a year earlier were showing a steady month on month rise with a recovery seen in the key apparel sector, the Central Bank said. Mineral exports recorded a decline of 30.1 per cent, largely due to lower gem exports. In […]
Sri Lankan shares end down 3.24-pct
Oct 20, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares ended sharply lower Tuesday, sinking below 3,000 points, on panic selling on fears about losing market access to Europe and fraud charges against a US fund manager with stakes in the island’s firms. The All Share Price Index closed down 3.24 percent (99.74 points) to end at […]
Transport Trends
Oct 20, 2009 (LBO) – Vehicle imports to Sri Lanka fell 26.4 percent in July from a year ago with motor cars down 74.7 percent, trucks and other goods transport vehicle falling 47.3 percent and three wheelers 35.3 percent, the latest official data shows.In the seven months to July total vehicles imports were down 32.3 […]
Court Action
Oct 20, 2009 (LBO) – The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said one of the accused in its case against senior executives of Singalanka Standard Chemicals charged with falsifying accounts and forging auditors’ signatures has pleaded guilty. The SEC said the court re-issued summons against the first accused, the former chairman of Singalanka Standard Chemicals, […]
Arabian Link
Oct 20, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Tigo celco said it will expand its services and coverage following its acquisition by Etisalat, the United Arab Emirates-based telecom firm. Tigo Sri Lanka chief executive Dumindra Ratnayaka said Etisalat had acquired 100 percent of the Tigo Sri Lanka operation from Millicom International. “We have been seeking this […]