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UN envoy in Sri Lanka expresses fears for civilians
February 19, 2009 (AFP) – The United Nations humanitarian chief John Holmes held talks with leaders in Sri Lanka on Thursday and said he was gravely concerned for thousands of civilians trapped in the island’s war zone. Holmes met Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama after the Tamil Tiger rebels suffered a series of defeats that have […]
Sri Lanka ex-warlord says Tamils want development, warns of continued guerrilla strife: interview
February 19, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops face another 18 months of fighting even after they have all Tamil Tiger territory under their control, a former rebel has warned.The man known as “Colonel Karuna,” who led an unprecedented split in the movement in 2004, says the Tigers will revert to guerrilla warfare after they […]
Top UN official to visit restive Sri Lanka
UNITED NATIONS, February 18, 2009 (AFP) – UN humanitarian chief John Holmes is to pay a three-day visit to strife-torn Sri Lanka later this week to review the humanitarian situation, the world body said Wednesday. During his previous visit to Sri Lanka in August 2007, Holmes described the island as one of the world’s most […]
Sri Lanka official reserves US$1.7 billion in December
Feb 19, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves fell to 1,753 million US dollars in December from 2,030 million US dollars in November which was enough to finance 1.5 months of imports, the Central Bank said. Gross official reserves with Asian Clearing Union (ACU) funds was 2,561 million US dollars which was enough to […]
Sri Lankan shares draw foreign interest
Feb 18, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka shares lost early gains on Wednesday despite high volume trading due to foreigners taking strategic positions on high liquid shares such as Dialog Telekom and Lanka Cement, brokers said.A crossings of 200,000 shares of conglomerate John Keells Holdings changed hands at 65 rupees. JKH closed at 59 rupees […]
Oil Negotiations
Feb 18, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is starting a round of talks with several banks to re-negotiate oil derivatives sold to a state-run petroleum firm which had gone against the utility, a government minister said. Sri Lanka’s central bank said the deals were ‘tainted’ and advised banks not to proceed with the deals. State-run […]
Sri Lankan gets tough with eco-labels
Feb 18, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan businesses that want to market their products and services as eco-friendly would have to get approval from the central environmental authority (CEA) in future.CEA chairman Udaya Gammanpila said new rules will be introduced to prevent misuse of the label which many firms were using as an advertising gimmick. […]
Sri Lanka rejects truce call as fighting escalates
February 18, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s government on Wednesday rejected fresh calls for a truce with Tamil Tigers as troops took another village from rebel control and concern mounted for civilians trapped in the war zone. Defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said the government was firmly committed to wiping out “terrorism” and described the demand […]
‘s war zone: running the gauntlet
TRINCOMALEE, February 18, 2009 (AFP) – Shopkeeper Subramaniam Sudaharan says he is lucky to be alive after his two teenage sons were shot dead as the family fled Sri Lanka’s increasingly brutal war zone.What was left of the devastated family — he, his wife and a younger boy — were among 440 war-wounded evacuated from […]
Sri Lankan Airlines wins IndiGo maintenance deal
Feb 18, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan Airlines said its engineering arm has been awarded a major contract by IndiGo to carry out a series of important maintenance checks on the fast-growing Indian carrier’s aircraft fleet.The work will be done by Sri Lankan Engineering, the aircraft maintenance arm of Sri Lanka’s national airline, at it […]
India ready to help evacuation of Sri Lankan Tamil civillians
NEW DELHI, February 18, 2009 (AFP) – India said Wednesday it was ready to help evacuate tens of thousands of Tamil civilians caught in the crossfire between Sri Lankan troops and Tiger rebels in the northeast of the island.Indian troops, sent in by ex-Congress premier Rajiv Gandhi to enforce a peace deal on the island, […]
Sri Lanka to trim own contribution to push multilateral projects: minister
Feb 18, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is hoping to push through foreign funded projects which have been held up due to lack of ‘counterparty funds’, with a lower contribution from the government, a senior minister said. Deputy finance minister Sarath Amunugama said there were “a lot of projects” awaiting a 15 percent government contribution, […]