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Sri Lankan lawmaker demands dismissal of ministers, top bureaucrats
Nov 14, 2007 (LBO) – A Sri Lankan government lawmaker who crossed over to the opposition benches Wednesday is demanding the dismissal of cabinet ministers and bureaucrats against whom a parliamentary committee headed by him made allegations of corruption. Parliamentarian Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa said that he has set seven conditions for the government to meet in […]
Sri Lanka ruling party lawmaker decamps
Nov 14, 2007 (LBO) – A Sri Lankan lawmaker who heads a parliamentary committee overseeing state enterprises that has been probing corruption allegations, crossed over to opposition benches Wednesday. Wijedasa Rajapaksa, while requesting the speaker for a seat in the opposition benches, also said he would remain a member of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party […]
Flying Tigers trigger Sri Lanka alert
Nov 14, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka switched off electricity in the capital Colombo early Wednesday amid fears that Tamil Tiger rebels were flying their light aircraft for a possible attack, officials said.The power supply was cut off before dawn for nearly half an hour as the country’s air defence systems spotted two unidentified aircraft, […]
Sri Lanka trade deficit widens in September; 9-month deficit still down
Nov 14, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s trade deficit widened in September to 281 million from 199 million a year ago, but the gap for the first nine months of the year was still 7.5 percent lower than last year. Exports grew 19.2 percent to 724.6 million in September with imports also rising 24.9 percent. […]
Sri Lankan coastal towns threatened by rising sea level
Nov 14, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s coastal settlements are at risk of rising sea levels caused by global warming while those in the central hills face landslide threats, a top official said. “If the water level rises Sri Lanka’s entire coastal belt is facing possible destruction,” said Lakshman Jayasekara, director general, National Physical Planning […]
Sri Lanka says US$500 million bond has been used to repay debt
Nov 13, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s finance ministry confirmed Wednesday that the proceeds of its biggest ever foreign bond issue had already been spent to repay short term debt.The government originally said a 500 million dollar sovereign bond issue raised in October would be used for infrastructure development projects. A Sri Lanka finance ministry […]
One Solution
Nov 13, 2007 (LBO) – Iran’s Mammut group has tied up with Sri Lanka’s Mod-Tec trading company to provide infrastructure services to the island’s wireless telecom operators, senior company officials said. Mammut provides a broad range of turnkey solutions, from land acquisition, architectural designs, construction, and electronic service implementation to training of individuals and maintenance. […]
Sri Lanka power firm warns of time lag
Nov 13, 2007 (LBO) – A power investor says it may take more than two years to set up a thermal plant if it was given the go ahead now, after Sri Lanka’s power minister said the state electricity utility was seeking additional capacity. . “If we were given the go ahead now, it may […]
Bangladesh launches Internet sabotage probe
DHAKA, Nov 13, 2007 (AFP) – Bangladesh on Tuesday launched an investigation after the country’s Internet link was sabotaged, disrupting communications nationwide for most of the day.Officials said cables were also severed twice last week causing massive disruption to businesses in the impoverished country. “We are investigating the cable cutting incident which took place today […]
China concerned at 6.5-pct inflation; GDP growth 11.5-pct
BEIJING, Nov 13, 2007 (AFP) – China’s consumer price index, the main gauge of inflation, rose 6.5 percent in October year-on-year, the government said Tuesday, as Premier Wen Jiabao promised to stabilise prices.The figure was up from 6.2 percent in September, and the same as the 6.5 percent in August, then the highest level in […]
Commonwealth gives Pakistan suspension ultimatum
LONDON, Nov 13, 2007 (AFP) – The Commonwealth on Monday gave Pakistan a 10-day deadline to restore its constitution and lift other emergency measures or face suspension from the 53-nation grouping.The ultimatum came after emergency talks among the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) in London to decide how to respond to President Pervez Musharraf’s declaration […]
Sri Lanka media hit by Australian agency blackout; fears of anti-Murali conspiracy
Nov 13, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka fears missing out on hero Muttiah Muralitharan’s feat of becoming the greatest ever wicket taker in Test cricket because of an ongoing dispute over media access. Master spinner Muralitharan needs just seven wickets to overtake retired Australian and fellow spinner Shane Warne’s world record tally of 708. Muralitharan […]