Category:
Rights report slams Sri Lanka over child soldiers
Jan 24, 2007 (AFP) – A leading human rights group Wednesday slammed Sri Lanka for conscripting hundreds of child soldiers to fight against Tamil rebels, saying the police had turned a blind eye to the practice for years.New-York based Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused the government of “hypocrisy”, saying in a 100-page report that Colombo […]
Sri Lanka restores mobile phones after fall of Tiger town
COLOMBO, Jan 24, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka has begun restoring mobile phone services to half a million subscribers in the war-hit island’s east after lines were shut down during a battle, telephone operators said Wednesday. The move comes after the capture of the main Tamil rebel bastion in the restive area by government forces. […]
IMF closing office a sign that Sri Lanka can manage on its own: treasury chief
January 24, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s treasury chief said Wednesday that the International Monetary Fund’s decision to close offices in the island was a good sign that the country is moving away from being overly reliant on foreign donors. The Washington based lender will wind up operations later this month, as they have no […]
Race leaders
January 23, (LBO) – Associated Motorways (AMW) has cornered 31 percent of Sri Lanka’s brand new car market the budget agency Maruti winning 28 percent, Fitch Ratings Lanka said, awarding the firm a A (lka) rating with a stable outlook. “The rating reflects AMW’s position as the country’s leading distributor of new passenger automobiles, its […]
Hemas and Minor Group of Thailand to re-brand Sri Lanka hotel chain
Jan 23, 2007 (LBO) – Serendib Group of Hotels signs agreement with the Minor Group of Thailand to develop and manage properties owned by the Serendib Group with the re-branding of Hotel Serendib, Bentota. Hemas Holdings Ltd is one of Sri Lanka’s top conglomerates with a focus on FMCG, Healthcare, Transportation, Leisure and Strategic Investments. […]
Migrant Perks
January 23, 2007 (LBO) – The government plans to raise the duty free allowances for Sri Lankans retuning from foreign employment to 5,000 dollars, an official from the Labour Ministry said Tuesday. Sri Lankans returning from a stint abroad are currently given a duty free allowance of up to 1,750 dollars if they stay away […]
Wireless Talk
Jan 23 (LBO) – Sri Lankan mobile operator Dialog said Tuesday it had rolled out broadband wireless services for a few pilot customers, with plans to extend it to other parts of the island over the next few months. The mobile operator also provides retail and wholesale international voice and data services, Internet services and […]
Crossover pressure mounts in Sri Lanka as opposition runs out of options
January 23, (LBO) – Around 18 opposition parliamentarians will crossover to the government by Monday in the first round, if a cabinet re-shuffle takes place over the weekend, a United National Party ‘Karu’ faction official said. The LTTE also split in two after it stopped fighting the government during the ceasefire agreement. Parliamentarian Rajitha Senaratne […]
Sri Lanka journalists protest killings, abductions of their colleagues
COLOMBO, Jan 23, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lankan journalists Tuesday protested the killings and abductions of colleagues during a rally in the capital that called for the government and Tamil rebels to halt the violence.“Hands off journalists,” said a banner carried by a reporter. “Report Card 2006-2007: Eight journalists killed,” said another placard. Activists at […]
Graft-buster campaigns to track down Sri Lanka tsunami corruption
Jan 23, 2007 (AFP) – An international graft-buster Tuesday kicked off a campaign for survivors of Sri Lanka’s December 2004 tsunami to report allegations of corruption involving local and international aid. Transparency International, an international anti-corruption group, set a five-month timetable to give tsunami victims a chance to voice any charges of graft when aid […]
Roadside blasts kills 2 in northern Sri Lanka
Jan 23, 2007 (AFP) – Two roadside bombs exploded in northern Sri Lanka Tuesday, killing two people and wounding 10, while suspected Tamil Tiger rebels hijacked a truck with six construction workers, police said.The blasts occurred in the besieged government-controlled Jaffna peninsula, while the workers were kidnapped by suspected Tiger rebels in the northern town […]
Talking Up
MUMBAI, Jan 23, 2007 (AFP) – India’s largest private phone company, Bharti Airtel, posted Tuesday a third quarter net profit surge, which more than doubled and was above analyst forecasts as demand for telecom services rose.The company said net profit was up to 12.15 billion rupees (274 million dollars) in the quarter ended December 31, […]