Category:
Poll Jitters
The rupee ended a tad lower against the US dollar on election day, though there were concerns that the currency could face a volatile period, on the outcome of what is expected to be a hung parliament.Trading hours for currency and money markets were shortened for four-hours due to the election.rn rnThe dollar opened at […]
Sailing Off
Colombo Dockyards is sailing off on new business routes to stay comfortably afloat as its shipbuilding and repair operation gets weather trodden. Revenues from shipbuilding fell 96 per cent from Rs.2.5 bn to Rs. 91 mn in 2003, as orders for new ships dried up.rn rnCEO and Chairman Koich Yamanaka said some of main setbacks […]
Edging Ahead
President Chandrika Kumaratungas United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) has so far secured just over 47 percent of the votes at Fridays parliamentary poll.The ruling United National Front (UNF) led by Premier Ranil Wickremasinghe, was trailing with a little over 35.2 percent of the total votes counted so far, the Elections Dept said.rn rnThe Buddhist clergy […]
Early Lead
President Chandrika Kumaratungas United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) was leading in early returns Saturday in parliamentary elections, which saw Sri Lankans turn out in large numbers to vote in what is seen as a test of peace talks and the health of the economy.The Elections Dept., said the 608,458,postal votes counted so far, gave the […]
Third Umpire
Come Friday over 4,000 monitors and 20 international observers will take up positions all islandwide to take note of another Sri Lanka election at the cost of over Rs. 30 mn.ldblquote On Election Day, CMEV (Centre for Monitoring Election Violence) will have 4584 Monitors plus 20 International Observers, making a total of 4604 Monitors, dblquote […]
Power Play
The power game is far from over and will continue to play itself out after Fridays general election, say political analysts. rnrn After months of uncertainly rnColombo is steeling itself to put up with a minority government of uncertain rnduration and nature.rn Opinion polls point to a rnlack of a clear majority for either of […]
Potty Business
As a last ditch attempt to preserve dwindling water reserves, the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) rolls out a pilot project on Thu. to fix a meter on each City toilet.A senior CMC official said that: ldblquote Given the huge wastage of treated, drinking quality water in Colombo city being used to flush toilets with, dblquote […]
Interim Relief
State-run Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corp. (SLRC), Independent Television Networks and the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corp. (SLBC) challenged the independent election chief on Tuesday, over his decision to takeover the media institutions.rn rnElection Chief, Dayananda Dissanayake appointed a competent authority endash W D L Perera endash to run the media institutions until polls end on Friday. […]
Tight Finish
Sri Lanka votes Friday in an election that was meant to end a power struggle but is now widely expected to return a hung parliament that could further undermine an already faltering peace bidThe vote, the third in four years, was called by President Chandrika Kumaratunga after she disagreed with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe over […]
Pen Sketches
President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Tamil Tiger guerrilla leader Velupillai Prabhakaran are not candidates in the poll, but their reputations and political future depends on the outcome of the ballot.rn rnHere are pen sketches of the key players:rn rnCHANDRIKA KUMARATUNGA: The 59-year-old daughter of two prime ministers and the widow of a prospective presidential candidate, Kumaratunga […]
Two-Year Disinflation
Seasonal consumer price inflation in March fell by 0.8 per cent in March after falling by 0.7 per cent in February.Annual average inflation, a more accurate measure of the direction of inflation, has been fallen steadily from around 2001.rn rnIn March Rice, coconuts and vegetable prices had fallen while meat and sugar prices had risen.rn […]
Decisive Bunch
rnrn HNB rnStockbrokers Head of Research Hasitha Premaratna arrives at his conclusion on rnthree scenarios based on the districts bagged by each party.rn rn rnProjections for the general election 2004 – based on percentage deviation from rnthe results of 2001 polls – shows that the JHU is expected to secure 10 endash 15 rnseats, with […]