Category: Economy

The International Monetary Fund has trimmed Sri Lanka’s 2005 growth by 0.75 percent, and warned that there was little political will to tackle painful reforms. The International Monetary Fund has trimmed Sri Lanka’s 2005 growth by 0.75 percent, and warned that there was little political will to tackle painful reforms. In its semi-annual World Economic […]

Higher oil prices, the Indian Ocean tsunamis and patchy rains are expected to slow South Asia’s economic growth rate in 2005 to 6.5 percent from 7.1 percent logged in the past two years, the IMF said.Higher oil prices, the Indian Ocean tsunamis and patchy rains are expected to slow South Asia’s economic growth rate in […]

The tsunamis that slammed 11 Indian Ocean nations and killed an estimated 217,000 people could boost economic growth in hard hit countries thanks to reconstruction, the IMF said Wednesday.The tsunamis that slammed 11 Indian Ocean nations and killed an estimated 217,000 people could boost economic growth in hard hit countries thanks to reconstruction, the IMF […]

Sri Lanka’s president called Thursday for a deal with Tamil Tiger rebels on distributing aid to tsunami survivors, saying it would set the stage for a final agreement to end a decades-old separatist war.Sri Lanka’s president called Thursday for a deal with Tamil Tiger rebels on distributing aid to tsunami survivors, saying it would set […]

An unidentified gunman shot dead a Tamil political activist in Sri Lanka’s restive northeast on Monday, further fuelling tension in the region.An unidentified gunman shot dead a Tamil political activist in Sri Lanka’s restive northeast on Monday, further fuelling tension in the region. Wijedasan Wijendran was gunned down as he returned from a Hindu temple […]

Tension has escalated in Sri Lanka’s restive northeast even as peace broker Norway was set to launch a fresh attempt to keep the two sides engaged in talks, officials and diplomats said Sunday.Tension has escalated in Sri Lanka’s restive northeast even as peace broker Norway was set to launch a fresh attempt to keep the […]

A powerful earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale struck off the west coast of Indonesia’s Sumatra island Sunday sparking panic among people fearing a repeat of the tsunami disaster, officials said. A powerful earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale struck off the west coast of Indonesia’s Sumatra island Sunday sparking panic among people […]

Tamil Tiger rebels Sunday released a government soldier they had captured overnight in Sri Lanka’s eastern district of Trincomalee, local officials said. Tamil Tiger rebels Sunday released a government soldier they had captured overnight in Sri Lanka’s eastern district of Trincomalee, local officials said. The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) handed the soldier […]

At least two people were killed in Sri Lanka’s restive eastern province Friday in what military officials described as escalating rebel factional fighting.At least two people were killed in Sri Lanka’s restive eastern province Friday in what military officials described as escalating rebel factional fighting. A breakaway faction of the Tamil Tigers clashed with the […]

The United Nations office in Sri Lanka is calling for a clear land policy for resettlement of tsunami victims, particularly in areas of land shortage.“A clear policy on relocation is of such national importance, it must not be politicised,” said the resident representative of the UNDP, Miguel Bermeo, on Friday, at a Danish business conference. […]

Scandinavians monitoring a truce between Sri Lankan troops and Tamil Tigers ruled Friday that the rebels were in breach of the ceasefire when they attacked a naval patrol boat.Scandinavians monitoring a truce between Sri Lankan troops and Tamil Tigers ruled Friday that the rebels were in breach of the ceasefire when they attacked a naval […]

Sri Lanka is expected to trail behind other Asian nations again this year, after lagging the spectacular growth of developing Asia in 2004, the Asian Development Bank said. Sri Lanka is expected to trail behind other Asian nations again this year, after lagging the spectacular growth of developing Asia in 2004, the Asian Development Bank […]