Category: Economy

President Chandrika Kumaratungas party is ready to form a new government even if it did not garner a simple majority in parliamentary elections, her spokesman Harim Peiris told AFP Saturday.rn“We are emerging the largest single party and we will form the government,” Peiris said. “That is clearly the intent.”rn rn The results of Fridays vote […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

A new constitution for Sri Lanka through lquote extra legal measures is the answer, says the UPFA endash but political analysts look at it as lquote out of the frying pan and into the fire.The UPFA (United Peoples Freedom Alliance) is asking for a mandate for lquote extra legal measures to adopt a new constitution.rn […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Trade deficit for January grew US$ 4 mn to US$ 152 mn in 2004, as foreign inflows from tourism, ports, private transfers and net inflows of portfolio investments eased the pressure on the rupee.rn rnEXPORTSrn rnA strong recovery in the global economy helped push export earnings up by 20 percent to US$ 459 mn in […]

Cultural pollution such as Coca-Cola and McDonalds will be spurned if the monks campaigning for this weeks elections in Sri Lanka have their way.They also say they will take sexually explicit movies off national TV as part of their avowed bid to save Sri Lankas heritage.Crime against women is increasing because television and movies influence […]