High Note

August 23, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lankan apparel exports to Europe grew by as much as 30 percent in June, as manufacturers made better use of tax breaks to the EU. The industry earned 1.32 billion dollars in the first half of this year, a four percent growth, though exports to top market the United […]

Still Stuck

August 22, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lankan manufacturers of vegetable oil vanaspati say unsold shipments are stuck in Indian ports and in local factories after New Delhi unilaterally capped duty free imports. Exports earnings, the association says, are in the region of 700,000 dollars a day. Some 200 containers are stuck in Indian ports since […]

Trade Barriers

August 21, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has set an end September deadline to implement commitments under its trade deals with India, Pakistan and other South Asian countries. Sri Lanka was expected to phase out tariffs under its free trade deals with India and Pakistan this year, as well as under the South Asian Free […]

One Passenger

The first sale of a license to operate a taxi service, through a call option, ended with no competitive bidding as only one buyer came forward, raising doubts about the demand for the other licenses to be auctioned over the next eight days. Senok Trade Combine was the only bidder at Monday™s auction where a […]

Big Favours

August 11 (LBO) – Sri Lanka™s Board of Investment is to expand a selective list of exporters and importers who get Green Channel or speedy clearance through customs. We are in the process of considering further investors who are eligible for the scheme and we will add on another five to ten a month to […]

‘ Block

Aug 9, 2006 (LBO) – Reporters Without Borders has called on both sides in Sri Lanka’s civil war to see that journalists could continue reporting in areas of fighting, especially in the northeastern town of Muttur, and criticised them for refusing to allow the media into these zones.“We know some parts of the country have […]

Postal Finance

Aug 9, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s postal department is looking to provide agency financial services to boost revenue and reduce its operating deficit.It has a long association with the state-owned National Savings Bank and is used to dealing with savings accounts. “We feel that the post office is the ideal location in the rural […]

Mutual Ties

August 4, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka and India have agreed to recognise product certificates issued in both countries, cutting down red tape and transaction time when goods are traded. Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers has approved the bilateral agreement between Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) and the Bureau of Indian Standards, Cabinet spokesperson, Anura […]

Tie-breaker

August 03, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka and India made a breakthrough in crisis talks held this week to resume duty free exports of vanaspati oil to India. The new terms will have to be approved by Sri Lanka™s Cabinet, but the commerce ministry is in agreement, Ratnayake says, adding that the terms are reasonable. […]

Winning Round

Aug 03 (LBO) – Sealed cable television company CBNSat said Thursday that they had won a court order for a two week test transmission and to service its broadcast equipment. At a court hearing held on August 3, the Chief Justice ordered the relevant authorities to take necessary measures to remove the seals from equipment […]

Common Understanding

August 01, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has agreed to extend ˜national treatment™ to Indian banks and allow them to employ up to six expatriate staff, when both sides met for bilateral trade talks recently, an official said. Sri Lanka currently caps expatriate staff to three and that only at management level of banks. Four […]

Tsunami Alert

JAKARTA, July 27, 2006 (AFP) – Indonesian officials said Thursday they plan to install sirens on mobile phone towers to alert coastal areas to potential tsunamis, following a second killer wave in the archipelago nation in as many years. Installation of the sirens will be completed by the end of 2006, said Paryatmoko, tsunami early […]

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