Category: General Services

Sri Lanka’s tsunami victims grapple with alcoholism, depression and insecurity as rehabilitation slows down with time.Sri Lanka’s tsunami victims grapple with alcoholism, depression and insecurity as rehabilitation slows down with time. People’s consultations targeting tsunami survivors, by the UNDP, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka and the University of Colombo show the strain of […]

Sri Lankans heading east to Malaysia for work will need a Malaysian Employment Trainee certificate from February 2006 to qualify for visas.Sri Lankans heading east to Malaysia for work will need a Malaysian Employment Trainee certificate from February 2006 to qualify for visas. Under the labour sourcing agreement signed between the two governments recently, some […]

DHAKA, Dec 19 (AFP) – Seven South and Southeast Asian nations are set to launch a goods free trade agreement from July 2006, which promises to generate additional trade worth 40 billion dollars, Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Morshed Khan said on Monday.DHAKA, Dec 19 (AFP) – Seven South and Southeast Asian nations are set to launch […]

Only 20 percent of grants and loans to rebuild after the Tsunami have been used by the government in the first year after the disaster. Only 20 percent of grants and loans to rebuild after the Tsunami have been used by the government in the first year after the disaster. It would take five and […]

Poor management and labor issues are bigger challenges for apparel exporters from Sri Lanka than the phase out of quotas for garments earlier in the year according to an NGO. Poor management and labor issues are bigger challenges for apparel exporters from Sri Lanka than the phase out of quotas for garments earlier in the […]

In the wake of another world trade meeting Sri Lanka decides to introduce safeguard laws to shield farmers and industries from rampaging imports. In the wake of another world trade meeting Sri Lanka decides to introduce safeguard laws to shield farmers and industries from rampaging imports. The island, that started opening up in 1977 and […]

Small victory for Sri Lanka, with WTO decision to amend the TRIPS, to ensure access to medicines for poorer countries.Small victory for Sri Lanka, with WTO decision to amend the TRIPS, to ensure access to medicines for poorer countries. After years of lobbying, poorer members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) saw a small victory […]

Sri Lankan importers pay up millions of rupees in penalties every month by not knowing about import regulations, says Customs Department.Sri Lankan importers pay up millions of rupees in penalties every month by not knowing about import regulations, says Customs Department. “Sometimes importers pay around Rs 2 million a month on penalties, due to lack […]

Remittances from Sri Lankans working abroad will reach US$ 1.7 billion this year compared to US$ 1.5 billion last year but is it a net gain?Remittances from Sri Lankans working abroad will reach US$ 1.7 billion this year compared to US$ 1.5 billion last year but is it a net gain? Given the high use […]

The EU parliament agreed last week to pass laws to allow European companies over ride drug patents, for developing countries in need.The EU parliament agreed last week to pass laws to allow European companies over ride drug patents, for developing countries in need. The patent override is possible only by European companies, through a special […]

Apollo Hospitals will broad base access to its medical faculties with at least four telemedicine centers spread across the island.Apollo Hospitals will broad base access to its medical faculties with at least four telemedicine centers spread across the island. Currently in its final stages of planning the project is expected to get off ground in […]

Almost a year after the tsunami devastated Sri Lanka’s costal communities, many are still languishing without permanent housing due to government inefficiency, under estimating of reconstruction cost and political interference according to a study.Almost a year after the tsunami devastated Sri Lanka’s costal communities, many are still languishing without permanent housing due to government inefficiency, […]