Category: Industry
Revamped Sri Lanka sweep Bangladesh one-dayers
DHAKA, February 22, 2014 (AFP) – New-look Sri Lanka trounced Bangladesh by six wickets in the third and final one-day international in Dhaka on Saturday to sweep the series 3-0.The hosts missed premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who was handed a three-match ban for a lewd on-camera gesture during the second one-dayer on Thursday. Mominul […]
Pay Freedoms
Feb 22, 2014 (LBO) – A bank in Sri Lanka is in talks with US-based Paypal to become its partner bank for inward remittances, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said. But larger transactions like tourism services are also sold in many countries using Paypal. Sri Lanka allows outward payments through Paypal via credit cards, but […]
Cricket: Sri Lanka keep Bangladesh down to 240-8
DHAKA, February 22, 2014 (AFP) – Seamer Dhammika Prasad claimed three wickets in his first match of the series as new-look Sri Lanka restricted Bangladesh to 240-8 in the third and final one-day international in Dhaka on Saturday.New-ball partner Suranga Lakmal finished with two for 24 in 10 overs after Sri Lanka, enjoying an unassailable […]
Sri Lanka to launch two year tourism promotion campaign
Feb 21, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will launch a “comprehensive mega tourism promotional campaign” to boost arrivals including from newly developing markets, starting this year, information minister Keheliya Rambukwelle said. However there has been strong growth in the lower end of the sector with internet based bookings giving more affordable accommodation with pricing closer […]
Mass Transit
Feb 21, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is likely to opt for a 1.3 billion US dollar monorail mass transit system with Japanese finance to cut traffic congestion and boost mobility in the capital Colombo, an official said. A link is also planned from Kollupitiya to National Hospital. A second stage will involve a line […]
Cricket: Sehwag and Murali to star for MCC in Abu Dhabi
LONDON, February 20, 2014 (AFP) – India’s Virender Sehwag is to captain Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in their four-day match against English champion county Durham in Abu Dhabi next month, officials announced Thursday.This year marks the 200th anniversary of MCC’s move to its present Lord’s ground, with Sehwag among a host of famous names including […]
Bridge Plan
Feb 20, 2014 (LBO) – Japan will fund a 35 billion yen (343mn US dollar) bridge connecting Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo with an expressway network, information minister Keheliya Rambukwelle said.Sri Lanka is also planning an elevated road network to cater to rising traffic. Japan is also expected to fund a the first phase of a […]
White House counters nationalist attacks on trade freedom efforts
WASHINGTON, February 18, 2014 (AFP) – The White House moved Tuesday to fend off criticism of its efforts to seal two new giant free trade pacts, saying the deals would benefit US workers and protect the environment.“Some of the criticisms I hear of our agenda describe the state of the trade policy in 1994, not […]
Energy-starved Pakistan sets sights on coal
GADANI, February 19, 2014 (AFP) – After years of rolling blackouts that have wreaked havoc on industry and fuelled political unrest, energy-starved Pakistan has set its sights on a coal-fired future. Regarded as the dirtiest of all fossil fuels, recent discoveries of untapped coal fields in southern Pakistan have convinced the government they could be […]
Sri Lanka cabinet approves integrated resort investments
Feb 19, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s cabinet of ministers had approved investment concessions for three integrated resort projects which appear to limit income tax cuts to gaming, according to public notices published. The concession are then approved by the cabinet and tabled in parliament. The tax concession for gaming ran into controversy, with opposition […]
Island Branch
Feb 18, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s state-run Bank of Ceylon, the island’s largest bank by assets said it had opened a branch in Seychelles.Bank of Cetlon Assistant General Manager Ranjith Haputhanthri is country head for Seychelles. The bank said it wants to expand into other emerging markets. The bank already has branches in Chennai, […]
Tele Gains
Feb 18, 2014 (LBO) – Profits at Sri Lanka’s Dialog Axiata, which has interests mobile, fixed and pay television, rose 20 percent from a year earlier to 1.1 billion rupees in the December 2013 quarter, interim accounts showed. The group reported earnings of 14 cents per share for the quarter. In the year to December […]