Category: Industry
Sri Lanka plans 500MW coal plant in South West
Mar 21, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka state-run Ceylon Electricity Board is planning a 500 MegaWatt eco-friendly coal plant in Ahuruwella, Induruwa in the southwest coast, the island’s power ministry said. Another two 300MW plants are being built in Puttlama now. A power ministry statement quoted power minister Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi as saying that the plant […]
DFI Credit
Mar 20, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Sampath Bank has signed up medium term credit facilities from Chinese and French development finance institutions, managing director Aravinda Perera said. The bank grew loans 23.7 percent with the help of foreign finance topping an 18 percent ceiling imposed by the regulator for loans with domestic resources. Officials […]
Paradise Isle
Mar 19, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s media, including banned-but-popular news websites, have evidently avoided reporting on the “princely wages” they have just been awarded by a government keen to win over their support.Buoyed by such compliments, media trade unions are unlikely to join the Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA). The Working Journalists’ Association, which […]
Sri Lanka carrier halves Chennai flights after attack on monks
Mar 18, 2013 (LBO) – State-run SriLankan Airlines said it was halving flight to Chennai to 14 a week from 28 from Thursday March 21 following an attack on a visiting Buddhist monk by Tamil groups.“SriLankan Airlines has observed a drop in traffic between Chennai and Colombo due to recent developments in Tamil Nadu, hence […]
Sri cautions tourists to Tamil Nadu; India says attackers prosecuted
Mar 18, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has called upon citizens travelling to “exercise caution” following attacks by suspected Tamil groups on tourists including Buddhist monks, while India said action has been taken to find and prosecute those involved in assaults.Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry said it had “lodged strong protests with the Indian Government” through […]
Sri Lanka opens second international airport
Mar 18, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa inaugurated the island’s second international airport in Mattala, Hambantota after arriving in a state-run SriLankan Airlines aircraft Monday.The Chinese financed Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, named after the president, can handle a million passengers and 45,000 tonnes cargo annually. Air Arabia, a UAE based budget carrier, […]
Sri Lanka second airport to support aviation hub strategy: President
Mar 18, 2013 (LBO) – The opening of a second international airport in Mattala in Hambantota on March 18, strengthens Sri Lanka’s strategy to become an aviation hub, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said. The airport has a 3,500 meter ‘code F’ runway capable of handling Airbus A380 aircraft. He declared March 18 as the civil aviation […]
Smartphone
Mar 18, 2013 (LBO) – Dialog Axiata Plc, Sri Lanka’s largest cellco said it has launched two own brand Android based handsets with which it hopes encourage mass-adoption of Smartphones in the country.Hans Wijesuriya, group chief executive of Dialog Axiata said the move will allow every citizen to afford a Smartphone. He said the Dialog […]
Financial Turmoil
TOKYO, March 18, 2013 (AFP) – The euro dived in Asia Monday as news that Cyprus would have to tax bank customers’ deposits as part of an EU bailout stoked eurozone fears, sending investors flocking to the safe-haven yen.In afternoon Tokyo trade, the euro sank to 121.77 yen from 124.61 yen in late New York […]
Smart Traffic
Mar 18, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s expressways will get hi-tec equipment to monitor traffic, disseminate information including weather and analyze data to solve problems relating to traffic conditions, the Japan International Co-operation Agency said. Data from existing closed circuit TV cameras, patrol vehicles, Police and expressway users could also be combined and relevant information […]
Sri Lanka state airlines to operate 11 frequencies from Mattala
Mar 15, 2013 (LBO) – State-run SriLankan Airlines said it will operate nine flights a week out of Sri Lanka’s second international airport in Mattala, which is opening next week while its sister budget carrier will operate two flights. SriLankan Airlines will fly twice a week to Riyadh, four times to Male, twice to Beijing […]
Mobile Banking
May 15, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Hatton National Bank, which has more than two million customers, has launched a mobile banking platform to which it is planning to draw 300,000 users in the next three years, officials said.Rodrigo said from next month the service will allow transfers to accounts in other banks. Jonathan Alles, […]