Category: Industry
‘s eco-tourism
Nov 27, 2009 (LBO) – A photographic exhibition in Colombo makes a case for Sri Lanka eco-tourism, encouraging visitors to experience the island’s rich biodiversity, within a renewed climate of peace in the country. The exhibition is on at the Alliance Francaise in Colombo until December 15, 2009. From Little Egrets in Mannar, Spinner Dolphins […]
Troubled Times
Nov 27, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s The Finance Company, a firm in the troubled Ceylinco group that is being re-structured under regulatory supervision, has been downgraded to ‘C(lka)’ or one notch above default, Fitch Ratings Lanka said.Fitch said The Finance Company’s national rating and its subordinate debenture’s rating has both been downgrade to ‘C(lka)’.Both […]
Southern Chance
Nov 27, 2009 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka Ports Authority will issue a request for proposals for investments in a new port being built in the island’s southern Hambantota region by the second week of December, an official said.SLPA chairman Priyath Wickrama said business opportunities in the new port range from cement grinding and bagging, […]
Cheaper Calls
Nov 26, 2009 (LBO) – South Asian telecommunications regulators have decided to ask phone companies in the region to reduce international call charges, an official said.Priyantha Kariyapperuma, Director General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Sri Lanka, said the move, at a Colombo meeting of regional regulators, is intended to make overseas calls cheaper. All […]
India all out for 642 in second Sri Lanka Test
KANPUR, November 25, 2009 (AFP) – Venkatsai Laxman and Yuvraj Singh stroked half-centuries as India reached 642 all out shortly after tea on the second day of the second cricket Test against Sri Lanka here on Wednesday.Laxman (63) hit five fours on the way to his 41st Test half-century while Yuvraj cracked four boundaries and […]
‘s exports weak in September, deficit down
Nov 25, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s exports fell 12.8 percent in September 2009 but imports fell at a steeper 36.1 percent shrinking the trade deficit 62.2 percent to 220.4 million US dollars, the Central Bank said. Remittances and net inflows of capital help expand the trade deficit while central bank’s contractionary sterilization activities which […]
Sri Lanka dominated by India in second Test
KANPUR, November 24, 2009 (AFP) – Openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir hit sparkling centuries to give India a flying start in the second cricket Test against Sri Lanka here on Tuesday. Sehwag scored 131 off 122 balls and shared 233 runs for the opening wicket with Gambhir as India reached 307-1 at tea on […]
Emirates to launch direct flights to Tokyo
Nov 24, 2009 (LBO) – Emirates, the Dubai-based airline, said it plans to launch direct non-stop services to Tokyo from March 28 next year to lure travellers across the Middle East instead of the Pacific. The move closely follows the recent launch of operations to Durban and Luanda, the airline said in a statement. At […]
Transport Trends
Nov 24, 2009 (LBO) – Vehicle imports to Sri Lanka in August 2009, measured by the total number of new registration of motor vehicles, fell 22.2 percent to 16,293 from a year ago, latest official data showed. The government lifted restrictions imposed towards the end of 2008 on import letters of credit for vehicles, amid […]
Ship Fuel
Nov 24, 2009 (LBO) – A price war among Sri Lankan bunker suppliers in Colombo port is intensifying with some firms saying prices have fallen below cost to loss-making levels.Sri Lankan bunker suppliers said prices have come down sharply since the market was opened up and more suppliers came in with the price difference between […]
Road Support
Nov 24, 2009 (LBO) – The European Union (EU) said repairs to a key road linking Sri Lanka’s south with the east that was damaged by a tsunami had been completed with EU and Asian Development Bank aid. The 158-kilometer stretch of the southern coastal road linking the southern Matara town with Wellawaya towards the […]
Freight Rates
Nov 23, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shippers are confronted with an increase in transportation costs to and from their markets with loss-making global carriers raising freight rates or announcing rate hikes from next year to restore profitability.Some lines have also withdrawn vessels and services to and from the region and introduced ‘slow steaming’ in […]