Category: Industry
Nomadic Workers
Oct 22, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s migrant workers and their remittances are unlikely to be seriously affected by the global economic slowdown, the Institute of Policy Studies said in a report. But unskilled migrant workers, especially those in the construction industry, may be affected by the slowdown in construction and service sectors in Gulf […]
Deposit Franchise
Oct 22, 2009 (LBO) – RAM Ratings Lanka said it has assigned long- and short-term financial institutions rating of A and P1 to Sri Lanka’s State Mortgage and Investment Bank (SMIB). “The ratings are primarily based on the state ownership of the bank, tempered by the wide asset-liability maturity mismatch (ALMM) inherent in its business […]
Sri Lanka hydro power producer gets more generating licenses
Oct 21, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan mini hydro power company Vallibel Power Erathna said it has bought a firm that has approvals for two power plants and deals to sell electricity to the state utility. Vallibel Power, which is being eyed by a US investor, said in a stock exchange filing that it has […]
SriLankan Airlines says bookings up, to increase flights
Oct 21, 2009 (LBO) – SriLankan Airlines said it will increase flights this winter season to a dozen cities throughout Europe, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, and Far East as bookings were on the rise. The move is based on its projection that passenger numbers will “definitely increase” following the end of the island’s […]
Big Number
Oct 21, 2009 (LBO) –Sri Lanka’s The Finance Company (TFC), a former unit of the troubled Ceylinco Group, said it made a 2.5 billion rupee loss in 2008, owing to a slump in property prices and a run on deposits. TFC said in a statement the company had been adversely affected by the high profile […]
Sri Lanka threatened with loss of EU trade perks
BRUSSELS, October 19, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka was threatened on Monday with losing preferential trading status with the European Union over human rights violations, the EU commission said Monday. A Sri Lankan foreign ministry statement said Colombo had blocked a team of experts from visiting “as a matter of principle”. The country’s textile industry […]
Sri Lanka says to study EU report on trade deal
Oct 20, 2009 (LBO) – The Sri Lankan government said it will study a report by the European Union that said it was in breach of commitments on human rights that might cause it to lose a trade deal. The EC report said the Commission will now decide whether to propose a temporary withdrawal of […]
Sri Lanka hydro power producer gets offer from US firm
Oct 20, 2009 (LBO) – Asia Energy Management Systems Inc., a US-based firm, said it has offered to buy 160million shares or a 21.4 percent stake in Vallibel Power Erathna at five rupees a share.Vallibel Power Erathna shares were up 10 cents at 4.60 rupees a share in early morning trade Tuesday with 5.5 million […]
Trading Technology
Oct 20, 2009 (LBO) – Sri lanka’s MillenniumIT software firm said its acquisition by the London Stock Exchange Group would help boost global sales of its trading technology business. Tony Weeresinghe, chief executive of MillenniumIT, said the deal would help the company expand into other markets and invest for the future. “We intend to leverage […]
Arabian Link
Oct 20, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Tigo celco said it will expand its services and coverage following its acquisition by Etisalat, the United Arab Emirates-based telecom firm. Tigo Sri Lanka chief executive Dumindra Ratnayaka said Etisalat had acquired 100 percent of the Tigo Sri Lanka operation from Millicom International. “We have been seeking this […]
Transport Trends
Oct 20, 2009 (LBO) – Vehicle imports to Sri Lanka fell 26.4 percent in July from a year ago with motor cars down 74.7 percent, trucks and other goods transport vehicle falling 47.3 percent and three wheelers 35.3 percent, the latest official data shows.In the seven months to July total vehicles imports were down 32.3 […]
Sri Lanka to get GSP Plus verdict by early January: official
Oct 19, 2009 (LBO) – The European Union will decide whether or not to renew the GSP Plus trade deal with Sri Lanka giving duty free access to EU markets by early January 2010, a senior official said. Bernard Savage, EU head of delegation to Sri Lanka, said the EU investigation report was submitted to […]