Category: Other
Sri Lanka asks Russia for phased import duty reduction
Dec 21, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has asked Russia to cut import duty on tea in a phased manner following its admission to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) after 18 years of negotiations, officials said. Sri Lanka’s tea industry has been lobbying Russia to reduce import duty to enable exporters better access for value-added […]
Sri Lanka tea trade sees gains from Russia WTO entry
Dec 20, 2011 (LBO) – Russia’s entry in to the World Trade Organization last week will enable high import duty on value-added tea to be reduced, creating better access for Sri Lankan teas, industry officials said. “Russia is our largest market for tea and we would like to increase value-added teas being sent to Russia […]
Sri Lanka to probe whale deaths, do acoustic monitoring
Dec 20, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is launching a probe on whale deaths which are suspected to be due to shipping, and also study the mammals by monitoring their calls underwater, the head of a research agency said. “Too many whales are dying around Sri Lanka,” Hiran Jayewardene chairman of Sri Lanka’s National Aquatic […]
Sri Lanka targets Russia with specialty teas
Dec 19, 2011 (LBO) – A specialty tea contest held in Russia recently would help Sri Lankan exporters promote Ceylon teas in the biggest market for the island’s main agricultural export, officials said. ‘Blind tasting’ of the teas was done by a panel of 12 tea tasters with 66 entries being sent to Russia for […]
Lessons
Dec 19, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has to re-build an independent public service and restore rule of law to give freedom to citizens, a commission of inquiry on lessons learnt and reconciliation following the end of a 30-year civil war has said. “A democracy must assure a fair system of governance under the Rule […]
India probes stock price-rigging
NEW DELHI, Asia Pulse (LBO) – India’s market watchdog is probing the role of at least 25 newly-listed firms, which includes the holding company, certain brokers and merchant bankers. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is also probing the possibility of cartelisation among the company promoters, brokers and merchant bankers for rigging the […]
Sri Lanka tea meet to seek common standard
Dec 16, 2011 (LBO) – Tea producing and consuming countries will seek to agree on a common standard for pesticide residue levels in tea during a meeting of the United Nations Food and Agriculture organisation body in Colombo early next year. Different MRL standards in markets like Japan and Germany had created problems for exporters […]
Sri Lanka to examine shortcomings in crate law
Dec 15, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will go ahead with a new law requiring transport of fruits and vegetables in plastic crates but would look into any shortcomings after protests by farmers and traders led to shortages in the capital. “We’re not changing the policy,” declared Keheliya Rambukwella, media minister and spokesman for the […]
‘s Tata Power signs up US$68mn for solar power
NEW DELHI, Dec 14 (AsiaPulse) – Tata Power (BSE:500400) said it has tied up funds for its 25-MW solar project in Gujarat, which is to see an investment of about Rs 365 crore (US$68.7 million). Tata Power has inked a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for the project with Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd. (PTI) cg […]
‘s CIC and Dubai firm in indoor plant deal
Dec 12, 2011 (LBO) – Dubai-based S S Lootah International said it had inked a partnership with Sri Lanka’s CIC Agri Business to supply ornamental plants to the UAE and later jointly expand into tissue culture with an eye on markets in Africa. The statement said CIC Agribusiness works with 25,000 rural farmers. “We will […]
Sri Lanka top tuna loin exporter to EU
Dec 09, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has emerged as the top tuna loin exporter to the European Union and is ramping up production aiming to earn a billion dollars from fishery exports in nine years, an official said. Senaratne said the island had cracked down on illegal and destructive fishing methods like bottom trawling […]
Sri Lanka fish exports face slowdown in Western markets
Dec 08, 2011 (LBO) – Fish exports from Sri Lanka, which is trying to make the industry a key foreign exchange earner, are being affected by slowing demand in key Western markets, a top export promotion official said. But demand is expected to bounce back, said Janaka Ratnayaka, chairman of the Export Development Board (EDB). […]