Category: Other
‘s pilgrim trail: a godsend for hotel chains
MUMBAI, May 29, 2011 (AFP) – India’s pilgrimage centres are fast becoming hot-spots for hotel chains, as both domestic and international groups look to plug a gap in the market for quality accommodation. Devotees flocking to so-called “temple towns” such as Shirdi in western Maharashtra state, the Sikh holy city of Amritsar in Punjab and […]
Sri Lanka cracks down on illegal fishing
May 27, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has told a regional fish management body that it is cracking down on illegal fishing that is seen hurting efforts to prevent over-exploitation of fish stocks and conservation. The crackdown comes in the wake of concern that illegal fishing hurt management measures aimed at controlling and monitoring fish […]
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May 26, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka said Thursday it planned to set up sanctuaries for stray dogs in a bid to remove them from the streets and tackle a growing rabies problem. Between 2,000 and 2,500 people are bitten each day by stray dogs, the official said, and there is one dog for every […]
First Land Rover rolls out of Indian factory
PIMPRI, May 27, 2011 (AFP) – Mumbai-based Tata Motors opened its first Indian factory on Friday for Land Rovers, the formerly loss-making British brand aiming to make inroads in the booming South Asian market. A Freelander 2 sports utility vehicle was the first to roll out of the plant on the outskirts of Pune, some […]
Policy Debate
May 26, 2011 (LBO) – I am on an American Airlines flight from Phoenix, Arizona to St Louis, Missouri having enjoyed the only break in the rigorous seven week Eisenhower Fellowship program at the Grand Canyon, America’s great natural wonder. From St Louis I go to San Francisco and a number of other cities to […]
CEO Forum
May 26, 2011 (LBO) – Due to the growth of social media and the internet Sri Lankan firms have to be increasingly vigilant to safeguard the reputation of their brands among today’s well informed consumers, a senior executive said. Brands build bonds with end users to ensure they continually consume their products. Brand specialist say […]
Sri Lanka gets World Bank aid for city flood protection
May 26, 2011 (LBO) – The World Bank is to provide 150 million US dollars to Sri Lanka to improve flood protection and infrastructure in and around the capital city of Colombo, a government statement said. The overall aim of the ‘Metro Colombo Urban Development Project’ under taken with World Bank funding is to improve […]
Maldives and IMF hammer out new 3-year deal
May 26, 2011 (LBO) – The International Monetary Fund and the Indian Ocean tourist paradise of Maldives had reached a new 3-year deal to fix government finance and stabilize the country and its currency. Maldives is struggling with a large budget deficit partly due to large civil service salary bill, which it was unable to […]
US cutting back troops in Pakistan amid tensions
WASHINGTON, May 26, 2011 (AFP) – The US military said Wednesday it has begun pulling some American troops out of Pakistan after Islamabad requested a smaller presence, amid tensions over a US raid against Osama bin Laden. The Pakistani government had asked for a scaling back of the US contingent of more than 200 troops […]
Sri Lanka tea production on the rise
May 24, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lankan tea production is increasing despite a downturn in April compared with a year ago with annual output expected to hit a new high. Tea production fell 5.6 percent to 28.5 million kilos in April from a year ago when output had been boosted by favourable weather and high […]
Sri Lanka Watawala tea net up 50-pct in year to March
May 24, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s listed Watawala Plantations said profits rose 49. 6 percent to 642 million rupees in the year to March 2011 with revenues growing 9.0 percent amid higher commodity prices and profits from its retail unit. Managing director Vish Govindasamy said higher rubber prices pushed profits from the division to […]
Sri Lanka among elephant countries in action group
NEW DELHI, May 24, 2011 (AFP) – Eight countries with the largest number of elephants met for the first on Tuesday in New Delhi to plot new strategies to protect the animal. “Delegates here represent two-thirds of the world’s wild elephant population,” Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh told the inaugural gathering of the Elephant-8 group. […]