Category: Other
Future of whaling in the balance at global meet
PARIS, June 19, 2010 (AFP) – Pro- and anti-whaling nations face off next week in a battle over the 24-year-old ban on the commercial killing of whales. Gathering in Agadir, Morocco, the 88 countries of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) will tussle over controversial changes to a moratorium that has become an icon of green […]
Sri Lanka seeks to raise rubber output with rain guards
June 18, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is to encourage small farmers tapping rubber to use rain guards to reduce production disruption by rain and provide more supplies for industry helped by high prices, an official said. Small farmers are likely to be the main suppliers of rubber in future, he said. Local consumption of […]
Sri Lanka govt pledges more funds from tea export tax
June 17, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s new plantations industries minister has promised to give the tea industry more of the funds collected from a tax on tea exports. Sri Lanka tea exporters have warned that the government’s failure to allocate cess funds collected from tea exports for brand building was eroding their competitiveness as […]
Sri Lanka tea market seen strengthening
June 17, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan tea prices seem to have bottomed out and are likely to gradually rise in future sales as crops come down and global demand remains strong, brokers said. Tea prices rose at this week’s Colombo auction as volumes fell and quality improved. “With crop intakes from most plantation regions […]
Sri Lanka mulls planting rubber in former northern war zone
June 16, 2010 (LBO) – The Sri Lankan government is considering planting rubber in the former war zone in the north to increase production and meet growing demand from local industries, the plantations industries minister said. “The rubber industry says they have the ability to make more rubber products if raw material was available,” he […]
Indonesia detains 1,300 migrants this year
JAKARTA, June 16, 2010 (AFP) – Indonesian police said Wednesday that more migrants are landing on its shores this year than before, intensifying the country’s struggle to crack down on people-smuggling. Close to 1,300 migrants were detained between January and June this year, many of whom were trying to reach Australia, national police security and […]
Sri Lanka to crack down on plastic use around capital
June 15, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s western province, where the capital Colombo is located will crack down on the use of plastics and polythene, especially for promotional activity and decorations, officials said. The regional administration is drafting new laws to ban the use of polythene for promotional purposes and impose heavy fines on people. […]
War Probe
June 15, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s top defence official challenged international rights groups Tuesday to produce evidence of war crimes allegedly committed in the final months of the country’s civil war. Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse said those making the allegations should present evidence before Sri Lankan courts instead of talking to the international media. […]
Trade Debate
June 14, 2010 (LBO) – The recent protests in Colombo by a vocal group of businesses have brought to the fore the issue of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and its merits and demerits in the Sri Lankan context. Any independent observer will agree that the debate has got shrouded in emotion, and at times, […]
India earthquake downgraded, local tsunami watch only: Pacific centre
June 11, 2010 (LBO) – The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre has downgraded a watch bulletin taking Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia off its list saying a local tsunami is likely to only affect India. Indian authorities have said waves of only 50 centimetres are likely and there is ‘nothing alarming. ‘ Sri Lanka’s authorities […]
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NEW DELHI, June 12, 2010 (AFP) – India’s tsunami centre warned Sunday a major quake under the Indian Ocean would generate a 50-centimetre high (20-inch) surge in sea levels on the nearest islands, adding this was “nothing alarming. ” “This is nothing alarming but just a watch,” he added by telephone from the headquarters of […]
Japan asteroid probe to make historic return to Earth
SYDNEY, June 12, 2010 (AFP) – A tiny heatproof capsule which scientists hope contains some of the oldest dust in the universe will streak back to Earth and land in the Australian desert Sunday, ending a historic space mission. Japan’s Hayabusa spacecraft is due to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere shortly before midnight (1400 GMT), completing a […]