Category: Other
Higher Education
Jan 10, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan university education despite being available only to the brightest students ranks well below its peers in Asia although academics vow to improve syllabi and facilities to climb the rankings. Academics said the universities have to pay to get the rankings done by various independent organizations. The best known […]
Violated
Jan 09, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s former chief justice Sarath Silva, a controversial figure who locked horns with the executive in the last stages of his term says the island’s constitution has been hit by a “litany of violations.” In an interview with Namini Wijedasa of Labmimanews newspaper he speaks on the 17th amendment […]
Pressure Point
January 8, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka was under new pressure Friday to submit to a war crimes investigation after the United Nations authenticated a video allegedly showing prisoners being executed by troops last year. The government in Colombo has faced repeated calls for a probe from Western countries and rights groups ever since it […]
Free
January 9, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka on Saturday released more than 700 former Tamil Tiger fighters from military custody following a rehabilitation program, an official said. The Tamil Tigers, who fought for a separate homeland from 1972, were defeated by Sri Lankan troops in mid-May when the military killed the top guerrilla leader Velupillai […]
Guilty Plea
NEW YORK, January 7, 2010 (AFP) – A former senior partner in the McKinsey & Co consulting firm pleaded guilty Thursday in New York to taking money for providing tips in the alleged Galleon hedge fund insider trading ring. Anil Kumar pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy and securities fraud and said he had […]
Sri Lanka tea exporters press for import liberalisation
Jan 06, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan tea exporters are pressing for liberalisation of tea imports for blending and re-export, saying it could help improve value-addition in the island and expand markets. Jayantha Keragala, chairman of the Tea Exporters Association, said exporters could increase earnings if more imports are allowed for blending and value-addition. Imports […]
Small is big at Delhi auto show
NEW DELHI, January 3, 2010 (AFP) – Small will be big at an Indian auto show when the world’s leading manufacturers unveil a slew of compact cars designed for one of the world’s fastest growing markets. AutoExpo 2010, which begins on Tuesday and runs until January 11, is expected to be the biggest ever, featuring […]
Sri Lanka cuts lending rate for farmers ahead of polls
Dec 30, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka™s Central Bank said it will slash lending rates for farmers with effect from January 1, 2010 barely a month ahead of crucial presidential elections. Total loans amounting to about 10 billion rupees are disbursed each year under this loan scheme. Under the Agro Livestock Development Loan Scheme the […]
US alerts travelers to threats of attacks in India
WASHINGTON, December 29, 2009 (AFP) – The United States published an alert Tuesday for Americans traveling to India, saying Washington continues receiving reports that militant groups may be plotting attacks in that country.The US State Department on December 9 alerted travelers to possible violence in India’s strife-torn Andhra Pradesh region but did not mention, as […]
‘s 3G auction set for further delay
NEW DELHI, December 29, 2009 (AFP) – India’s long-awaited auction for third generation (3G) mobile telecom services has been delayed again and will miss a January 14 deadline, officials said Tuesday.“It will obviously not be on January 14. We will announce it (a new date for the auction) soon on our website,” an official in […]
Indian minister pans new visa rules on Twitter
NEW DELHI, December 28, 2009 (AFP) – India’s Twitter-loving junior foreign minister has used the microblogging site to criticise his government’s move to tighten rules for long-term tourist visas, his account showed Monday.Shashi Tharoor questioned the logic behind the tougher rules, saying the Islamist militants behind last year’s Mumbai attacks hijacked a boat and entered […]
Sri Lanka readies Ceylon tea intellectual property claim
Dec 28, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is readying a claim for intellectual property protection for different types of Ceylon tea under global ”Geographical Indicators’ rules that would help market the product, a senior official said.Sri Lanka Tea Board chairman Lalith Hettiarachchi said they are seeking recognition for GI indicators for seven tea growing districts […]