Category: Other
Indian car exports surge 36-pct in H1 of 2009-10
NEW DELHI, Oct 14 Asia Pulse – Indian car exports in the first half of this fiscal year jumped by 35.73 per cent as major makers like Hyundai Motor and Maruti Suzuki cashed in on Europe giving incentives on buying new cars in exchange for old ones. This is despite other segments of the auto […]
Sri Lanka plantations real wage rates stagnant for years
Octo 15, 2009 (LBO) – Real wage rates earned by Sri Lanka’s plantations workers had been virtually stagnant for years, according to a report by a think tank.The Institute of Policy Studies said in a report on the state of the economy that poverty levels of plantations workers were also high, although there had been […]
Indian Ocean nations conduct mass tsunami drill
ULEE LHEUE, October 14, 2009 (AFP) – Sirens wailed and crowds fled across Indian Ocean nations Wednesday in a mass drill simulating a giant tsunami similar to the 2004 disaster that killed about 220,000 people. The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and the Japan Meteorological Agency sent out bulletins for a 9.2-magnitude quake and tsunami […]
False Gold
Oct 14, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank has warned the public against persons claiming to have been authorized to sell gold belonging to the monetary authority, saying it is a scam. “The relevant authorities are now investigating these scams and steps will be taken by them to trace, identify and take the necessary […]
Legal Advice
Oct 14, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said it had withdrawn charges of market manipulation case and issued a reprimand to a company director on the advice of the attorney general. The SEC withdrew charges against Mr. Harshith Dharmadasa subject to a severe reprimand with the sanction of Court recently […]
India industrial output surges
NEW DELHI, October 12, 2009 (AFP) – India’s industrial output surged by a better-than-expected 10.4 percent in August, official data showed Monday, which analysts say could raise pressure on the central bank to hike interest rates.The strong year-on-year figures came on the back of double-digit growth in the manufacturing, mining and electricity sectors. Analysts were […]
Most hostages freed after deadly Pakistan army HQ siege
by Masroor Gilani RAWALPINDI, October 11, 2009 (AFP) – Three hostages and four militants were killed early Sunday as Pakistani troops stormed a building to end an almost 20-hour siege outside army headquarters near Islamabad, officials said. At least 25 people had been snatched by suspected Taliban gunmen, who tried to storm the nuclear-armed nation’s […]
Sri Lanka mulls fuel from sugar cane
Oct 09, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan prime minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake has called for lower consumption of sugar, saying diabetes was on the increase, and alternative uses for the crop such as fuel production. “We consume far too much sugar for our health,” he told the 25th anniversary celebrations of the island’s Sugarcane Research Institute. […]
Sri Lanka develops new cinnamon varieties
Oct 09, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has developed new varieties of cinnamon with higher yields and chemical properties that are sought after in the food, pharmaceutical and perfumery industries.Sri Lankan cinnamon industry experts said the island’s production is not enough to meet demand. Production has been held back by a shortage of cinnamon peelers. […]
‘ earnings seen weak but better times ahead
MUMBAI, October 8, 2009 (AFP) – Indian firms are expected to report a fall in profits in the quarterly results season that kicks off Friday, but better times lie ahead as the country’s economic recovery takes hold, analysts forecast. “The economic fundamentals are improving,” Hitesh Agrawal, head of research at Mumbai’s Angel Broking, said Wednesday. […]
Indian Ocean countries to stage tsunami exercise
PARIS, October 8, 2009 (AFP) – Eighteen states around the Indian Ocean rim will next week stage the first region-wide test of a tsunami warning system aimed at saving thousands of lives, UNESCO said.Dubbed “Exercise Indian Ocean Wave 09”, the joint exercise on October 14 will replicate the massive earthquake that struck off the Indonesian […]
Sri Lanka tea prices recover
Oct 08, 2009 (LBO) – Prices of teas grown on the estates of regional plantations companies recovered at this week’s Colombo auctions, although those of low grown teas fell, brokers said. “Low grown teas once again declined in value, but met with fair general demand,” Asia Siyaka said. High priced FBOP/FBOPF1 varieties of tea declined […]