Category: Other
India new govt says will focus on growth, help poor
NEW DELHI, June 4, 2009 (AFP) – India’s new Congress-led government promised Thursday to focus on spurring economic growth in its bid to meet a recent election pledge of turning voters’ hopes “into change”.Spelling out the government’s goals for a second term in office after being swept back to power on promises to help the […]
Sri Lanka probes foreigners in refugee camps
June 4, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka has identified six foreign nationals among tens of thousands of war displaced civilians held in state-run camps in the island’s north, a minister said Thursday. Three Australians and one each from Britain, the Netherlands and Norway had crossed over to government-held areas after escaping from the war zone […]
Hostage Crisis
ZAMBOANGA, June 4, 2009 (AFP) – A Sri Lankan peace activist kidnapped by Islamic militants in the southern Philippines almost four months ago has been safely rescued, police said Thursday. Umar Jaleel was rescued late Wednesday from his Abu Sayyaf captors in the town of Tipo-Tipo on Basilan island, regional police spokesman Superintendent Danilo Bacas […]
No Deal
June 4, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court said a 2003 privatization of Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC) to listed Distilleries group was illegal and ordered the shares to be returned to the government and the purchase price refunded. Court also said Ernst & Young, the auditors of the firm should be removed. Court […]
‘s mobile subscriber base crosses 400 million
NEW DELHI, June 2, 2009 (AFP) – The number of mobile subscribers in India crossed the 400 million mark in April, official data showed Tuesday, putting the country on track to reach its goal of 500 million customers by next year.Some 11.90 million subscribers were added in April compared with 15.64 million during the previous […]
Fake Battle
June 01, 2009 (LBO) – Coats Thread Lanka (CTL) says it is battling counterfeiting of its brands by taking legal action against sellers of fakes and taking and has asked retailers to be careful when buying stock. “We have been vigilant and working with the law enforcement authorities to counter this threat by organizing periodic […]
Key Decisions
June 01, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has appointed a chief executive, an auctioneer and auditors to the collapsed Golden Key Credit Card Company to liquidate assets and pay back depositors, lawyers said. In another development, Supreme Court has asked Finance and Guarantee Company, a regulated firm, and two related unregulated real estate […]
Indian exports dive for seventh month
NEW DELHI, June 1, 2009 (AFP) – India’s exports of jewelry, garments and other goods slid 33 percent in April, shrinking for the seventh straight month, hit by a demand slump in major global markets, official data showed Monday. Exports slumped to 10.74 billion dollars in April from 16.08 billion dollars a year ago as […]
Derivative Probe
May 31, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s police have raided the offices of state-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and seized documents related to exotic oil derivatives which went against the utility, a media report said. The Sunday Times newspaper said officers of the criminal investigation department of Sri Lanka’s police had raided the head quarters […]
D Day
May 31, 2009 (LBO) – A decision on a case challenging the privatization of Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC) is listed for delivery at Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court on June 01, lawyers said. Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka closed at 90.25, down 2.25 rupees Friday. SLIC was sold to the listed Distilleries group of businessman […]
India economy headed higher, reforms in sight: analysts
NEW DELHI, May 31, 2009 (AFP) – India’s economy is on the upswing with eyes now keenly focused on July’s planned budget for new market-opening moves by the freshly re-elected Congress government, analysts say.The country logged unexpectedly strong 5.8 percent growth in the final quarter to March 2009, against forecasts of 5.0 percent, figures late […]
Weak Judiciary
May 29, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s justice system, legal profession and media are all under grave threat, said a report published by the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI). Public confidence in the judiciary has got eroded and the Chief Justice is seen as biased, said the report on the independence of the […]