Category: South Asia
Maldives declares state of emergency, arrests top judges
Feb 06, 2018 (LBO) – President of Maldive Islands, Abdulla Yameen declared a 15-day state of emergency, Monday night and later arrested Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and another Supreme Court judge, foreign media reports said. The moves comes following a Supreme Court ruling that overturned “terrorism” convictions against nine of the Presidents political opponents. The emergency decree gives […]
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh envisage JVs in various fields
By P.K. Balachandran Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are envisaging the setting up of Joint Ventures between the private and public sector entities of the two countries in a wide variety of fields including apparels and pharmaceuticals according to a joint statement issued by the two countries at the end of the three day visit of […]
Sri Lanka President heads 73-member delegation to Bangladesh
By P.K. Balachandran July 13, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, accompanied by a 73-member delegation including representatives of 40 private sector companies, is currently in Bangladesh on a three-day visit to sign ten agreements on a variety of areas. Bangladesh officials said that the agreements relate to cooperation in coastal shipping; agriculture; […]
India will move on ETCA at a pace set by Lanka: envoy
By P.K. Balachandran Assuaging fears that India is set to “impose” an Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) on Sri Lanka, the Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, has said that India is ready to move on the ETCA at a pace Sri Lanka is comfortable with. “The proposed Economic and Technical […]
Japanese ambassadors in five SAARC countries meet Foreign Minister Ravi
June 28, 2017 (LBO) – Japanese ambassadors in five SAARC countries India, Nepal, Maldives, Pakistan and Bangladesh met Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake Tuesday at the Ministry. “The ambassadors hailed the ongoing development activities in Sri Lanka and pointed out the growth in the country is a matter of pride for other nations in the region,” […]
Opinion: Despite Trump-Modi bonhomie, Indo-US economic relations in doldrums
By P.K.Balachandran Despite words signifying undying friendship and bear hugs, which marked President Donald Trump’s interaction with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington on Monday, economic relations between the United States and India seem destined to remain in the doldrums indefinitely. While there was a strong understanding on cooperation to tackle terrorism and on […]
Opinion: India ruling party’s choice as Presidential candidate is a masterstroke
By P.K. Balachandran The choice of Ram Nath Kovind as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s candidate for the Indian Presidential election, to be held on July 17, is a political masterstroke by its political managers. Kovind is a “Dalit”. The Dalits are the lowest caste in the Hindu social hierarchy who were once dubbed and […]
Sri Lanka Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake visits India
Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake on his first visit overseas as Minister of Foreign Affairs, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and held discussions with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj yesterday, 6 June 2017. He will have discussions today with Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar and others before returning to Colombo tonight. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Colombo
Sri Lanka, India sign MOU to cooperate on economic projects
Apr 27, 2017 (LBO) – Sri Lanka and India signed an MoU on economic co-operation in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe in New Delhi Wednesday. As per Indian media reports, the MoU proposes Indian investment in development of port and oil tank farms in Trincomalee, setting up […]
LBR LBO DEBRIEF to focus on unfolding economic and geo-political landscape
Nov 18, 2016 (LBO) – The fourth edition of the “Economic and Business Climate Outlook 2017” will offer an overview of emerging Asia and the Sri Lankan economy, and the views of business leaders on navigating their businesses in 2017 amidst growing economic and geo-political volatility. Lanka Business Online, LBO, will be hosting the annual […]
Sri Lanka backs Indian Ocean security at IORA
Oct 28, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister has called for the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) to take collective steps to ensure security in the region while moving into a new era of dynamism. “It is necessary for IORA and its members to take collective steps to ensure the security of the Indian […]
‘s Green University opened in Homagama
Oct 27, 2016 (LBO) – The National School of Business Management’s (NSBM) Green University in Pitipana, Homagama was declared open by President Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday. This is the first university in the South Asian region built to be sustainable and eco-friendly, according to the university. The NSBM Green University comprises auditoriums, computer laboratories, a […]