Category: South Asia
Sri Lanka ranks 71 out of 189 countries in Human Development Index
Dec 10, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Human Development Index value for 2018 is 0.780— which puts the country in the high human development category—positioning it at 71 out of 189 countries and territories, according to the latest Human Development report. Further to the global launch, the first official copy of the report titled, ‘Beyond […]
Sri Lanka bans import of spices, minor export crops for re-export
Dec 06, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Finance Ministry has prohibited the importation of spices and minor export crops for the purpose of re-export or re-export after minor processing. The Finance Ministry said in a statement that this restriction has been imposed as a measure to protect small export crop growers and SMEs. Accordingly, the […]
Dinesh Gunawardena calls on Foreign Ministry officials to rise to new challenges
Nov 27, 2019 (LBO) – Minister of Foreign Relations Dinesh Gunawardena assumed duties yesterday that the entire country is looking towards the Foreign Ministry to find solutions for external pressures and challenges. “Hence, it is necessary for the officers in the Ministry and the network of missions to work dedicatedly towards overcoming these challenges,” he […]
Sri Lankan spices & other products to benefit from Geographical Indications
Nov 06, 2019 (LBO) – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ministry of Primary Industries and Social Empowerment of Sri Lanka have launched a project aiming to establish a national system for Geographical Indications (GIs). GIs help consumers identify food and other products originating in a particular geographical location, […]
‘s developing country status that includes wealthiest countries
Oct 25, 2019 (LBO) – South Korea is to give up special treatment reserved for developing countries by the World Trade Organization in future negotiations given its enhanced global economic status, its finance minister said on Friday. South Korea, Asia’s fourth-largest economy, has maintained its developing country status as a member of the WTO since […]
Esala Weerakoon approved as next secretary-general SAARC
Oct 07, 2019 (LBO) – The informal meeting of the council of ministers of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) held in New York last week has approved the nomination of former Foreign Secretary and senior career diplomat Esala Weerakoon, to be the 14th Secretary General of the association. The office will come […]
‘s revises its growth forecasts for 16 Asian economies
Aug 23, 2019 (LBO) – Moody’s Investors Service in a newly released report has revised downwards its GDP growth forecast for 16 economies in Asia Pacific. Of the 16, Hong Kong and Singapore have shown particularly weak expansions this year, with very large deteriorations in real GDP growth when compared to the first half of […]
Pakistan suspends trade with India, downgrades diplomatic relations
Aug 08, 2019 (LBO) – Pakistan on Wednesday expelled India’s high commissioner and suspended bilateral trade as a response of India’s move to end special status for Jammu and Kashmir and split it into two union territories. Indian officials, however, says that Islamabad’s decision to suspend trade with its neighbor will hit Pakistan not India. […]
Sri Lanka expects to resume tea exports to Iran from August
July 25, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka expects to resume Ceylon Tea exports to Iran under a special barter agreement between the two countries by the end of next month, the Plantation Ministry said. According to the ministry, Ceylon Tea will be exported to Iran to settle a due amount of 240 million US dollars […]
Foreign Minister clarifies appointments for UN Special Rapporteur
Special Statement by Tilak Marapana, Minister of Foreign Affairs in Parliament – 25.07.19 It has been brought to my notice that last Tuesday (23 July) and Wednesday (24 July) several Members of the Parliament have brought up the issue of the visit of the Special Rapporteur on the freedom of assembly and of association, Mr. […]
University of Technology Sydney launches UTS Insearch Sri Lanka
July 05, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday officially launched Colombo’s newest international higher education college, ‘UTS Insearch Sri Lanka’. The launch will see University of Technology Sydney (UTS) bring its latest developments in higher education learning from Sydney to support the skills and knowledge Sri Lankan students need for international study […]
Modi to visit Sri Lanka on Sunday, 9th June
Jun 07, 2019 (LBO) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Sri Lanka on Sunday June 9. He will be making the stop after the Maldives on June 8 and 9 and the visit comes following the invitation of President Maithripala Sirisena during his recent trip to India. The Indian Premier is due to […]