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Sri Lanka tourist arrivals up 26.2-pct in September
Oct 11, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tourist arrivals rose 26.2 percent to 89,761 in September 2013 from a year earlier with visitors up 15.5 percent to 693,772 in first nine months data from the state tourism office showed. Up to September Western European visitors were up 14.4 percent to 307,831. Western European visitors peak […]
Culture war as the Maldives tourism turns true capitalist
MALÉ, October 11, 2013 (AFP) – The Maldives is one of the world’s most exclusive holiday destinations but it has quietly opened up to backpackers in the last five years with a reform that has upset religious hardliners. Most visitors arrive at the country’s airport island, take a speed boat or seaplane to their expensive […]
Miss Universe apologises to India over Taj photoshoot
NEW DELHI, October 11, 2013 (AFP) – Organisers of Miss Universe extended their “deepest apologies” to India over a photo shoot at the Taj Mahal that triggered a police case and accusations that she disrespected the famed monument to love. Reigning Miss Universe Olivia Culpo, a 21-year-old American from Rhode Island, visited the Islamic mausoleum […]
‘s eastern coast
NEW DELHI, October 11, 2013 (AFP) – A cyclone barrelling towards India’s east coast intensified overnight, leading weather forecasters to warn Friday of a “very severe” storm that could cause widespread damage and flooding.Cyclone Phailin was expected to hit the impoverished states of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh on Saturday evening, accompanied by a storm surge […]
” rating confirmed: Fitch
Oct 08, 2013 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings has confirmed a ‘AAA(lka)’ rating of Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Gilt-Edged Fund managed by Ceylon Asset Management Limited. “The ‘AAA(lka)’ National Fund Credit Rating is driven by the fund’s investment in government securities and repurchase agreements backed by government securities only,” Fitch Ratings said. It was also given a […]
Housing Debt
Oct 10, 2013 (LBO) – RAM Ratings Lanka has rate a planned two billion rupee listed secured debt sale by HDFC Bank, a mortgage lender ‘BBB’. The bank itself is also rated ‘BBB’. RAM said the ratings are backed by majority state ownership of HDFC. The full statement is reproduced below:- RAM Ratings Lanka assigns […]
Lonely planet found floating without star
WASHINGTON, October 9, 2013 (AFP) – Astronomers said Wednesday they have found a lonely planet outside the solar system floating alone in space and not orbiting a star.Other telescopes in Hawaii showed that the planet has similar properties to those of gas giants orbiting around young stars, but PSO J318.5-22 lacks a host star. During […]
Sri Lanka power utility gets new GM
Oct 10, 2013 (LBO) – Shavindranath Fernando, head of projects at state-run Ceylon Electricity Board has been appointed its general manager, the power ministry said. S K Mohideen, had retired as general manager on October 09. Fernando had joined the CEB in 1979.
‘s Fernando challenges FIFA over life ban
COLOMBO, October 10, 2013 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s former football chief Manilal Fernando will challenge an “unfair and harsh” life ban imposed on him by FIFA for corruption, lawyers said Thursday.Fernando, a former member of the FIFA executive board, will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after seeing an earlier ban for eight […]
”’ target foreign miners in rising nationalism
ULAN BATOR, October 10, 2013 (AFP) – A silver swastika hanging around his neck, Boldbaatar Gombodorj points out his targets on a map of Mongolia like a World War II commander: little flags representing foreign mining firms that he and fellow “eco-Nazis” accuse of destroying their country.Mongolia’s mining boom has brought the vast, sparsely populated […]
Sri Lanka growth encouraging, forces in equilibrium: CB Governor
Oct 10, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank is encouraged by economic activity so far and the focus is shifting to the next year, Governor Nivard Cabraal said.Consumer prices rose 6.2 percent in the year to September, slowing from a month earlier and the widely watched Colombo Consumer Price Index fell absolutely during the […]
Sri Lanka HSBC unit appointed primary dealer in gilts
Oct 09, 2013 – Sri Lanka’s branch of Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation has been appointed a primary dealer in government securities.The Central Bank said the new dealers will start operations from October 14. A primary dealer can directly participate in auctions of Treasury securities.