Category:
Sri Lanka consumer durables group, sales, profits drop
Nov 18, 2013 (LBO) – Profits and revenues at Singer (Sri Lanka) Plc, a top consumer durables seller dropped 67 percent to 62 million rupees in the September 2013 quarter from a year earlier, amid tight economic conditions.Furniture, transport and agro products also dropped. But communications sector rose to 871 million rupees from 338 million […]
Yameen to be sworn in as Maldives leader after shock win
MALÉ, November 16, 2013 (AFP) – Abdulla Yameen was to be sworn in as the Maldives new president Sunday after his shock win over former leader Mohamed Nasheed, drawing a line under a bout of turmoil on the paradise islands. Yameen secured 51.3 percent of the popular vote compared to 48.6 percent for ex-president Nasheed […]
Colombo Declaration after Sri Lanka Commonwealth summit
Nov 17, 2013 (LBO) – Leaders of Commonwealth nations have issued a declaration after meeting in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo calling for ‘equitable’ growth, better education and inclusivity for women, youth and the disabled.The full statement is reproduced below:- Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 15-17 November, 2013 Colombo Declaration on Sustainable, Inclusive and Equitable […]
Small states seek Commonwealth backing for cheap credit at Sri Lanka meet
Nov 17, 2013 (LBO) – Small states are seeking endorsement from Commonwealth leaders at a in their bid to regain access to cheap finance from multilateral lenders, at a summit meeting in Sri Lanka. Without the ability to depreciate the currency, rulers lose the principle ability to impoverish the population and their path is clear […]
Sri Lanka tourist arrivals reaching a million in November: official
Nov 16, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tourist arrivals have topped 904,000 and is reaching towards a million tourists by the end of November 2013, an official said. The average spend per day was 109 US dollars compared to 65 in 2009, Jayaweera said. Sri Lanka’s arrivals have been boosted by reasonably priced accommodation and […]
Campus Launch
Nov 16, 2013 (LBO) – A campus of UK’s University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) launched in Sri Lanka this week will strengthen links between the two countries, British foreign secretary William Hague has said.The British High Commission said about 8,000 Sri Lankans gain UK education qualifications each year, while 35,000 more get professional qualifications through […]
Maldives hopes for new leader after scuttled votes
MALÉ, November 16, 2013 (AFP) – Organisers of a troubled presidential election in the Maldives said they hoped to name a winner of a run-off contest Saturday after previous attempts were scuttled.Chief Elections Commissioner Fuwad Thowfeek told reporters that he hoped they will be able to declare a final winner in an election where former […]
Crisis-hit Maldives vote again
MALÉ, November 16, 2013 (AFP) – The Maldives Saturday began voting in a run-off presidential election held under intense international pressure to elect a new leader and end months of political unrest.Polling booths across the Indian Ocean archipelago opened at 7:30am (0230 GMT) with the 239,000 electorate given eight and a half hours to choose […]
Sri Lanka rejects international war crimes probe
COLOMBO, November 16, 2013 (AFP) – A top minister rejected pressure Saturday for an international probe into alleged war crimes at the end of Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict, saying the government would “definitely” not allow one.“Why should we have an international inquiry?We will object to it … Definitely, we are not going to allow it,” […]
” on rights: Cameron
COLOMBO, November 16, 2013 (AFP) – Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron urged Sri Lanka Saturday to move “further and faster” to address allegations of war crimes, saying the issue would remain high on the international agenda. “The Sri Lankan government needs to go further and faster on human rights and reconciliation,” Cameron told a press […]
Mauritius pulls out of hosting 2015 CHOGM: PM
PORT LOUIS, November 15, 2013 (AFP) – The prime minister of Mauritius said Friday his country was withdrawing as host of the next Commonwealth summit as a result of his decision to boycott this year’s meeting in Sri Lanka.Sri Lanka has been accused of widespread human rights abuses against its Tamil minority as well as […]
Sri Lanka foreign reserves at US$7.0bn in September
Dec 15, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves eased to 7.0 billion US dollars in September 2013 from 7.5 billion US dollars in August, official data showed. This year Sri Lanka has to repay about 500 million US dollars to the IMF which are made directly out of foreign reserves of the Central Bank. […]