” interventions

MUMBAI, August 30, 2013 (AFP) – India’s rupee resumed its downward trend against the dollar on Friday, after strong gains in the previous session, as dealers await GDP growth data and a statement from the prime minister on the ailing economy.The rupee — Asia’s worst-performing currency this year — was at 67.37 against the dollar […]

IMF avoids comment on speculation India seeking aid

WASHINGTON, August 29, 2013 (AFP) – The International Monetary Fund declined to comment Thursday on speculation that India, reeling under a currency crisis, may seek IMF assistance.A wave of poor economic news for India — the rupee crashed to a new record closing low Wednesday — has fueled talk that New Delhi might need to […]

Sri Lankan airlines says to change times or buy tickets quickly

Aug 30, 2013 (LBO) – State-run Sri Lankan Airlines has asked customers to change or buy tickets today as its reservation system, will not be accessible after midnight tonight. The reservation system will come online on September 01 following an upgrade. Passengers who want to buy tickets or change itineraries are being asked to contact […]

Sri Lanka overreacted to milk contamination: minister

Aug 30, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has probably overreacted in its response to stories of contaminated milk imported from abroad, information minister Keheliya Rambukwelle said.A trade union went to courts and got an order halting the sales of Fonterra products, and nationalists protested in front of its factory in Sri Lanka, leading to the […]

Lanka steps up attack on UN rights chief

COLOMBO, August 29, 2013 (AFP) – Sri Lanka ratcheted up criticism of the UN human rights body on Thursday, accusing it of repeated “vicious and baseless” allegations, as its chief visited the island to probe alleged war crimes.Foreign Minister Gamini Lakshman Peiris told Navi Pillay that Sri Lanka “resents vicious and baseless positions which are […]

‘s Softlogic debentures oversubscribed

Aug 29, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Softlogic Finance said a debenture offer of 500 million rupees was oversubscribed.The bond sale had attracted orders of 527 million rupees from commercial banks, institutions, development banks, institutions and retail buyers. The firm offered bonds paying a fixed rate annually, every six months and monthly. The sale was […]

Sri Lanka opposition warns on foreign borrowings, exchange rate

Aug 29, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s main opposition United National Party has warned on continued foreign borrowings and the current developments in the island’s exchange rate market. Opposition legislator Harsha de Silva said in a statement that banks, including listed NDB and DFCC state banks are being pressured to borrow abroad to ultimately fund […]

How?

WELLINGTON, August 29, 2013 (AFP) – New Zealand demanded answers Thursday about how a false test reading triggered a botulism scare for diary giant Fonterra that forced global product recalls, describing the episode as a costly embarrassment. Officials sounded the alarm earlier this month after tests showed batches of whey power produced by Fonterra were […]

Education Zones

Aug 29, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will set up investment zones to draw international universities to the country in a bid to boost higher educational services available to the people, a top official said.Sri Lanka’s higher education ministry secretary Sunil Jayantha Nawaratne said ‘free zones’ for education will be set up in Gampaha, Puttalam, […]

Briefing

Aug 29, 2013 (LBO) – A top official of Google, an information technology company will be in Sri Lanka on a chief executive officer’s briefing organized by the island’s IT industry. SLASSCOM, Sri Lanka’s IT and software chamber, said Ann Lavin, director, policy and government affairs, Greater China and Asian growth markets, Google, will deliver […]

Indians made poorer by currency depreciation

NEW DELHI, August 29, 2013 (AFP) – Seventeen-year-old Indian student Appu Sharma was going to apply to a US university to study economics but with the rupee on the ropes, he’s set his sights closer to home.Jayakrishnan declined to name figures but press reports calculated the three-day wedding he helped design for the daughter of […]

Air New Zealand annual profit soars to five-year high

WELLINGTON, August 28, 2013 (AFP) – Air New Zealand posted a 156 percent jump in annual net profit Thursday, the flag carrier’s best result in five years. The airline said net profit for the 12 months to June 30 was NZ2 million (2 million), up from NZ million in the previous year. Chairman John Palmer […]

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