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LONDON, August 28, 2011 (AFP) – An independent inquiry into the death of an Iraqi prisoner in British custody in Iraq will clear the army of systematic torture but individual soldiers will be strongly criticised, a report said Sunday. The British probe has been investigating the death of hotel receptionist Baha Mousa, who died two […]
Sri Lanka Navy expands presence along coast
August 28, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s navy is setting up new bases along the island’s north western and eastern coasts to bridge security gaps that existed during the separatist Tamil Tiger insurgency, its commander said. The Navy said with strengthened presence and expanded operational capabilities it will be in a better position to guard […]
Sri Lanka investors stumped by low labour productivity in tea estates
Aug 27, 2011 (LBO) – Investors are losing interest in Sri Lanka’s plantations as rising wages without productivity gains are making companies reluctant to invest in the replanting needed to sustain the industry, a business group has warned. Sri Lanka™s competitiveness as a tea producer has declined with each successive wage hike with no commensurate […]
‘s killers to hang next month
CHENNAI, August 27, 2011 (AFP) – Three men convicted of the 1991 assassination of then Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi will be hanged early next month, a senior jail official has said. The announcement late Friday that the executions would be carried out on September 9 came after India’s president rejected mercy pleas from the […]
Sri Lanka India venture in US$200mn development
Aug 27, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Rank Holdings, a group which has interests in gaming, power and logistics, is planning a 200 million US dollar hotel and residential complex in the capital Colombo with an Indian partner, an official said. The D R Wijewardene property project however dates back from an earlier process a […]
Sri Lanka rupee under steady pressure
Aug 26, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s rupee came under steady pressure as the spot dollar rate was held at 110.00 rupees with forex sales by monetary authorities, with interest rate pressure also resisted earlier in the week, dealers said. To repay holders the central bank has to either print money, worsening the balance of […]
Sri Lanka stocks end up 0.2-pct
Aug 26, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s main share index closed marginally higher Friday with some interest in a finance company and a motor firm and continued speculative trade in certain shares, brokers said. There was again speculative trade in Colombo Land & Development Company which ended at 63.60 rupees, down 50 cents with over […]
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Aug 26, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s HVA group, a branded tea exporter, is building a 200 million rupee ‘forest garden’ resort with eco-friendly chalets near a national park in the island’s northwest, an official said. The resort, with 15 eco-friendly chalets powered by solar panels will be built on 50 acres of privately owned […]
US envoy to press Sri Lanka over alleged war crimes
August 26, 2011 (AFP) – The United States is dispatching a top envoy to Colombo for talks next week ahead of a crucial UN meeting to discuss alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka, diplomats said on Friday. US Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake will be visiting Sri Lanka for a second time in four […]
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August 26, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s main opposition, which is bedeviled by a string of electoral defeats and an internal battle to oust its leader, says its door-to-door campaign is haunted by a phobia among voters about ‘grease devils’. ‘Grease devil’ is a colloquial term used to describe peeping toms and other mischief makers […]
Sri Lanka scraps emergency laws, US cheers
August 25, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s president announced on Thursday that he was scrapping draconian emergency laws imposed nearly 30 years ago to deal with the armed Tamil separatist movement. The move, which was welcomed by the United States, comes as Sri Lanka faces growing pressure — led by Washington — over its human […]
Sri Lanka stocks end up 0.4-pct
Aug 25, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lankan share prices closed higher Thursday as some buying interest returned after four days of losses, brokers said. The main All Share Price Index closed at 6,839.20, up 0.39 percent (26.49 points) while the more liquid Milanka index rose 0.51 percent (31.72 points) to close at 6,225.03, according to […]