Sri Lanka warned by UN rights chief

GENEVA, June 30, 2011 (AFP) – The UN’s human rights chief Thursday warned Sri Lanka not to take too long in probing war crimes allegations, saying failure to carry out a credible inquiry could lead to international action. Colombo has questioned the authenticity of the Channel 4 footage but said that a local panel, known […]

Oily Issue

July 1, 2011 (LBO) – Long queues of cars have built up around some fuel stations of the Sri Lanka unit of India Oil Corporation after car owners complained of engine trouble after filling up from their competitor. Customers who used petrol sold by state-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation have complained that they had to replace […]

Sri Lanka economy grows 7.9-pct in first quarter

July 01, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s economy grew 7. 9 percent in the first quarter of 2011, up from 7. 1 percent in the same period a year ago, with strong growth in industry and services while the agriculture sector contracted. Economic growth has been picking up with the end of the island’s 30-year […]

Sri Lanka can trade more with Asia: IMF official

July 1, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka should expand trade links with Asia, especially with fast growing economies of India and China, at a time when consumption in industrialized nations is weak, an International Monetary Fund official said. Trade among East Asian nations have grown fast partly due to their integration with global supply chains […]

Sri Lanka stocks close down 0.76-pct

June 30, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka stocks closed weaker Thursday with heavy trading in Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings and Distilleries Company bolstering turnover, brokers said. The main All Share Price Index closed at 6,825.94, down 0.76 percent (52.21 points) while the more liquid Milanka index fell 1.32 percent (84.29 points) to close at 6,301.02, […]

Speed Breaker

June 30, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s motor sector companies’ profitability has fallen after the reversal of some import tax cuts that caused a profit surge, although vehicle demand remains strong with rising incomes and economic growth, a report said. Motor sector companies reported the highest growth in net profit for the last couple of […]

Sri Lanka to permit hotels in wildlife buffer zones

June 30, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will permit eco-friendly hotels in buffer zones adjacent to nature reserves to cater to increased local and international interest in the island’s wildlife assets, a government minister said. Abeywardene said investors were also keen to protect nature now. “Investors now do not want to damage the environment,” he […]

Sri Lanka seeks developers for prime property

June 30, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is searching for a buyer for a block of prime beach front land adjacent to two that are slated to be among the largest real-estate cum hotel developments to start in the country after the end of a 30-year war, officials said. “The land is still available,” deputy […]

Sri Lanka Finco cuts stake in newly listed apparel firm

June 30, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Finco group has reduced its stake in Orient Garments, a newly-listed apparel subsidiary, when it began trading Wednesday, a stock exchange filing said. Finco Holdings, which held 80.98 percent of Orient Garments, sold 10,983,400 shares of its holding constituting 20 percent of the apparel exporter’s issued capital at […]

Fuel Fiasco

June 30, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s petroleum industries minister has rejected allegations the government imported low quality petrol, saying motorists whose vehicles were damaged had been supplied fuel contaminated by rain and dregs. Susil Premajayantha said motorists who could prove they had been supplied contaminated fuel would be given compensation. He rejected allegations the […]

Sri Lanka inflation eases to 7.1-pct in June

June 30, 2011 (LBO) – Consumer prices in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo rose 7.1 percent by June 2011, down from 8. 2 percent in May, with prices falling 0. 2 percent during the month, the government’s statistics office said. The food category fell 1.0 percent during the month, but all other categories rose or were […]

Sri Lanka to take-over land to build new city in Hambantota

June 30, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will take-over land in Hambantota in Southern Sri Lanka to build a new business and industrial city which will have housing, hotels, a theatre, schools, beach parks and, the government’s information office said. Sri Lanka’s cabinet of ministers had given the nod to give Urban Development Authority (UDA) […]

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