Category:
Sri Lanka IMF deal extended, US$400mn released
June 29, 2010 (LBO) – The International Monetary Fund has released 407.8 million US dollars to Sri Lanka held back after last year’s budget went off the rails, and extended the deal by a year on the promise of more responsible fiscal management this year. The IMF held back the disbursement of a third tranche […]
Sri Lanka shares end lower, Dankotuwa in demand
June 28, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed weaker Monday as investor ardour cooled off, with Dankotuwa Porcelain in demand after it struck a deal saving it from closure, brokers said. “While continuing to see value in select stocks, we feel some of the ‘over-bought’ shares could bring down the sentiment over the short-run. […]
Shipping Link
June 28, 2010 (LBO) – The permanent secretariat of the Asian Shippers’ Council (ASC), the world’s largest shippers’ body, has been located at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka, a statement said. ASC consists of 20 shippers’ councils from 16 countries in the five regions covering Asia and Oceania. Its permanent secretariat was […]
Port City
June 28, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo is to be expanded out to sea on reclaimed land with material dredged to build a new port, providing opportunities for businesses and citizens alike, an official said. The Sri Lanka Ports Authority is in charge of the project to create a new ‘port city’, its […]
Guarantee Rate
June 28, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s RAM Ratings has given a ‘BBB+’ long term financial enhancement rating to Construction Guarantee Fund (CGF) saying it has state backing though vulnerable to the volatility of the industry and has no re-insurance as yet. Guarantees are given without any collateral, by evaluating the contractors’ capabilities against the […]
Sri Lanka hill country hotels to be refurbished
June 28, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s The Kandy Hotels Company plans to refurbish two hotels in the central hill country town of Kandy which is a major tourist attraction, a stock exchange filing said. Many hotels have started or announced plans for refurbishment and upgrades to cater to the anticipated influx of visitors. It […]
Sri Lanka to encourage rubber production for tires
June 28, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is to encourage small farmers to produce more of a rubber grade suitable for tire manufacture which is in demand, officials said. Plantations industries minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said a policy decision was taken recently aimed at increasing production of the RSS 3 type rubber grade. Although most people […]
Imposed Rule
June 28, 2010 (LBO) – In the past four decades, whenever a political party or alliance secured a substantial majority of seats in parliament, that group of politicians has claimed the right to foist a new constitution on the people of this country. Constitution-making is not the prerogative, or indeed a legitimate function, of a […]
Graft fears as massive cash sums fly out of Kabul: WSJ
KABUL, June 28, 2010 (AFP) – More than three billion dollars in cash has been flown out of Kabul in recent years amid fears that ill-gotten gains from corruption and narcotics are being stashed overseas, a report said Monday. The Wall Street Journal said the cash — more than the Afghan government collects in tax […]
Sri Lanka president defiant over war probe
NEW DELHI, June 28, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s president vowed to resist international calls to investigate war crimes allegedly committed during the country’s civil war in an interview published Monday. President Mahinda Rajapakse told the Times of India he did not care about damage to the country’s image as a result of resisting pressure […]
Pakistan and India to fight terrorism together
ISLAMABAD, June 26, 2010 (AFP) – Pakistan and India announced Saturday they would fight terrorism together and cooperate on the 2008 Mumbai attacks as India urged Pakistan to put more suspects on trial for the atrocity. Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram and his Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik have concluded two meetings in Islamabad with a […]
Sri Lanka halts foreign league matches for players
June 27, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka Cricket on Sunday barred its players from participating in overseas domestic leagues until the World Cup next year. The team is also due to tour Australia for a one-day series before West India travel to Sri Lanka in November in the build-up to the World Cup. Sri Lanka, […]