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March 11, 2010 (AFP) – Former Sri Lankan army chief and defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka will face three charges in a military court, including “conduct unbecoming an officer,” a source said Thursday. “There will be three charges against him,” said the military source, who declined to be named. In addition to the “conduct unbecoming” […]
Family fears for missing Sri Lankan cartoonist – Focus
March 11, 2010 (AFP) – Six weeks ago Sri Lankan political writer and cartoonist Prageeth Eknaligoda went missing, and his fate has raised further concerns about the island’s culture of violence against the media. Eknaligoda, who contributed to the pro-opposition Lankaenews. com website, did not return home after work on January 24, two days before […]
‘s consumer prices soar to 2.7-pct in February
BEIJING, March 11, 2010 (AFP) – Chinese consumer prices rose for the fourth straight month in February while new lending slowed sharply, data showed Thursday, adding pressure on Beijing to fulfill its vow to control inflation. Analysts said the jump in prices would not trigger a knee-jerk response from policymakers in the world’s third-largest economy […]
Sri Lanka tourist arrivals up 68-pct in February: data
Mar 11, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka tourist arrivals surge 67.7 percent to 57,300 in February 2010 from a year earlier, with steep increases in generating markets in India, UK and Germany, official data showed. Visitors from Singapore rose 112 percent to 829. Sri Lanka has seen a surge of tourist arrivals with the industry […]
Sri Lanka gets US$250mn in loans from Japan for power, roads
Mar 11, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will get 22. 5 billion yen in loans (250 million US dollars) from Japan for hydro power, water supply and provincial road development in former war torn areas in the east, a government minister said. JICA will also loan 9,156 million yen (101 million US dollars) for 0rovincial […]
Sri Lankan stocks close 0.20-pct down
Mar 10, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed down Wednesday as retail investors took profits from midcaps and low value shares, while the Milanka index made small gains from a rise in the price of Environmental Resources Investments shares, brokers said. Touchwood Investments which dragged the market down on Tuesday made a sharp comeback, […]
Airside
Mar 10, 2010 (LBO) – DHL Express, a global logistics company, said it has opened an ‘airside gateway’ facility at Sri Lanka’s sole international airport north of the capital Colombo that will help speed up air cargo shipments. Romesh David, president of JKH’s transportation group, said the two companies had invested over 250 million rupees […]
Trade Flows
Mar 10, 2010 (LBO) – Cargo volumes at a Colombo port private container terminal in which John Keells Holdings has a big stake hit a monthly high in February as trade flows rebounded from global recession last year. South Asia Gateway Terminals handled 164,243 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent container Units) in February 2010, its highest volumes […]
Lower Costs
Mar 10, 2010 (LBO) – Seylan Bank group has slashed its wage bill 30.7 percent to 2.5 billion rupees and is pushing to recover some its 29 percent bad loans as it is re-structured, senior officials in its state-backed management said. “We cut some unnecessary costs, stopped overtime, cut fuel allowances and increased staff retirement […]
Sri Lanka slashes terrorism insurance cover premium
Mar 10, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan authorities said they had decided to slash the premium on general insurance terrorism cover by 75 percent from April 1, 2010 as there were no terrorist activities in the country. Insurance Board of Sri Lanka chairman, Udaya Sri Kariyawasam, has been quoted as saying the reduced premium on […]
Sri Lanka sends high level delegation to EU on GSP+
Mar 10, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is sending a high level delegation of senior government officials to save a preferential trade deal which is due end later in 2010 and broader relations with the European Union, a senior minister said. “On our part we are eager to engage with the international community,” international trade […]
‘s Dilshan signs for Sussex
HOVE, March 10, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lankan Twenty20 specialist Tillakaratne Dilshan will play for Sussex this season, the English county announced on Wednesday. Dilshan, whose trademark ‘Dilscoop’ shot has enthralled crowds around the world, was player of the tournament at last year’s World Twenty20 in England where his 317 runs at 52.38 helped power […]