Category:
Sri Lanka November tourist arrivals up 20-pct
Dec 08, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan tourist arrivals for November went up 20.1 percent to 44,311 from a year ago, boosted by more visitors from key markets like the United Kingdom, Germany and India, while arrivals from Eastern Europe dipped, tourism data showed. Cumulative arrivals, which had fallen steadily till May, were up 0.4 […]
Sri Lanka lures Indian tourists by sea
Dec 08, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has struck a deal with the world’s fifth largest cruise line to attract Indian tourists to the island by cruise ship, officials said. The Tourism Promotion Bureau said the cruise calls are expected to increase the number of Indian tourists visiting the island by 4,000 a month. Its […]
India in new privatization drive
NEW DELHI, December 8, 2009 (AFP) – The Indian government will complete stake sales in three state-run companies by the end of the current financial year in March, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said Tuesday.Divestment of five percent each in the National Thermal Power Corporation and the Rural Electrification Corporation and 10 percent in Satluj Jal […]
”’ Sri Lanka: Senate
WASHINGTON, December 7, 2009 (AFP) – A US Senate report warned Monday that Washington risked “losing” Sri Lanka as it recovers from war and called for more active engagement to stop the island drifting from the West.The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in a bipartisan study, said the United States should be firm on human rights […]
Sri Lankan shares up 0.83-pct
Dec 07, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares closed up Monday with retailers taking profits on small and medium counters, while large capped stocks headed by selected high value blue chips pushed the bourse up, brokers said. The All Share Price Index closed at 3,025.37 up 0.83 percent (25.04 points) while the Milanka Price Index […]
Cargo Screening
Dec 07, 2009 (LBO) – A US decision to extend the deadline for scanning all containers entering the country will afford relief to Sri Lankan exporters who had been concerned it would cause delays and raise costs.A new report by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) said the Customs and Border Protection has made relatively […]
War Risk
Dec 07, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is sending a team of shipping and navy officials for talks with London underwriters to get the island off the war risk insurance rating list, shipping officials said. The team would seek a fresh risk evaluation following the end of the ethnic war and removal of the island […]
Guarantee Status
Dec 07, 2009 (LBO) – Finance and Guarantee Company Limited, a regulated finance company in the troubled Ceylinco group will be renamed The Island Finance Company, the Central Bank said. The company suffered liquidity constraints in the wake of the crisis in the Ceylinco Group and its day to day operations were restricted following legal […]
Sri Lanka former child soldiers meet UN envoy
December 7, 2009 (AFP) – A top United Nations envoy for children held talks with senior Sri Lankan officials on Monday after meeting former child soldiers, an official said.Major General Daya Ratnayake, Sri Lanka’s commissioner general of rehabilitation, said around 11,000 former rebel fighters, including children, were undergoing vocational training at state-run centres.Retired Major General […]
Sri Lanka central bank in 5-year investment horizon for gold
Dec 07, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is looking at a 5-year horizon for its reserve investments in gold, Central Bank governor Nivard Cabraal said as gold hit historic highs against the dollar amid unprecedented US money printing.Gold hit 1,200 against the Federal Reserve unit amid unprecedented loose monetary policy pursued by the Fed. There […]
Dubai faces gradual exodus of migrant workers
DUBAI, December 6, 2009 (AFP) – Construction worker Bilal is in a happy mood as he takes his lunch break sitting next to an artificial lake near Dubai’s showpiece Mall of the Emirates.But he admits anxiety about the end of his contract in one year’s time, when the 24-year-old may have to return to Bangladesh. […]
Sri Lanka power utility sells assets to military
Dec 06, 2009 (LBO) – A housing facility built by contractors for a hydro electric dam project will be sold by the state-run Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to the military, the government has said.The cabinet of ministers had given the nod for the housing complex built for Swedish expatriates who worked at the Kukule river […]