Category:
Sri Lanka should reach out to Tamil: US envoy nominee
WASHINGTON, June 16, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka needs to reach out to its Tamil minority and improve conditions for hundreds of thousands of displaced after defeating Tiger rebels, the nominee to be the next US ambassador said Tuesday. Patricia Butenis, testifying in a Senate confirmation hearing, said she would also press Sri Lanka to […]
Sri Lanka GDP growth slows to 1.5-pct in 2009 first quarter
June 17, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s economic growth slowed to 1.5 percent in the first quarter of the 2009, against 6.2 in 2008 and 4.3 percent in the December quarter, officials said. Passenger kilometres flown by Sri Lankan Airlines had fallen 25.0 percent, railway passenger kilometres fell 7.7 percent, while in state bus service […]
Sri Lanka public sector scam vies with private sector ones: minister
June 17, 2009 (LBO) – Sections of Sri Lanka’s bloated public sector are stealing peoples’ money in the same corrupt manner as high profile private sector scams, a senior minister said. “More than 140 state owned institutions are running at losses and have to be supported by the Treasury. Some workers don’t even come to […]
Sri Lanka pins economic recovery on post-war revival
June 17, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s growth which plummeted to 1.5 percent in the first quarter may pick up later in 2009 with an agriculture and construction led recovery in former war-torn areas coupled with a global green shoots, officials said. The government defeated Tamil Tiger separatists last month in their last redoubt in […]
Sri Lankan shares up 0.2-pct
June 16, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks lost early gains to close flat Tuesday as the plantations sector retreated from the previous day’s highs, subdued from yesterday’s gains due to profit taking, brokers said. Agalawatte Plantations closed at 24.75 rupees, up 1.00, while Madulsima Plantations closed at 15.25 rupees, up 50 cents. Maskeliya Plantations […]
Not Yet
June 16, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank which offered a third stake of Seylan Bank to a private investor has not awarded it to the sold bidder by Lanka Orix Leasing Company (LOLC) by the previously set deadline of June 16. Among those who expressed interest was cash rich National Development Bank and […]
Constant Vigil
June 16, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan depositors should be more vigilant as hundreds of smaller unregulated financial firms are still in existence despite the collapse of a few high profile firms, officials said. “Those who invested in unregulated companies will not get their money back because there is no money to give. Going to […]
State Club
June 16, 2009 (LBO) – The clubhouse of a golf course which was ordered in to state hands by court over corruption charges is operating as a hotel and starting to generate profits, an official said.The Water’s Edge golf course in Colombo was ordered returned to the state and its clubhouse is now run by […]
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MUMBAI, June 16, 2009 (AFP) – A Bollywood director said Tuesday he wants to make a film based on alleged racist attacks on Indian students in Australia, despite an unofficial boycott of the country by his movie colleagues. Megastar Amitabh Bachchan rejected an honorary degree from Brisbane University, telling the authorities that it would be […]
Sri Lanka apparel maker in post-war manufacture
June 16, 2009 (LBO) – Brandix, a top Sri Lankan apparel maker, is planning to boost production at a factory built in Batticaloa, a former war-torn area in the east of the island where ex-female Tiger combatants are also working, an official said.“Our current production is 20,000 pieces and we want to push it up […]
” struggle for separate state
June 16, 2009 (AFP) – The few surviving leaders of Sri Lanka’s defeated Tamil Tigers announced Tuesday they were reorganising the rebel movement and forming a “transnational government.” The rebel group’s international relations chief, Selvarasa Pathmanathan, said in a recorded message that the organisation would continue to pursue its aim of a separate Tamil state […]
Gas Diplomacy
June 16, 2009 (LBO) – The Netherland’s envoy to Sri Lanka has raised concerns about the government pricing of liquefied petroleum gas of top Dutch firm Shell Gas, consumer affairs minister Bandula Gunewardene said. Shell has previously attracted criticism for charging high fees for its terminal complex. The minister said he had promised a meeting […]