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 […]

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 […]

Sri Lanka central bank cut rates to boost post-war recovery

June 16, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka cut its main policy discount rate by 50 basis points to 11.00 percent to boost credit and support post war economic recovery, amid muted inflation, the Central Bank said. The defeat of Tamil Tigers last month has raised expectations of post war reconstruction and recovery. “The renewed business […]

Sri Lankan stocks up 1.40-pct

June 15, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares gained on Monday pushed up by the blue chips counters headed by conglomerate John Keells Holdings (JKH)and high retail interest in construction, hotels and plantations sectors, brokers said. Malwatte valley Plantations closed 33.00 rupees, up 4.25, while Udapussellawa Plantations closed at 27.00 rupees, up 3.50. Agalawatte Plantations […]

Circular Delay

June 15, 2009 (LBO) – The Sri Lankan government has decided to call for fresh tenders for the Greater Colombo Urban Transport Development Project as previous bids were too high. The project, meant to ease traffic jams in Colombo, is funded by a 223 million US dollar loan from Japan, the finance ministry said in […]

Sri Lanka military says Tiger sub found

June 15, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops have recovered the first submarine believed to have been used by the defeated Tamil Tiger rebels, the military said Monday.Troops found the 24-foot (7.2-metre) submersible on the coast of the northeastern district of Mullaittivu, where the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were defeated last month, ending […]

India crash, Sri Lanka suffer Irish scare

LONDON, June 14, 2009 (AFP) – Defending champions India crashed out of the World Twenty20 on Sunday while Sri Lanka stayed on course for the semi-finals but only after surviving a scare by Ireland. India lost by three runs to England at a packed Lord’s, a result which left Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s highly-rated team to […]

” US recovery in mid-2010 but big risks

WASHINGTON, June 15, 2009 (AFP) – The International Monetary Fund projected Monday the United States would make a “solid” recovery from recession in mid-2010, but warned of major risks including the real-estate crisis and rising interest rates.In its annual report on the world’s biggest economy, the IMF projected US gross domestic product (GDP) would shrink […]

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