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Foreign institutions invest over US$3bn in Indian bourses in 2009
NEW DELHI, (Asia Pulse) – Foreign Institutional Investors’ (FIIs) inflow into the Indian stock markets has crossed the US$3 billion mark (over Rs 15,725 crore) so far this year, with as much as US$2 billion coming in just five trading sessions. Since the beginning of new fiscal year, FIIs have started putting money in domestic […]
Australian navy intercepts refugee boat: minister
MELBOURNE, May 24, 2009 (AFP) – The Australian navy intercepted a refugee boat with 77 people aboard Sunday off the country’s northwest coast, Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus said. The boat is the 13th suspected people-smuggling craft to have been stopped in Australian waters or to have made landfall since January, prompting criticism from the […]
Sri Lanka to restrict aid until rebels screened out
May 24, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka said Sunday it would not allow aid workers complete access to civilians who remain held in camps after the defeat of the Tamil Tigers until rebels hiding among the refugees had been weeded out.United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, on a visit to one camp housing 200,000 Tamils, […]
Sri Lanka says aid access only after screening
May 24, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka said Sunday it would allow UN aid workers access to civilians who remain in camps after the defeat of the Tamil Tigers, but only once rebels hiding among the refugees had been weeded out.UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, on a visit to one camp housing 200,000 Tamils, had […]
China releases stimulus spending data
BEIJING, (Asia Pulse) – China’s economic planning body released a breakdown Thursday of how the government’s 4 trillion yuan (US$586 billion) of stimulus funding was being spent. Since the stimulus package was unveiled in November, 230 billion yuan had been used as of the end of April, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said […]
Deck Hands
May 23, 2009 (LBO) –Sri Lanka’s ministry of port’s and aviation has signed an agreement with the government of Japan to recognize the certification of the island’s seafarers. The move will provide opportunities for Sri Lankan to work on Japanese flagged ships in future, the government’s Cabinet office said. At the signing of the agreement, […]
Double Profits
May 23, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s state-run Bank of Ceylon’s profits for March 2009 quarter rose 106 percent to 957 million rupees, with foreign exchange gains and interest income from high yielding government securities. Bank of Ceylon’s deposits grew 5.1 percent to 332 million from December 2008 to March 2009. Group gross assets grew […]
Guardian Change
May 23, 2009 (LBO) – The Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka (MBSL) has been appointed as managing agents of the troubled The Finance Company (TFC), taking over from another state-owned entity, Lankaputhra Development Bank (LDB), the Central Bank said. It said in a statement that Lankaputhra Bank had stabilized the situation at TFC and brought […]
Sri Lanka needs help to meet refugee challenge: UN chief
May 23, 2009 (LBO) – The UN chief Ban Ki-moon who pressed for access to camps housing nearly 300,000 refugees in northern Sri Lanka says more help is needed to meet their needs while a longer term solution is needed to permanently solve the conflict. “If equality is not delivered history could repeat itself,” Ban […]
UN chief in Sri Lanka amid fears for civilians
May 22, 2009 (AFP) – UN chief Ban Ki-moon arrived Friday in Sri Lanka to press for humanitarian access to civilians displaced by the separatist conflict, as the island’s president dismissed international concerns.Ban is the first world leader to visit since Colombo’s assertion earlier this week that the Tamil Tigers’ bloody decades-long crusade for an […]
Sri Lankan stocks up 12.5 pct in the week, rupee stable
May 22, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares were subdued on profit taking Friday after this week’s bull-run following the government’s victory in the war against Tamil Tiger rebels while the rupee remained stable against the greenback, brokers and dealers said. The spot dollar remained around 114.90/115.10 levels by late afternoon trade after strengthening against […]
Fairer Chance
May 22, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank said it has relaxed the criteria for bids for a one-third stake in the troubled Seylan Bank after a poor response from prospective investors to its original call for proposals.It said in a statement the Monetary Board of the Central Bank has decided to invite fresh […]