Category:
Only three percent Indians understand economic reforms: poll
NEW DELHI, Jan 26, 2007 (AFP) – India may be registering blistering rates of growth but only three percent of its people understand the economic reforms being implemented and most think they have benefitted only the rich, said a survey published Friday.“Seventy-two percent of Indians were unaware of the economic changes that the country has […]
Roadside blast kills three in Sri Lanka
Jan 26, 2007 (AFP) – Suspected Tamil Tiger rebels set off a Claymore mine in northern Sri Lanka Friday, killing two security personnel and a civilian, police said. The powerful roadside bomb was exploded in the district of Vavuniya as troops and police were on a routine patrol, a police official in Vavuniya town, 260 […]
Petrol Tug
January 26, (LBO) – Ceylon Petroleum Corporation will purchase a tug to support tanker operations at its offshore petroleum unloading facility, a top official said.CPC Chairman Asantha de Mel says the tug is estimated to cost five million US dollars. “We will save about two million dollars a year that we are now paying to […]
’s Jetwing, Hayleys, ties up with Indian partner for luxury hotel
Jan 24 (LBO) – Sri Lankan resort chain Jetwing has tied up with local conglomerate Hayleys and an Indian partner to set up a luxury hotel in Kerala, in the group’s first foray overseas. The new hotel is to be a joint venture with Indian company Kerala Balers holding 51 percent, and the balance equally […]
Helping Hand
Jan 25, 2007 (LBO) – North Dakota State University (NDSU) has granted Sri Lanka’s university students concessions to pursue postgraduate studies in America, officials said Thursday. Dean of postgraduate studies NDSU David Wittrock said the university hopes to increase the student intake from Sri Lanka which is currently around 27 students. “We hope to increase […]
US plays down hopes of trade breakthrough in Davos
DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 25, 2007 (AFP) – US Trade Representative Susan Schwab on Thursday played down hopes of a breakthrough at a meeting on deadlocked global trade talks this weekend but said progress was being made.“I don’t think we’re looking at a breakthrough in the near term,” Schwab told AFP on the sidelines of the […]
Slipped In
January 25 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has allowed six more firms from India, France, China and the Middle East, to market lubricants locally, with three others given provisional approval, a government spokesman said Thursday. Sri Lanka threw open its lubricant market last July, calling for bids from interested investors to blend lubricants locally or import […]
Brief Respite
January 25, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka plans to import more refined petroleum products as its sole refinery shuts down for routine maintenance next week, a top Ceylon Petroleum Corporation said Thursday.The Sapugaskanda refinery which has a daily output of 50,000 barrels producing a mix of diesel, kerosene, gasoline, furnace oil and naphtha, is closed […]
Railway Estate
January 25, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka plans to raise over 1.2 billion dollars in foreign investments to develop real estate along a railway on the island’s western coastal belt, an official said Thursday. The railways operate at a huge loss with a revenue of three billion rupees each year against a state subsidy of […]
Regional Aspirations
January 24 (LBO) – The proposed merger of Sri Lanka’s National Development Bank and Commercial Bank will give the merged entity more clout to spread its wings in the region, officials said. “We want to create a large bank to go regional,” says Harris Premarathne Senior DGM of Commercial Bank. “The challenge we have is […]
Fund Change
Jan 25, 2007 (LBO) – Ceylon Theatres Group which has bagged 70 percent of Commercial Fund Management says it is looking to increase the group’s interests in financial services, by acquiring a fund managing firm. CT Capital now has to acquire the balance 30 percent of the shares which are held by Austalind, an overseas […]
Big Merger
January 24 (LBO) –Commercial Bank of Ceylon and National Development Bank has entered into merger talks, the banks said Wednesday. “In the event the negotiations are successful, and the manner in which the merger may be achieved is agreed upon, the proposal for such merger will be submitted to the Monetary Board of the Central […]