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Sri Lanka tourist arrivals hit all-time high in July 2016
Aug 19, 2016 (LBO) – Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka hit an all-time high in July this year, statistics from Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority showed. The number of arrivals which clocked 209,351 represented a growth of 19.1 percent compared to July last year and is the highest number recorded in a single month since […]
Asia rides Wall St higher, buoyant crude nears 6-week highs
TOKYO, Aug 19 (Reuters) – Asian stocks edged up on Friday as Wall Street benefited from buoyant crude oil prices and expectations U.S. borrowing costs will remain at stimulatory levels at least until year-end. Japan’s Nikkei added 0.5 percent and South Korea’s Kospi tacked on 0.2 percent. Australian shares added 0.1 percent. MSCI’s broadest index […]
Amana Takaful Life Limited shares debut on CSE
(PRESS RELEASE) – Amana Takaful Life Limited (ATLL), a fully-owned subsidiary of Amana Takaful PLC, rang the opening bell to commence trading and celebrate the listing ofits shares on the Diri Savi Board of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) today. The ceremony was attended by Directors of ATLL Dato’ Mohd Fadzli Yusof, Mr. Fazal Ghaffoor, […]
Sri Lanka inks deal for ICT cooperation with Huawei
Aug 18, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure and Huawei have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on information communication technology cooperation in China recently. “We will accelerate the local ICT talent development and this year, we will also establish a Customer Solution Integration and Innovation Center in Sri Lanka.,” Li […]
Sri Lankan rupee steady; exporter dlr sales offset bank demand
COLOMBO, Aug 18 (Reuters) – The Sri Lankan rupee was steady for a fourth straight session on Thursday as dollar sales by exporters were offset by demand for the U.S. currency from banks, dealers said. The spot rupee was at 145.50/55 per dollar at 0623 GMT, unchanged from Tuesday’s close. The markets were closed for […]
Harsha calls for greater US investment
(PRESS RELEASE) – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Harsha de Silva requested the U.S. government to urge American businesses to invest in Sri Lanka. This was emphasized at several bilateral discussions he held with U.S. officials in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, August 16th. The Deputy Minister was on a brief visit to the U.S. […]
Melbourne remains most liveable out of 140 cities: The Economist
Aug 18, 2016 (LBO) – Melbourne in Australia for the sixth straight year remains the most liveable of the 140 cities surveyed, followed by Vienna, Vancouver and Toronto, the 2016 Liveability Ranking showed. The ranking compiled by the Intelligence Unit of ‘The Economist’ said although the top five cities remain unchanged, the past year has […]
Sri Lanka’s tax collection up by Rs100bn in 1H 2016
Aug 18, 2016 (LBO) – Tax revenue in Sri Lanka’s government has increased by 100 billion rupees for the first half of this year, co-cabinet spokesman Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka said. Karunathilaka said Finance Minister has informed the cabinet that the total tax revenue has increased by about 20 percent in the first six months. Tax […]
‘s Cabinet writes off Hyatt Regency in Hambantota
Aug 18, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Cabinet has approved shifting four billion rupees allocated for the Hyatt Regency project in Hambantota to the Grand Hyatt project in Colombo, effectively completing the write off of the Hambantota project. “Although, 315 million rupees has been spent, constructions of the said hotel has not been commenced,” a […]
Sri Lanka wants 20 pct of consumers to produce solar power: Cabinet
Aug 18, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Cabinet has approved promoting solar power on the roofs of homes so that at least 20 percent of consumers produce electricity. “Currently 50 percent of electricity production in Sri Lanka is done by renewable energy sources and it is expected to increase this percentage to 60 percent in […]
Ceylon Chamber calls for private sector input on FTAs
Aug 18, 2016 (LBO) – With the Sri Lankan government working towards a series of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has called for companies to submit substantive inputs on trade policy matters. With these inputs the private sector can “strengthen its representations with trade negotiators,” the Ceylon Chamber said in a […]
‘Soft Power for Peace and Development’ – Remarks by Irina Bokova, DG, UNESCO
(SPEECH TEXT) – I am deeply honoured to speak at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies. Lakshman Kadirgamar was a great statesman and politician. He was a man of intellect, a man renowned for his wit. He was, most of all, a great humanist. … devoted to human rights and equal […]