Tag: lbo
Sri Lanka ends 2013 with US$7.2bn in foreign reserves
Feb 12, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves rose 4.6 percent to 7,200 million in December 2013 from a year earlier, despite payments to the International Monetary Fund and losses on gold holdings, official data showed. But in pegged exchange rate monetary systems ‘reserves’ are invested abroad such as in liquid US Treasuries and […]
Pope agrees to Sri Lanka trip, honours Korean martyrs
VATICAN CITY, February 8, 2014 (AFP) – Pope Francis on Saturday turned his focus to Asia, announcing a possible trip to Sri Lanka and approving the beatification of 124 Korean martyrs. Asia has repeatedly been tipped as a destination for possible papal trips as Francis’s predecessor Benedict XVI did not travel there during his eight-year […]
Tribute to Mel Gunasekera (1973-2014)
Tribute to Mel Gunasekera (1973-2014) The Founding Editor/ LBO This page is dedicated to the memories of Mel Gunasekera A journalist of distinction, who knew no bounds to her loyalty – to her family, profession and friends. Lakshaman Bandaranaike – Publisher LBO Mel Gunasekera (1973 -2014) Who knew no bounds to her loyalty Mel took […]
Sri Lanka president sends unity message
Feb 05, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa called upon foreign nations to support an effort to build unity and reconciliation in a message marking an anniversary of gaining independence from British rule.Western nations, led by the US are expected to move a UN resolution calling on accountability for alleged war crimes citing […]
Rights, democracy under threat in Sri Lanka: US envoy
COLOMBO, February 1, 2014 (AFP) – Democracy is under threat in Sri Lanka and its rights record has deteriorated in the five years since the end of a bloody ethnic war, a top US envoy said Saturday.Nisha Biswal, assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia, said Colombo had failed to ensure reconciliation, justice […]
Sri Lanka rejects US criticism over rights, democracy
COLOMBO, February 2, 2014 (AFP) – Sri Lanka on Sunday rejected “patently unfair” allegations by the United States that its rights record had deteriorated in the five years since the end of a bloody separatist war.Foreign Minister G. L. Peiris said remarks by Nisha Biswal, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, […]
Sri Lanka inflation at 4.4-pct in January 2014
Jan 31, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s consumer prices rose 4. buy 4 percent in the 12-months to January 2014, down from 4.7 percent in December, the state statistics office said.But external inflation usually generated by reserve currency central banks like the Federal Reserve has also started to moderate and if Fed tightens or normalizes […]
Asian shares tumble as emerging market fears return
HONG KONG, January 27, 2014 (AFP) – Asian markets sank on Monday following the worst losses on Wall Street in seven months, with investors gripped by renewed fears over emerging economies days ahead of a crucial Federal Reserve policy meeting. Japan’s Nikkei, which was the best performer last year, continued its 2014 downtrend as the […]
UK in nationalist bid to push up European business costs, undermine capitalism
LONDON, January 24, 2014 (AFP) – British Prime Minister David Cameron was on Friday to insist that the “re-shoring” of jobs from countries such as India and China could be a key factor in spurring European economic growth.Cameron is due to tell the World Economic Forum being held in the Swiss town of Davos that […]
” GDP data row
COLOMBO, January 22, 2014 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s main statistics office Wednesday said a senior official who denounced alleged government pressure to inflate economic growth data would be sacked after he was found guilty of leaking confidential information. Statistics chief Gunawardena denied that he was under pressure to change economic data to suit the government […]
‘s killing
COLOMBO, January 22, 2014 (AFP) – Sri Lankan investigators arrested a ruling party politician who failed to turn up to his trial for the Christmas Day killing of a British tourist two years ago, police said Wednesday.Sampath Vidanapathirana, a councillor in the southern region of Tangalle, was tracked down and arrested in the capital Colombo […]
Sri Lanka mass grave count hits 36
COLOMBO, January 17, 2014 (AFP) – Forensic experts have discovered more bodies in an unmarked mass grave in Sri Lanka’s former war zone, raising the total to 36, an official said Friday. A team led by judicial medical officer Dhananjaya Waidyaratne found four more skeletons Thursday in the first mass grave uncovered since troops defeated […]