Sri Lanka Jaffna hospital upgraded by Japan

Jan 20, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Jaffna hospital, the main state health facility in the former war torn northern peninsular is being upgraded with a 2. 9 billion rupee grant in a three year project which began Thursday, the Japan International Co-operation Agency said. A central facility to house surgeries, intensive care, diagnostic imaging, […]

”: watchdog

PARIS, January 20, 2011 (AFP) – Leading media freedom group Reporters Without Borders on Thursday accused Nobel-winning author Orhan Pamuk and other writers of legitimising repression in Sri Lanka by attending a literary festival there. Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said it was “disturbing” that Sri Lanka should celebrate literature while suppressing freedom of expression […]

UN seeks $51 million for Sri Lanka flood victims

January 19, 2011 (AFP) – The United Nations on Wednesday sought 51 million dollars to meet the urgent needs of more than one million people affected by recent monsoon floods in Sri Lanka. Bragg will end her visit on Friday after meeting with senior Sri Lankan government officials. The UN issued the appeal as its […]

Sri Lanka flood victims protest over food aid

January 18, 2011 (AFP) – Hundreds of flood victims in Sri Lanka besieged a district office in the eastern town of Kathankudi complaining about unfair distribution of emergency food aid, police said Tuesday. Local media reports said three civil servants were hospitalised after being attacked by the furious crowd, but police said they were unable […]

Sri Lanka floods will not need a monetary response: CB Governor

Jan 18, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s recent floods will have minimal impact on long term inflation and will not need a monetary response but there will be ‘some economic impact’ from crop losses, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said. Large swathes of rice fields in Sri Lanka east and north central areas went under […]

WASHINGTON, January 16, 2011 (AFP) – China’s President Hu Jintao said Sunday the international currency system was “a product of the past,” but it would be a long time before the yuan is accepted as an international currency. Asked about the view that appreciation of the yuan would curb inflation in China, Hu suggested that […]

EU gives two mln euros in aid for Sri Lanka floods

BRUSSELS, January 14, 2011 (AFP) – The European Commission decided on Friday to release two million euros (. 7 million) in emergency humanitarian aid for the victims of devastating floods in Sri Lanka. The assistance will be distributed through international aid agencies to provide emergency food aid, water and sanitation, and emergency relief items. “When […]

Sri Lanka gets US$250mn from land sales to developers: minister

Jan 14, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is raising 250 million US dollars from the sale of two blocks of land to developers who will build hotels and shopping complexes near the main beachfront in the capital Colombo, a government minister said. Hong Kong based Shangri-La hotels and state-run China National Aero Technology Import and […]

Sri Lanka economic freedoms improve: think tank

Jan 14, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has improved its score in an economic freedom index for 2011 compiled by US based heritage foundation and the Wall Street Journal, but the increasing non-tarrif barriers and state expansion has dragged the score down. Sri Lanka improved its score by 2.5 points to 57.1 making it the […]

World Bank sees 2008 risks for global economy

WASHINGTON, January 13, 2011 (AFP) – The World Bank warned Wednesday the global economy could return to the dark days of the 2008 crisis, with slowing growth and rising commodity prices. After the recession in 2009 and the 2010 rebound, the multilateral institution said, 2011 is expected to be a year of deceleration. In its […]

Sri Lanka can loosen monetary policy amid fiscal tightening: economist

Jan 14, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka could loosen monetary policy if it is balanced by tightening fiscal policy to manage inflation, a senior World Bank economist said South Asian nations struggled with large deficits and high inflation from past loose policy. Sri Lanka has a pegged exchange rate where the country’s inflation is externally […]

Sri Lanka cuts policy rates, amid lower deficit

Jan 11, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank cut its policy rate at which excess cash is drained from the market 25 basis points to 7.0 percent, while inflation hovered at 6. 9 percent in December. The government has also cut taxes on some foods, the central bank said. Earlier this month the military […]

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