Attack on Sri Lanka broadcaster is criminal: United States

Jan 06, 2008 (LBO) – The United States has strongly condemned an attack on an independent broadcaster in Sri Lanka by a heavily armed group that stormed its main studio facilities and called for swift investigation. A similar raid was conducted by a group of armed men against the independent The Sunday Leader newspaper, who […]

Sri Lanka business chambers condemn attack on TV station

Jan 06, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s top business chambers condemned an attack on a private television station, saying the government’s credibility is at stake if it failed to bring the culprits to justice and prevent further attacks. The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) […]

Sri Lanka urged by UK to set out political solution to conflict

Jan 06, 2009 (LBO) – The British government has urged Sri Lanka to urgently draw up a political solution to the ethnic crisis following the fall of a key Tamil Tiger rebel stronghold to the army.“This is the only way to achieve a strong and sustainable peace in Sri Lanka in which all communities can […]

US renews call for peaceful dialogue in Sri Lanka

WASHINGTON, January 2, 2009 (AFP) – The US State Department on Friday urged the Sri Lankan and Tamil Tigers to start negotiating over the “legitimate” demands of the Tamils after Colombo announced a key win over the rebels.Sri Lanka said Friday its troops had finally captured Kilinochchi, the unofficial capital of the Tigers, and urged […]

Sri Lanka president takes over media portfolio

January 1, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse on Thursday took the country’s influential media ministry under his wing ahead of a key mid-term election for his administration, officials said.The Ministry of Mass Media and Information was taken away from Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, who was instead given the Ministry of Investment Promotion post, […]

Volatile Pricing

Jan 01, 2009 (LBO) – Shell Gas Lanka, the Sri Lankan unit of the Shell multinational, said a new government tax and its inability to buy locally made liquid petroleum gas is preventing it from further reducing prices.It said in a statement that the government has imposed a special tax of eight rupees per kilogramme […]

Barrelling Down

LONDON, December 28, 2008 (AFP) – Oil prices, which hit record highs above 147 dollars a barrel this year before plunging under 33 dollars, risk slumping more in 2009 as recession curbs the world’s appetite for energy, analysts say. “We expect oil prices in early 2009 to remain under pressure given the weakening demand outlook […]

Petrol Saga

Dec 27, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s main opposition United National Party (UNP) plans to file a contempt-of-court case against the government for its refusal to obey a Supreme Court order to reduce petrol prices, a media report said. The Daily Mirror newspaper said UNP wants to file a contempt-of-court case against the Cabinet, the […]

Christmas celebrations reflect on war, hardship

VATICAN CITY, December 25, 2008 (AFP) – War and economic hardship loomed over Christmas celebrations across the world Thursday, with Pope Benedict XVI denouncing greed and pleading for an end to violence in the Middle East. The pontiff lamented that “the horizon seems once again bleak for Israelis and Palestinians,” and he decried the conflicts […]

China Plan

BEIJING, December 25, 2008 (AFP) – China has started filling tanks at its largest oil reserve, taking advantage of tumbling world crude prices, state media reported Thursday. The aim of the reserves is to guarantee supply in times of need as the nation’s a growing economy demands ever-more energy to fuel the factories that supply […]

Volatile Price

Dec 24, 2008 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka unit of the Indian Oil Corporation, which slashed petrol prices in response to a Supreme Court order, raised the retail prices back to the earlier level of 122 rupees Wednesday. The entire capital budget of the government is also financed out of debt, and the government has […]

Sri Lanka govt says enough fuel stocks available

Dec 19, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has enough stocks and it is continuing to supply fuel stations, a minister said, while a court directive to cut prices remains to be implemented. Information minister Anura Yapa said the CPC is sending 160 fuel bowsers to fuel stations island-wide. This should help […]

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