Foreign Flavour

Mar. 03 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is looking at the possibility of getting into a partnership with foreign governments to explore oil off the island’s western coast, a senior official said Friday. Two rounds of seismic surveys conducted by Norway’s TGS-NOPEC have shown that Sri Lanka may have oil and natural gas reserves in the […]

Sri Lanka picks up Rs. 19.4 billion cheque from Japan

Mar. 02 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Thursday signed up for Rs. 19.4 billion loans from Japan to develop three key infrastructure projects, the finance ministry said. The concessionary finance package will be split between the Galle port development project (Rs. 13.75 billion), pro-poor eastern infrastructure development project (Rs. 3.95 billion) and the tourism resources improvement […]

’s young could stifle progress

Illiteracy, no jobs and high risk behaviour among South Asia’s young people could affect the region’s progress and development, the World Bank says. About 20 percent of South Asia’s population is between 15 and 24, 30 percent are illiterate and they account for half of the unemployed in the region. The World Bank is meeting […]

‘s inflation

Feb. 18 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s annual inflation rate for February slipped to 10.3 percent from 11.1 percent in January, despite high costs of firewood, electricity and milk tea, the Census & Statistics Department said Tuesday. The government uses the 12-month moving average – as measured by the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI) – to […]

Sri Lanka stands by ceasefire with LTTE, though it is illegal.

Feb. 26 (LBO) – The government will abide by the agreements reached with the LTTE in Geneva, despite the original ceasefire agreement being illegal, members of the delegation who held talks with the Tamil Tigers told reporters in Colombo Sunday.Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said the government would ensure that the activities of all armed […]

Red Flag

The woes the Indian state oil giant IOC’s Sri Lankan unit continues, as the firm took an unprecedented hit on its accounts to provision off a disputed subsidy due from the government. Lanka IOC’s profits for the 9-months ended December 2005 slipped deep into red after the company made a provision of Rs. 7 billion […]

Sick Leave

Feb 22 (LBO) – Some workers at Sri Lanka’s state owned power utility struck work on Wednesday in protest over unpaid wages, without disrupting power supplies. The politically affiliated Viduli Sevaka Sangamaya (VSS) said they would be on a ‘sick-note’ campaign, not reporting to work until 4.00 pm on Wednesday evening. The Ceylon Electricity Board […]

Last Warning

Feb. 21 (LBO) – About 50 public sector trade unions called off a planned strike, giving the government a ten day ultimatum to sort out salary anomalies. Unions want the government to give low and middle level public sector workers higher wage increases, instead of the 25 percent or less approved by a government circular […]

‘s Hoping

Reports that the treasury has set off tax liabilities of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation against the full subsidy due from the government, has raised expectations that Lanka IOC would also get the full subsidy owed to it. The treasury has agreed to set off Rs. 25 billion in taxes due to the government, a top […]

Treasure Hunt

Feb. 20 (LBO) – India’s Reliance group is scouting for investment opportunities in Sri Lanka, with an eye on oil exploration in potential areas off Mannar on the Western coast, officials said Monday. Two rounds of seismic surveys have shown that Sri Lanka has potential oil reserves in the Cauvery Basin off the west coast, […]

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