Tag: news
Sri Lanka tightens grip on foreign aid workers: officials
November 10, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s government said Wednesday it had ordered foreign and local aid workers to register with the defence ministry in a move to put them under greater state control. The government information department said there were 250 international and some 1,000 domestic aid agencies working in Sri Lanka, which would […]
Oil Plan
NEW DELHI, Nov 5 (Asia Pulse) – State-owned Indian Oil Corp is eyeing a contract to revamp and expand the sole refinery in Sri Lanka. IOC’s interest in upgrading and doubling capacity of Ceylon Petroleum Corp’s (CPC) Sapugaskanda Refinery to 4 million tonnes a year came up at a meeting between Indian Oil Minister Murli […]
Sri Lankan president postpones British visit: official
November 5, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse has postponed a planned visit to Britain, due to a busy schedule rather than fears of a arrest over alleged war crimes, a foreign ministry official said Friday. Rajapakse had planned to address the Oxford Union during his tour later this month. But the Times […]
Gas Demand
Nov 04, 2010 (LBO) – A share issue by Sri Lankan liquid petroleum gas supplier Laugfs Gas to raise 2. 5 billion rupees was oversubscribed on the opening day Thursday itself, its promoters said in a stock exchange filing. Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka, Managers and Registrars to the IPO, said the issue would be […]
Final Stretch
Nov 03, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government is scheduled to wrap up the purchase of liquefied petroleum gas distribution operations of Royal Dutch Shell for 63 million US dollars today, officials said. Another 24 million US dollars had been invested in building other infrastructure. Hiran Seneviratne, a spokesman for Shell said an agreement with […]
Gas Move
Nov 03, 2010 (LBO) – The state-run Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC) will help operate a liquid petroleum gas business the government acquired after buying out a majority stake held by Shell, a statement said. The LPG business has been rebranded the ‘Lithro’ gas company, the government statement said. Gamini Senarath, chairman of Sri Lanka […]
Australian rights agency says asylum centre must close
SYDNEY, October 29, 2010 (AFP) – Australia’s human rights agency Friday urged the government to stop locking up asylum seekers on remote Christmas Island, its main detention centre, saying it was overcrowded and inadequate. Thousands of boatpeople have been brought to the small Indian Ocean island this year, forcing some to sleep in tents and […]
‘s re-election
October 29, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court rejected Friday a challenge to the re-election of President Mahinda Rajapakse filed by his defeated — now jailed — opponent, former army chief Sarath Fonseka. The five-judge bench dismissed the petition after accepting a defence argument that there was insufficient grounds to proceed with the case, […]
Canada unveils law to curb illegal immigration
OTTAWA, October 21, 2010 (AFP) – The Canadian government on Thursday unveiled legislation aimed at curbing illegal immigration and human smuggling by imposing stiff penalties and even detaining asylum seekers. The arrival of two ships carrying illegal migrants over the past year “clearly demonstrates that human smuggling networks are targeting Canada as a destination and […]
Gas Prospects
Oct 21, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan liquid petroleum gas supplier Laugfs Gas is raising 2.5 billion rupees to settle debt, expand facilities and also enter property development as the country recovers from a war, its promoters said. Market Growth Laugfs has a 28 percent share of the total LPG market which it aims to […]
Canada welcomes Thai move on Tamil migrants
OTTAWA, October 19, 2010 (AFP) – Ottawa on Monday welcomed Thailand’s arrest for possible deportation more than 150 Tamil migrants who some reports said wanted to seek asylum in Canada. “These people are minority Tamils fleeing war in their country and seeking asylum through the UN. But they came to Thailand with tourist visas, allowing […]
” rights groups
LONDON, October 19, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s foreign minister Gamini Lakshman Peiris rejected “colonial” criticism Tuesday of a government-appointed civil war probe, after foreign rights groups snubbed an invitation to attend. New York-based Human Rights Watch, London-based Amnesty International and Brussels-based International Crisis Group last week accused the panel of a cover-up and refused […]