Tag: news
Sri Lanka’s future hangs on peace, lower public debt, inflation: ADB
Apr.06 (LBO) — Sri Lanka’s economy is expected to expand by 5.3 percent in 2006, but much of it hinges on peace, and cut backs on public debt, inflation and fiscal deficits, the Asian Development Bank said Thursday. The tsunami-hit island is still plagued with sharp escalation in rebuilding costs, while president Mahinda Rajapakse’s welfare […]
Adding Layers
Apr.06 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has sought a US$500 million loan from Saudi Arabia to double its oil refinery capacity, Energy Minister A H M Fowzie said Thursday. State-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) had presented a concept paper to the Saudi government, when a ministerial delegation visited the oil kingdom recently. “We asked for a […]
‘s new peace envoy opens talks with Sri Lankan rebels
Apr.05 (AFP) – Norway’s new peace envoy opened talks with Tamil Tiger rebels Wednesday as the Sri Lankan government’s key electoral partner renewed calls for removing Oslo from the negotiations.Jon Hanssen-Bauer, Oslo’s newly appointed emissary, travelled to the rebel-held northern town of Kilinochchi on Wednesday for discussions with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), […]
Tigers pressure Norway to disarm Tamil rivals in Sri Lanka
Apr.05 (AFP) – Tamil Tiger rebels Wednesday asked Norway’s new peace envoy to make sure Sri Lanka’s government disarms para-military groups ahead of a new round of truce negotiations in Switzerland. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said they told Jon Hanssen-Bauer to ensure Colombo delivers on a pledge made in a previous round […]
Norway’s new peace envoy opens talks with Sri Lankan rebels
Apr.05 (AFP) – Norway’s new peace envoy opened talks with Tamil Tiger rebels Wednesday as the Sri Lankan government’s key electoral partner renewed calls for removing Oslo from the negotiations.Jon Hanssen-Bauer, Oslo’s newly appointed emissary, travelled to the rebel-held northern town of Kilinochchi on Wednesday for discussions with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), […]
Polls victory to boost Sri Lanka peace hopes: negotiator
Apr.04 (AFP) – Hopes for peace in Sri Lanka have been strengthened by the ruling party’s landslide victory in local polls, the government’s top peace negotiator said Tuesday.Nimal Siripala de Silva said he told Norway’s new peace envoy, Jon Hanssen-Bauer, that last week’s victory had strengthened President Mahinda Rajapakse. His political allies, who resist the […]
Sugar Power
April 03 (LBO) — Pelwatte Sugar has applied to the Ceylon Electricity Board to build a 25MegaWatt power plant fired by sugar cane waste, making it the largest dendro power plant proposed in Sri Lanka up to now.The company submitted the application after a recent cabinet decision raised the limit for buying power from dendro […]
‘s new envoy launches Sri Lanka peace mission
Apr.03 (AFP) – Norway’s new peace envoy to Sri Lanka began work Monday, discussing how to shore up a fragile ceasefire ahead of meetings with Tamil rebels and the government. -Amal Jayasinghe: win98win@ Jon Hanssen-Bauer, on his first visit to the island, went straight into meetings with experts from think-tanks and development organisations after his […]
Norway’s new envoy launches Sri Lanka peace mission
Apr.03 (AFP) – Norway’s new peace envoy to Sri Lanka began work Monday, discussing how to shore up a fragile ceasefire ahead of meetings with Tamil rebels and the government. -Amal Jayasinghe: win98win@ Jon Hanssen-Bauer, on his first visit to the island, went straight into meetings with experts from think-tanks and development organisations after his […]
Sri Lanka snap poll possible as ruling party sweeps local elections
April 2 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s ruling party may call snap elections after its success in local polls gave it a chance to break away from hardline allies opposed to a peace process with Tamil rebels, analysts say. President Mahinda Rajapakse could call parliamentary polls four years ahead of schedule if his two key nationalist […]
Sri Lanka, Pakistan agree to intensify trade, defence, economic links
ISLAMABAD, Apr.0l (AFP) – Pakistan and Sri Lanka agreed Saturday to intensify cooperation in defence, science and technology and trade after talks between their leaders, officials said. Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, who arrived here Friday on a three-day visit, held talks with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on a wide […]
Low vote for monks, Marxists to help Sri Lanka peace: media
April 01 (AFP) – The crushing electoral defeat of Sri Lanka’s nationalist Buddhist monks and Marxists, who both oppose Norwegian-backed peace moves, could boost efforts to end ethnic bloodshed, media said Saturday.Official results of the Thursday poll showed that President Mahinda Rajapakse’s People’s Alliance won 225 of the 266 local councils. By contrast, the Marxist […]