Tag: news
Rajapakase seen as hero at home, despite foreign critics
COLOMBO, November 15, 2013 (AFP) – Mahinda Rajapakse may be a pariah for some of his Commonwealth peers, but for many of his fellow Sri Lankans he is a national hero who ended four decades of bloodshed.The combative Sri Lankan president has long battled allegations that his troops killed some 40,000 civilians in the closing […]
Yellen says printing to continue, denies bubble charges
WASHINGTON, November 14, 2013 (AFP) – Janet Yellen, the White House nominee to lead the Federal Reserve, said Thursday that the central bank’s stimulus must remain in place to bolster an economy where growth remains fragile. Staking out her support for policies crafted by current chairman Ben Bernanke, Yellen, the Fed vice chair, told senators […]
Sri Lanka President says Commonwealth should not be judgmental
Nov 15, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa said the Commonwealth should not be a judgmental or punitive body at a meeting of heads of governments of member countries in Colombo.The Commonwealth meet had been clouded over war crimes allegations against Colombo over the last stages of a civil war which ended in […]
Sri Lanka exports up 11-pct in September
Nov 15, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s exports rose 11 percent to 890 million US dollars with apparel exports surging 27 percent to 386 million US dollars amid a recovery in US and European markets, the Central Bank said. Apparel exports rose 30.7 percent to the US and 27.7 percent to the EU. Rubber product […]
Cameron visits Sri Lanka former war zone
COLOMBO, November 15, 2013 (AFP) – Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron made an historic visit Friday to Sri Lanka’s former warzone, stealing the spotlight from a Commonwealth summit after the host, President Mahinda Rajapakse, warned against passing judgement on his country’s past. Only hours after the summit opened in Colombo, Cameron flew into the northern […]
Calls for travel and food freedoms at Sri Lanka Commonwealth meet
Nov 15, 2013 (LBO) – The Commonwealth was home to half the world’s hungry and their pain can be eased by freeing access to food, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot said at a summit meeting in Sri Lanka, while a top official called for greater travel freedoms.The Commonwealth is made up of countries in the […]
Sri Lanka cracks down on opposition ahead of summit
COLOMBO, November 13, 2013 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s military stopped scores of ethnic Tamils protesters from entering the capital Wednesday ahead of a Commonwealth summit as a British TV crew was barred from a former warzone.A UN panel in 2011 found as many as 40,000 civilians may have been killed in the final months of […]
Mauritius PM to boycott Sri Lanka Commonwealth meet
PORT LOUIS, November 12, 2013 (AFP) – The prime minister of Mauritius announced Tuesday he will stay away from this week’s Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka because of the host’s poor human rights record.Mauritius joins India and Canada in refusing to send a premier to Sri Lanka, which is accused of widespread human rights abuses […]
Sri Lanka Commonwealth biz forum begins today
Nov 12, 2013 (LBO) – A three day Commonwealth business forum kicks off today where investment prospects of Sri Lanka and several countries will be showcased and emerging trends in Asia and Africa will come under the spotlight.President Mahinda Rajapaksa will inaugurate the sessions with a keynote address. The first session chaired Rahul Bajaj, chairman […]
Prince Charles becomes pensioner with eye on the throne
LONDON, November 11, 2013 (AFP) – Britain’s heir to the throne Prince Charles can draw his state pension from Thursday when he turns 65 — despite having yet to start the job he has eyed for a lifetime.But when most Britons his age will be settling into their retirement, Charles can be expected to take […]
Sri Lanka Commonwealth biz forum can create wealth, cut poverty: President Rajapaksa
Nov 12, 2013 (LBO) – A Commonwealth business forum in Colombo can forge new partnerships that can create wealth and reduce poverty, Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa said. Sri Lanka has seen strong economic growth thanks to pragmatic policies, and there was a strategy to go forward making the country an economic hub, he said. […]
Sri Lanka Commonwealth Biz forum the largest ever
Nov 12, 2013 (LBO) – A Commonwealth Business Forum underway in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo is the largest in the history of the organization, and can be an opportunity to solve employment and skills challenges, officials said.Sri Lanka after the end of a 30-year war presents opportunities for investment as it strives to be an […]