Tag: Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka central bank holds interest rates
Feb 08, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank held key interest rates unchanged at its monthly monetary policy meeting Tuesday, saying inflation was stable and food prices likely to fall when supply returns to normal. The bank is ready to take “appropriate measures” to ward off any increase in prices of key commodity imports […]
Sri Lankan floods pile on misery: UN
February 8, 2011 (AFP) – The United Nations said Tuesday that recent monsoon flooding in Sri Lanka had hit hundreds of thousands of victims who were forced from their homes just weeks ago. “The impact on people of this second wave of floods is even greater than the first in large part as peoples’ capacity […]
Sri Lanka to expand dam safety program
Feb 08, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will expand its dam safety program to cover more large reservoirs and will ask for additional funding from the World Bank following recent floods, officials said. D C S Alakanda, who heads Sri Lanka’s Dam Safety and Water Resources Planning Project said the talks with World Bank to […]
Oil Spike
SINGAPORE, February 7, 2011 (AFP) – Brent crude prices surged above 100 dollars in Asia on Monday as major regional equities clocked strong performances in their first trading day since the start of the Chinese New Year, analysts said. “Oil was also boosted by US economic figures on Friday that showed jobless rates plunging to […]
Sri Lanka large bank note shows recent inflation: economist
Feb 07, 2011 (LBO) – A large denomination banknote issued by Sri Lanka’s monetary authority is a testament to the recent high inflation created in the country, an economist and opposition lawmaker has said. Sri Lanka’s central bank issued a 5,000 rupee note, more than twice the value of 2,000 rupee, note also issued after […]
Sri Lankan floods return, death toll rises to 17
February 7, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s latest monsoon rains have claimed at least 17 lives and left around 1.2 million people flooded out of their homes, officials said Monday. The Disaster Management Centre in Colombo said 311,000 people had sought refuge in state-run relief shelters by Monday morning, while approximately 900,000 were living with […]
”
SINGAPORE, February 6, 2011 (AFP) – Asia must prepare for millions of people to flee their homes to safer havens within countries and across borders as weather patterns become more extreme, the Asian Development Bank warns. A draft of an ADB report obtained by AFP over the weekend and confirmed by bank officials cautioned that […]
Sri Lanka opposition warns of Arab-style uprising
February 5, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s main opposition on Saturday warned of an uprising, a day after ruling party activists unleashed violent attacks against demonstrators seeking the release of a jailed opposition leader. The United National Party (UNP) said repeated violence against the opposition, arson attacks on anti-government news organisations and arrests of student […]
Sri Lanka to grow fast if policy intentions carried out: IMF
Feb 05, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has good prospects of sustaining economic growth between 7. 0 to 8.0 percent a year if the declared economic plan is implemented, an International Monetary Fund official said. The state has now unveiled a plan to stop living beyond its means by cutting deficits, which can keep interest […]
Sri Lanka floods kill 13
February 5, 2011 (AFP) – Renewed rains in Sri Lanka have flooded a large number of towns and villages and killed at least 13 people, officials said Saturday. The new flooding came after the United Nations issued an appeal for 51 million dollars in emergency aid to help up to a million people affected by […]
Sri Lanka flexible exchange rate can cut carry trade risk: IMF
Feb 04, 2011 (LBO) – A flexible exchange rate that moves in both directions can ward off speculative capital flows by signaling the risk of capital losses, while also improving competitiveness, an International Monetary Fund official said. Policy rates in Sri Lanka are now on a 7.0 to 8.5 percent band compared to almost zero […]
Sri Lanka president promises growth
KATARAGAMA, February 4, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapakse promised Friday to promote economic development at all costs to make up for opportunities lost during the country’s separatist war. In an address on the country’s 63rd anniversary of independence from Britain, Rajapakse said he would press ahead with infrastructure projects and double per […]