Tag: Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka elections not free and fair: opposition
April 7, 2010 (AFP) – On the eve of Sri Lanka’s parliamentary elections, the main opposition accused the ruling party Wednesday of campaign abuses and said it did not expect polling to be free and fair. The opposition United National Party (UNP) said President Mahinda Rajapakse’s administration had used state-owned vehicles and buildings for campaigning […]
Sri Lanka needs stable economy to progress: CB governor
Apr 06, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka needs a stable economy with low inflation and ‘reasonable’ interest rates to progress and reduce poverty, after recovering from a 30-year war, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said. In Sri Lanka, for the past several decades, deficit spending governments have created a need for high interest rates but […]
Sri Lanka apparel sector has vacancies: investment chief
Apr 06, 2010 (LBO) – Employment at Sri Lanka’s export processing zones have increased 3.7 percent by end 2009 and there are now unfilled vacancies at some firms, the head of Sri Lanka’s state investment promotion agency said. Deputy director general A M C Kulasekera said firms coming under the agency, which received tax concessions, […]
Sri Lanka war-zone doctor stands for parliament
April 6, 2010 (AFP) – A doctor who drew world attention to civilian deaths during the Sri Lankan army’s defeat of Tamil Tiger rebels last year is to contest polls this week for a party that backs the man behind the offensive. Veerakathipillai Shanmugarajah, 40, was detained following the army’s final victory over the Tigers […]
Oil Move
Apr 06, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is to broaden its search for offshore oil and offer more exploration blocks in the Cauvery Basin in the island’s north as well as the south, the Central Bank said. The company’s Sri Lankan subsidiary Cairn Lanka has also called for bids to hire drilling rigs and logistic […]
Sri Lanka president seen strengthened by election
April 5, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, accused by critics of stifling dissent and persecuting the opposition, looks set to consolidate his hold on power in parliamentary elections this week. Rajapakse called Thursday’s vote two months ahead of schedule after his thumping re-election in January and his Freedom Alliance party is in […]
Sri Lanka economy seen growing 6.5-pct in 2010: central bank
Apr 05, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s economy will bounce back from the effects of war and global recession with 6. 5 percent growth this year, and maintain 7-8 percent growth in the medium term, the Central Bank said. Gross domestic product growth of 7.5 percent is anticipated next year and eight percent in 2012, […]
Sri Lanka exporters have to face stronger rupee: Treasury Secretary
Apr 05, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s exporters should get ready to face a steadily strengthening exchange rate and improve productivity to operate in the new environment, Treasury secretary P B Jayasundera said. “Our currency has depreciated but from this year, it will appreciate,” Jayasundera told a forum at central bank’s headquarters in Colombo. “Our […]
Sri Lanka lures Tamil diaspora investment for former war zone
Apr 05, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s investment promotion agency said it has set up an office in the former war zone of northern Jaffna to handle foreign investments especially from Tamils who migrated to avoid the conflict. The Board of Investment said in a statement staff at its new Jaffna branch are all Tamil […]
Sri Lanka military on alert ahead of vote: police
April 4, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka placed nearly 20,000 troops on alert to reinforce police as violence escalated ahead of parliamentary elections, a police spokesman said Sunday. Police said they had received 270 polls-related complaints and 200 people had been arrested. The private Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) reported 325 minor incidents of […]
Sri Lanka detained writer probed for radical links: police
April 3, 2010 (AFP) – A Sri Lankan woman taken into custody last month for writing books about her conversion to Islam for Buddhism is being investigated for possible links to Islamic extremists, police said Saturday. Last weekend, police said the woman, identified as Malini Perera, was taken into custody under tough emergency laws over […]
Detained Sri Lanka writer probed for radical links: police
April 3, 2010 (AFP) – A Sri Lankan woman taken into custody last month for writing books about her conversion to Islam from Buddhism is being investigated for possible links to Islamic extremists, police said Saturday. Last weekend, police said the woman, identified as Malini Perera, was taken into custody under tough emergency laws over […]