Tag: Sri Lanka
” on asylum boats
SYDNEY, October 22, 2009 (AFP) – Australia’s Prime Minister Kevin Rudd Thursday angrily denied extremists were among hundreds of asylum-seekers arriving in the country, as another two boats were stopped off the northern coast.Rudd demanded that opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull withdraw support for renegade backbencher Wilson Tuckey, who said there were “narrow odds” some of […]
Sri Lanka exports picking up: Central Bank
Oct 21, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s exports, which down 6.7 percent in August from a year earlier were showing a steady month on month rise with a recovery seen in the key apparel sector, the Central Bank said. Mineral exports recorded a decline of 30.1 per cent, largely due to lower gem exports. In […]
Hearings begin for migrants arrested off Canadian coast
VANCOUVER, October 21, 2009 (AFP) – Detention hearings began Tuesday for two of 76 migrants who were arrested Saturday on a mystery ship off Canada’s coast and are believed to be Tamils fleeing Sri Lanka, Immigration adjudicator Leeann King of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board ruled late Tuesday that the first two of the migrants […]
Sri Lanka post-war rebuilding to get ADB help
Oct 20, 2009 (LBO) – A senior Asian Development Bank (ADB) has visited Sri Lanka to discuss support for post-war reconstruction in the island, the bank said in a statement.ADB Director General South Asia Department Kunio Senga visited Sri Lanka during October 13 -15 for talks on ADB support to Sri Lanka, especially for rehabilitation […]
Sri Lanka draws Singapore investor interest
SINGAPORE, October 19, 2009 (AFP) – Singapore is urging local businessmen to explore investment opportunities in Sri Lanka following the defeat of the Tamil separatist insurgency there, a report said here Monday.“Our business community should take an interest in what’s happening, assess the risk and be aware there is a new situation,” Foreign Minister George […]
Canada intercept boat with 76 migrants believed from Sri Lanka
VANCOUVER, October 18, 2009 (AFP) – A ship suspected of carrying 76 illegal migrants was intercepted in the Pacific Ocean off Canada’s west coast, police said Saturday.Authorities including military, police and border agents “identified and secured a vessel displaying the name ‘Ocean Lady’ that was approaching the coast of British Columbia” province, said a statement […]
Sri Lanka boat migrants end hunger strike
MERAK, October 17, 2009 (AFP) – A group of more than 250 Sri Lankan asylum seekers whose boat was stopped in Indonesian waters en route to Australia ended their two-day hunger strike on Saturday, officials said.The group — among which it was the 150 men who were on hunger strike — had accepted food late […]
Sri Lanka pressed by US on IP protection, GM food
Oct 17, 2009 (LBO) – The United States has asked Sri Lanka, ranked high for software piracy in Asia, to better enforce intellectual property rights and also lift restrictions on American imports like genetically modified food.Sri Lanka’s Director-General of Commerce Gomi Senadheera acknowledged the US concerns on IP rights and said the government was trying […]
Sri Lanka refugee hunger strike fails to sway Australian PM
SYDNEY, October 16, 2009 (AFP) – Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Friday refused to be swayed by hundreds of Sri Lankan asylum-seekers who launched a hunger strike after their wooden boat was stopped in Indonesia.Rudd said the 255 people, who are refusing to leave their boat and earlier threatened to set it on fire, […]
Sri Lanka fines US embassy for illegal water supply: official
October 16, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s main water utility said Friday it had fined the US embassy in Colombo more than 3,000 dollars for illegally tapping supplies from the national network.The National Water Supply and Drainage Board said it found that the supply to US ambassador Patricia Butenis’ official residence in Colombo bypassed the […]
Sri Lanka to present 4-month budget in November
Oct 16, 2009 (LBO) – A four-month mini budget is expected to be presented to parliament in November seeking approval for Sri Lanka’s government to spend 362 billion rupees collected from the people through taxes or borrowed. Sri Lanka has a bloated public sector that does not pay income tax on their salaries and more […]
Sri Lanka post-war re-construction draws US firms
Oct 16, 2009 (LBO) – American companies are keen to invest in Sri Lanka with the end of the ethnic war to help rebuild the economy and contribute to national reconciliation, government officials from both countries said.Export Development and International Trade Minister Gamini Lakshman Peiris said some of America’s biggest companies had sent representatives to […]