Tag: Sri Lanka
Britain says Sri Lanka war victims should be freed
October 6, 2009 (AFP) – Britain on Tuesday expressed disappointment with Sri Lanka’s handling of war-displaced civilians and demanded that they be given the freedom to leave state-run camps. “Freedom of movement is critical if a humanitarian crisis is to be averted,” visiting British Development Minister Mike Foster said after touring the camps, where over […]
Australia first advanced economy to lift rates since crisis
SYDNEY, October 6, 2009 (AFP) – Australia on Tuesday became the first advanced economy to raise interest rates since the global financial crisis and promised more rises to come, boldly declaring the risk of recession over. The central bank announced a rise of 25 basis points to 3.25 percent, lifting rates off a 49-year low […]
Sri Lanka economic report out: IPS
Oct 05, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Institute of Policy Studies has released its annual analysis of the country’s economy looking at the impact of a downturn in 2008 and policies needed for recovery, the think tank said. IPS’s annual report, Sri Lanka: State of the Economy 2009, is themed on ‘Global Economic Crisis: Issues, […]
Circular Debt
Oct 05, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan government organisations owed the state-owned refiner, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), 61 billion rupees in unpaid bills for fuel supplies by September 2009, CPC chairman Asoka Thoradeniya said. In the past losses from energy subsidies (both fuel and power), which increase debt in state banks and are then funded […]
US responds to Sri Lanka protest over Clinton remark
WASHINGTON, October 4, 2009 (AFP) – The United States, responding to protests from Sri Lanka over remarks by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, said it had no recent evidence of women being raped while in Sri Lankan government custody.Colombo faced condemnation for its handling of the final stages of the war against Tiger rebels and […]
Sri Lanka seeks foreign cash for war-displaced
October 5, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka will tap foreign donors to raise more cash to look after over 250,000 people displaced by its offensive against Tamil Tiger rebels, a minister said Monday.“We are drawing up a fresh appeal to meet our running costs next year that will include funds for livelihood support and resettlement […]
Wife of jailed Sri Lankan reporter accepts Peter Mackler Award
WASHINGTON, October 2, 2009 (AFP) – J.S. Tissainayagam, a Tamil reporter and editor serving a 20-year prison sentence in Sri Lanka, was awarded the first Peter Mackler Award for Courageous and Ethical Journalism on Friday.The Peter Mackler Award rewards journalists who fight courageously and ethically to report the news in countries where freedom of the […]
‘s rape remark
October 3, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka lodged a protest over US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s remarks that rape had been used as a war tactic on the island, officials said Saturday.Colombo’s displeasure over a statement by Clinton to the United Nations Security Council was conveyed to US diplomats in the Sri Lankan capital, […]
Sri Lanka budget 2010 likely delayed
Oct 02, 2009 (LBO) – A decision on delaying Sri Lanka 2010 budget and seeking parliamentary approval for spending in the interim, would be made latest by next week, deputy finance minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said.But a senior official said a vote-on-account, or a mini budget for a shorter duration than a year could also presented […]
Sri Lanka accepts UN criticism of camps: minister
October 1, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka on Thursday said it accepted much of the United Nations’ recent criticism over its handling of 250,000 Tamils detained in camps since the end of the island’s ethnic conflict six months ago. Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe pledged the government would address recommendations made by Walter Kaelin, a […]
Sri Lanka plantations industry demands former benefits
Oct 01, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s plantations industry is demanding the release of funds taken as an export tax and is asking to treated as exporters under the value added tax regime as they were before, to help cope with a recent wage hike to workers. “We’ve got to see where we can get […]
Sri Lanka inflation slows to 0.7 percent in September
Sept 30, 2009 (LBO) – Consumer prices in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo rose 0.7 percent in September from a year earlier, down from 0.9 percent in August, the government’s statistics office said.The monetary authority, which keeps the rupee pegged to the US dollar, has relaxed policy rates, but has been engaging in steady “quantity tightening” […]