Tag: Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka warned it may suffer same fate as Vietnam
June 21, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Communist Party recognized Vietnam’s claims to islands which are at a centre of a dispute with China a top official said, amid warnings that Sri Lanka could suffer the same fate from aggressive large nations. “As far as we are concerned we recognize the right of the Vietnamese […]
Sri Lanka Muslims cut back Friday prayers after unrest
COLOMBO, June 20, 2014 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Muslim minority held shortened Friday prayer services as religious tensions gripped the island after clashes with hardline Buddhists killed four people, an official said. The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka (MCSL) said Islamic clerics instructed mosques to conduct shorter services and asked the faithful to disperse peacefully […]
Sri Lanka should continue investments, improve skills, rule of law: ADB chief
June 18, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka should look at private partnerships to expand infrastructure, reform state enterprises and strengthen the investment climate by improving rule of law and governance, Asian Development Bank chief Takehiko Nakao said. Sri Lanka’s government is investing about 6 percent of gross domestic product in physical infrastructure which was higher […]
Muslims ask for UN probe into Sri Lanka religious riots; President tours area
BERUWALA, June 18, 2014 (AFP) – The main Muslim party in Sri Lanka’s ruling coalition Wednesday demanded a UN probe into one of the country’s worst-ever religious riots, as President Mahinda Rajapakse toured the violence-hit resort region. The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) said it was also boycotting parliament Wednesday as a protest against Colombo’s […]
Sri Lanka parliament rejects UN war probe
COLOMBO, June 18, 2014 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s parliament Wednesday rejected a UN-mandated investigation into alleged war crimes while crushing separatist Tamil rebels five years ago.Ruling party lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to resist a probe by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in line with a US-initiated censure move in March. […]
Sri Lanka policy rates unchanged, banks urged to narrow spreads
June 18, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank held policy interest rates at 6.5 and 8.0 percent but urged banks to narrow spreads by cutting lending rates, as credit growth continued to be slow.Deputy Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said Tuesday such market developments would help bring down interest rates to levels in line with deposit […]
Sri Lanka police arrest 49 over religious riots
ALUTGAMA, June 18, 2014 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s police arrested 49 people overnight over deadly anti-Muslim riots in a tourist region where Buddhist hardliners have set shops and homes ablaze, a senior officer said Wednesday. Both Buddhists and Muslims were arrested during a police crackdown in the southern resort towns, where two nights of violence […]
Fresh religious nationalist violence in Sri Lanka coastal town – Update
ALUTGAMA, June 17, 2014 (AFP) – More deadly violence flared in a Sri Lankan coastal resort where Buddhist hardliners set shops and homes alight for a second night running in defiance of a curfew, police and residents said Tuesday.Amid mounting international concern at the unrest, residents of a town which has borne the brunt said […]
US condemns Sri Lanka nationalist violence
June 16, 2014 (LBO) – The United States has condemned nationalist violence that has left at least three people dead and dozens injured with Muslim house and shops burnt. The statement is reproduced below: U S. Embassy Statement on Aluthgama & Beruwela Violence The U.S. Embassy condemns the violence that has spread over the weekend […]
Sri Lanka credit will grow faster if long-term rates fall: Deputy Central Bank Governor
June 17, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka credit growth will accelerate if longer term lending rates fall further, Deputy Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said.Sri Lanka’s inflation in the past 12-months have been in the lower single digits, though inflation spiked to near 10 percent in 2012, amid steep currency depreciation. Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal told […]
Curfew in Sri Lanka resorts after 80 injured in nationalist riots – Update
ALUTGAMA, June 16, 2014 (AFP) – Sri Lankan police extended a curfew in a popular tourist region Monday after at least 80 people were injured and dozens of Muslim-owned shops and homes torched when a Buddhist mob went on the rampage. Authorities said the curfew would stay in place for a second night running in […]
Three killed in Sri Lanka religous riots
ALUTGAMA, June 16, 2014 (AFP) – Clashes between Buddhists and Muslims in southern Sri Lanka has left three people dead and at least 78 others seriously wounded, the justice minister said Monday. Police fired teargas and imposed a curfew but were unable to prevent several dozen shops and homes being attacked. Both areas are popular […]