Tag: Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka to trim own contribution to push multilateral projects: minister
Feb 18, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is hoping to push through foreign funded projects which have been held up due to lack of ‘counterparty funds’, with a lower contribution from the government, a senior minister said. Deputy finance minister Sarath Amunugama said there were “a lot of projects” awaiting a 15 percent government contribution, […]
British-Sri Lankan charged with with arson
LONDON, February 16, 2009 (AFP) – British police have charged a man with arson and affray after he reportedly tried to set himself on fire outside Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s Downing Street offices, they said Sunday. Sivsubarmazam Loges-Waran, 41, of Gloucestershire in western England, is due in court on Monday “charged with arson with intent […]
Sri Lanka needs prompt coherent action to survive global slump: think tank
Feb 16, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka needs “prompt and coherent” policy action to counter a global slump which was slowing demand for exports and making it difficult for the government and private firms to borrow abroad, a top think tank has said. “It is essential that prompt and coherent policy action is taken in […]
Sri Lanka ruling party wins landslide local vote: results
February 15, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s ruling party headed for a landslide victory in local elections seen as a referendum on the government’s military campaign against Tamil rebels, official results showed Sunday. President Mahinda Rajapakse’s Freedom Alliance won 36 seats out of 58 in the Central Provincial council. The alliance also had collected nearly […]
”: Britain
LONDON, February 13, 2009 (AFP) – Former colonial power Britain fought off Friday angry objections from Sri Lanka over London’s appointment of a special envoy to address the humanitarian needs of the war-torn country. Britain’s Foreign Office said Thursday’s appointment of former defence secretary Des Browne was not made unilaterally and insisted discussions with the […]
Sri Lankan dies in self-immolation protest in Switzerland
GENEVA, February 13, 2009 (AFP) – A British resident of Sri Lankan origin burnt himself to death outside the UN’s European headquarters in Geneva in protest at the south Asian conflict, local police said Friday. Police were alerted by passers-by and UN security late Thursday after the man doused himself in petrol and set himself […]
Sri Lankan hostage sighted in Philippines
ZAMBOANGA, February 14, 2009 (AFP) – A Sri Lankan peace activist seized by an armed gang in the southern Philippines has been sighted with his kidnappers, a government official said Saturday.Red Cross staffers Andreas Notter of Switzerland, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipina Mary-Jean Lacaba were abducted on January 15 and are still being held by […]
Zimbabwe earns second place in hyperinflation history: economist
Feb 14, 2009 (LBO) – As Zimbabwe allowed full ‘dollarization’ of its economy and legalized foreign currencies, a top monetary economist has placed the now worthless Zimbabwe dollar at the second place in hyperinflation history. Having different currencies competing against each other is also a superior monetary regime to central banking, where a state mandated […]
Sri Lanka rejects British special envoy
February 12, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka on Thursday rejected Britain’s appointment of a special envoy to the island, accusing London of interfering in its internal affairs as security forces battled to defeat Tamil Tiger rebels. The diplomatic row between Colombo and London blew up amid mounting international concerns for the tens of thousands of […]
Sri Lankan peace activist kidnapped in Philippines
ZAMBOANGA, February 13, 2009 (AFP) – Gunmen kidnapped a Sri Lankan Muslim working as a peace advocate in the southern Philippines on Friday, officials said. Jalil Omar, a Muslim preacher, was seized from his boarding house in Lamitan City, capital of Basilan island before dawn and taken to a nearby mountain area, said police commander […]
Sri Lanka conflict-trapped civilians only 65,000: minister
Feb 13, 2009 (LBO) – Contrary to claims that several hundred thousand civilians are trapped in a conflict area in the northeast of Sri Lanka, the latest official estimate is that only 65,000 people remain, a government minister said.Disaster relief services minister Rishad Badurdeen said 34,430 people have escaped from remaining Tamil Tiger controlled areas […]
Sri Lanka cuts policy rates
Feb 11, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank has cut its discount rate that sets the upper limit of inter-bank transactions by 50 basis points to 16.50 percent and a restricted window by 25 basis points to 12.00 percent, amid falling inflation. “Inflation has been on a path of rapid deceleration, benefiting from the […]