February 9, 2009 (AFP) – The BBC has suspended its FM programming to Sri Lanka’s national broadcaster because of what it claimed was “deliberate interference”, it said Monday. In a statement, the BBC said its programmes and news reports in English, Sinhala and Tamil had been blocked by the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), and […]

Sri Lanka ancient economy may have been hit by monetary debasement: economist

Feb 10, 2009 (LBO) – A period of prosperity based on international trade, under an ancient Sri Lankan king may have declined following monetary debasement, as well as a decline in external trade, a top economist in the island said.Central Bank deputy governor W A Wijewardene says, during the reign of king Parakramabahu the Great […]

Britain deplores stoning of Sri Lanka aid offices

LONDON, February 6, 2009 (AFP) – The British government said it deplored Friday’s stoning of the Red Cross offices in Colombo, saying the ICRC was a neutral body carrying out vital work to protect Sri Lankan civilians. “The British government has recently allocated a further 2.5 million pounds (3.7 million dollars, 2.9 million euros) to […]

Galle literary festival, Sri Lanka; seeking freedom in prose

Feb 07, 2009 (LBO) – “I happen to be in love with dictators,” says Moses Isegawa, a Ugandan author whose life had been shaped by the likes of former dictator Idi Amin, and who eventually left his home country to write from abroad.“Every word is a vote,” insists Anam. V V Ganeshanthan, whose debut novel […]

Sri Lanka headline inflation extends fall below core

Feb 07, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s headline inflation fell further below the country’s controversial core inflation number, mimicking the US experience in the early 1980s, amid a deflating commodity bubble and fresh attempts to tinker with the index. The latest twist comes at a time when, not only the concept of targeting ‘core’ inflation, […]

Sri Lanka mob stones Red Cross office

February 6, 2009 (AFP) – A mob stoned the main office of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo on Friday, smashing windows, a spokeswoman told AFP.The crowd of protestors, estimated to number around 200, shouted slogans, including “ICRC go home,” before being dispersed by police, spokeswoman Sophie Romanens […]

” in Sri Lanka

WASHINGTON, February 3, 2009 (AFP) – US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her British counterpart David Miliband called here Tuesday for a “temporary no-fire period” in Sri Lanka to evacuate casualties and allow in relief.“Secretary Clinton and Foreign Secretary Miliband call on both the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of […]

Sri Lanka leader urges diaspora to return

Feb 04, 2009 (LBO) – President Mahinda Rajapaksa has urged Sri Lankans who left the island because of war to return to help rebuild the nation and revive its economy, saying Tiger terrorism was about to be completely crushed. “You must show respect to all communities,” Rajapaksa said. “The future belongs to those who sow […]

Sri Lanka war triggers strike in Indian Tamil state

NEW DELHI, February 4, 2009 (AFP) – Opposition political parties in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu called a general strike Wednesday to protest civilian casualties from the war in nearby Sri Lanka.Sri Lanka’s Tamils share close cultural and religious links with the 55 million Tamils in Tamil Nadu, which is also home to thousands […]

Oil Money

Feb 02, 2009 (LBO) – Cairn India, which is exploring for oil in Sri Lankan waters, said group after-tax profit for the December quarter was 48.5 million dollars compared to a loss of 3.5 million dollars in the same period in 2007.A company statement said group revenue of Cairn India for the quarter was 43.3 […]

Sri Lanka eyes unity amid drive to crush Tamil Tigers

February 2, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka has heightened its usually tight security ahead of national day celebrations even though the rebel Tamil Tigers have been brought to their knees for the first time in decades. The island marks the 61st anniversary of independence from Britain Wednesday with a military parade while its security forces […]

Sri Lanka to have single digit inflation in 1Q09: CB Governor

Feb 02, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is expecting single digit inflation in the first quarter of 2009, and further falls in interest rates, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said, less than a year after the island recorded its highest inflation of close to 30 percent. The Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI), whose weights were […]

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