Will economic growth give political space for Sri Lanka to escape poverty?

SINGAPORE September 15, 2006 (LBO) – In addition to curries, saris and a passion for cricket, Sri Lanka shares similar problems with South Asian countries, but rapid economic growth is now creating the ‘political space’ for policy and institutional reforms, the World Bank said. “The Sri Lankan government was (last year) elected on a platform […]

Tit for Tat

Sept 15 (LBO) – Lanka Indian Oil Corp., will drop fuel prices again from Friday to recover a 50 percent loss in volumes due to price wars with Sri Lanka’s state oil corporation. We will be reducing our prices by one rupee on a litre of petrol and diesel with effect from midnight Friday. It […]

IMF asks domestic policymakers to be nimble to external risks

Singapore September 15, 2006 (LBO) – The International Monetary Fund Friday asked domestic policymakers to be nimble and adapt to external risks like inflation and high oil prices that is threatening to disrupt global economic growth. The Washington based global financial watchdog and biggest financial backer, is also keen to boost its surveillance role of […]

Hedging Option

Sept 14 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is looking at oil futures to hedge against increasing crude prices and control the island’s runway oil bill next year, officials said. Sri Lanka is hoping to bring about a more stable macro-economic framework in the next few years and one such move to do this is to take […]

Donor countries cut funding for Sri Lanka de-mining Report

Sept 14 (LBO) – Donor countries have withdrawn funding for de-mining in Sri Lanka until the government shows more commitment to signing a treaty banning landmines. A Landmine Monitor Report for 2006 launched earlier this week, says funding for de-mining has been steadily falling over the past few years as Sri Lanka is not signatory […]

Lack of cash pushes Sri Lanka to peace talks: analysts

COLOMBO, Sept 14, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka appears to be dominating Tamil separatists on the battlefield, but a dwindling war chest may have forced it to enter peace talks ordered by foreign donors, analysts and diplomats say. “There is no doubt that the military enjoys the upper hand in current battles,” says retired air […]

’s money changers to up collections, but new tax pushes dollars underground

Sri Lanka’s central bank is asking the country’s licensed money changers to raise more dollars to be allowed to continue in business. They are expected to buy foreign exchange from tourists and those who return from working abroad and deposit it in commercial banks. According to their license, money changers cannot sell foreign exchange back […]

Ten killed in Sri Lanka amid fresh violence

VAVUNIYA, Sri Lanka, Sept 14, 2006 (AFP) – At least 10 people have died in fresh violence in Sri Lanka, officials said Thursday, despite an agreement among the island’s warring parties to talk peace. Three migrant workers from Sri Lanka’s majority Sinhalese community were gunned down in an open field in the town of Vavuniya, […]

” talks

Sept 13, 2006 (AFP) – A Sri Lankan official denied on Wednesday the government had agreed to unconditional talks with Tamil Tiger rebels, and accused peace broker Norway of failing to consult with Colombo before making any announcement.Earlier peace talks aimed at ending three decades of ethnic bloodshed came to a halt in April 2003 […]

Blast injures 16 in northern Sri Lanka town

VAVUNIYA, Sept 13 (AFP) – A powerful explosion ripped through a chicken market in Sri Lanka’s northern town of Vavuniya on Wednesday, wounding 16 civilians, police and witnesses said. Police said they believed the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) exploded a grenade inside the market. “We suspect the Tigers were behind the attack,” […]

‘t commits to talks

COLOMBO, Sept 13, 2006 (AFP) – The Sri Lankan government said Wednesday it was committed to proposed peace talks with Tamil rebels aimed at ending an upsurge in bloodshed since December that has left more than 1,500 people dead. The nation’s top peace official, Palitha Kohona, said the government was now working on possible dates […]

Constable killed, bomb wounds six in Sri Lanka

TRINCOMALEE, Sept 12(AFP) – A policeman was shot dead and six people were hurt in a bomb attack in Sri Lanka on Tuesday after weekend fighting between government and rebel forces left 185 combatants dead, officials said.The injuries occurred when a parcel bomb exploded as a police vehicle drove by in Trincomalee town, police said, […]

Page 432 of 593