Category: Economy and Markets
Bond traders divided over a change in Sri Lankan interest rates
Apr.11 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank is unlikely to cut interest rates this month, though some traders are expecting a 25 basis point cut. -Mel Gunasekera: mel@ The repurchase rate currently stands at 8.75 percent and the reverse repurchase rate is at 10.25 percent. The repurchase rate is the return on cash deposited by […]
Four soldiers, two aid workers killed in Sri Lanka blast
Apr.10, 2006 (AFP) – At least four Sri Lankan soldiers and two civilians were killed in a landmine blast blamed on the Tamil Tigers in the northern Jaffna province Monday, defence officials said.Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe, Sri Lanka’s military spokesman, said an army truck was caught in the “mine explosion killing four and seriously injuring two […]
Sri Lanka donors meet Tamil Tigers to save peace talks
Apr.10 (AFP) – Envoys from Sri Lanka’s international donors went Monday to meet Tamil Tiger rebels in a bid to keep peace talks due to be held in Switzerland from April 19 on track, officials said.The ambassadors of Norway, Japan and the European Union (EU) flew north to rebel political headquarters at Kilinochchi to see […]
Canada labels Tamil Tigers terror group
OTTAWA, Apr. 10 (AFP) – Canada has added the Sri Lankan separatist Tamil Tigers to its list of terrorist organizations, Minister of Public Safety Stockwell Day announced Monday.The declaration made it possible for Ottawa to block fundraising in Canada for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), or Tamil Tigers, a group fighting for the […]
Sri Lanka condemns death of five soldiers as international donors meet LTTE
Apr.10 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Monday condemned the killing of five soldiers in Jaffna today while island’s key international lenders met Tamil Tiger rebels. Five army personnel and three others, including two aid workers, died in a claymore mine blast by suspected Tamil Tiger rebels in northern Jaffna on the A-9 highway between Kodikaamam and […]
Canada to classify Tamil Tigers as terror group: report
MONTREAL, April 06(AFP) – Canada has added to its list of terrorist organizations the Tamil Tigers, a group fighting for the autonomy of northeastern Sri Lanka, the National Post reported Saturday, saying an official government announcement was expected Monday.The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), or Tamil Tigers, would be the 39th organization deemed a […]
‘s east
Apr.07 (AFP) – A Tamil nationalist activist and two Muslim police guards were shot dead in Sri Lanka’s volatile eastern province on Friday, police said.Vanniasingham Vigneswaran, who spearheaded the Tamil Resurgence Movement in Trincomalee, was gunned down near the port town’s main bank in the morning. His movement had often clashed with the Sinhalese majority […]
Sri Lanka talks to go ahead despite killings: peace envoys
Apr.07 (AFP) – Norway’s top Sri Lankan peace envoys said they were confident new talks set for this month would go ahead despite the killings Friday of a pro-Tamil Tiger activist and two police guards.Vanniasingham Vigneswaran, who spearheaded the Tamil Resurgence Movement, a known front organisation of the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), […]
Three shot dead in Sri Lanka’s east
Apr.07 (AFP) – A Tamil nationalist activist and two Muslim police guards were shot dead in Sri Lanka’s volatile eastern province on Friday, police said.Vanniasingham Vigneswaran, who spearheaded the Tamil Resurgence Movement in Trincomalee, was gunned down near the port town’s main bank in the morning. His movement had often clashed with the Sinhalese majority […]
Norway peace envoys meet Sri Lanka president on truce
Apr.06 (AFP) – Norway’s top peace envoys met Sri Lanka’s president Thursday, diplomats said, amid doubts about whether the next round of talks on salvaging the island’s ceasefire will go ahead. Oslo’s International Development Minister Erik Solheim and new peace envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer had closed-door talks with President Mahinda Rajapakse to arrange the truce negotiations […]
Sri Lanka offers safe passage for Tigers after fresh Norway bid
Apr.06 (AFP) – Sri Lanka gave security guarantees to Tiger rebels travelling to Switzerland for talks on saving their faltering ceasefire, a Norwegian minister said here Thursday after talks with the president.Norway’s International Development Minister Erik Solheim said President Mahinda Rajapakse agreed to Tamil Tiger demands for safe passage to Switzerland amid doubts if talks […]
‘s Sampath Bank gets credit upgrade from Fitch
Apr.06 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings Lanka has upgraded Sampath Bank long term domestic rating to AA- (sri) on an improving financial profile.“Concerted recovery efforts and improved credit risk management have resulted in a steady improvement in the bank’s asset quality and solvency position,” Fitch said. “The bank has halved its gross NPLs (non-performing loan) ratio […]
