Category: Other
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VATICAN CITY, April 8, 2007 (AFP) – Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday decried the “suffering in the world” in his traditional “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) on Easter Sunday. “How many wounds, how much suffering there is in the world! Natural calamities and human tragedies that cause innumerable victims and enormous […]
History Maker
April 07, 2007 (LBO) – John Exter can be regarded as one of the history makers in modern Sri Lanka.He lent his wisdom, intellect and experience, without any reservation, for the establishment of the Central Bank of Ceylon, the name of the Bank at that time. For those interested in monetary policy/negative effects of Keynesianism […]
Pirates free ship with Sri Lankan sailors off Somalia
NAIROBI, April 7, 2007 (AFP) – Pirates have released a UN-chartered cargo ship and an Indian vessel they captured in the unpatrolled waters off the coast of Somalia, a maritime official said Saturday.Andrew Mwangura of the Seafarers’ Assistance Programme said the hijackers freed the MV Rozen on Friday, more than a month after it was […]
Herd Instinct
April 06, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s accounting watchdog has gained membership of a global accounting regulatory forum, the regulator said in a statement. IFIAR with 22 members, focuses on improving audit quality in the institutions and the sustainability of good auditing strategies, the watchdog said. The Sri Lanka Accounting and Auditing Standards Monitoring Board […]
Colombo Round
April 03, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka needs to master trade law to take the best advantage of international trade, Chief Justice Sarath Silva said Tuesday at the announcing of an international trade law conference to be held in Sri Lanka. But Third World countries maintain they need to protect crucial sectors of their economies […]
China sees “historic opportunities” in South Asia
NEW DELHI, April 3, 2007 (AFP) – China declared Tuesday that South Asia was on the brink of “historic opportunities” and sought stepped up cooperation with the region. Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing made the statement as he welcomed Beijing’s new observer status at the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). “We all belong […]
Bangladesh hikes fuel prices 21 percent in line with global rates
DHAKA, April 2, 2007 (AFP) – Bangladesh’s military-backed interim government said Monday that it raised the price of fuels used for transport and cooking by as much as 21 percent in the face of sharply rising global oil prices.The prices of diesel and kerosene were hiked by 21 percent to 40 taka (27.80 US cents) […]
” in huge Solomons quake, tsunami
HONIARA, April 2, 2007 (AFP) – A powerful undersea earthquake unleashed a tsunami that pounded the Solomon Islands early Monday, flattening villages and killing at least six people and sparking scenes of panic, officials said.Witnesses said the wall of water triggered by the 8.0-magnitude quake was up to five metres (16.5 feet) high and swamped […]
Time for South Asia nations to deliver: ministers
NEW DELHI, April 2, 2007 (AFP) – South Asia’s expanding but underperforming SAARC grouping needs to work harder and overcome internal rivalries to boost regional cooperation, officials said Monday on the eve of a summit.“We are at a defining moment in SAARC history,” Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee said ahead of the South Asian Association […]
Malaysian anti-corruption chief dumped amid graft allegations: report
KUALA LUMPUR, March 31, 2007 (AFP) – Malaysia’s top anti-corruption official, who is facing a police investigation into graft allegations against him, will not have his contract renewed, a report said Saturday.Malaysians believe their country has an “acute” corruption problem, international monitor Transparency International said recently, warning the issue could drive away foreign investors.Zulkipli Mat […]
Sri Lanka tea exports recover in February
March 22, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tea exports grew six percent in February while higher prices also pushed earnings higher, commodities broker Asia Siyaka said. Sri Lanka exported 26.5 million kilograms of tea in February (24.9 mn kg in 2005) but was unable to fully recover losses in January when production plummeted as estates recovered […]
Safe Flow
March 21 (LBO) – An investment protection agreement between Sri Lanka and Australia has come into effect from March this year with Australia, which can increase investment flows to the island, the foreign ministry said. Sri Lanka had completed its internal legal requirements in February 2006. “The Agreement sets out the State to State guarantees […]