Tsunami scare sparks panic
By Uditha Jayasinghe
A relieved Government yesterday lifted a tsunami warning nearly four hours after a massive earthquake off Indonesia triggered mass panic in the Indian Ocean and resulted in electricity being cut off in coastal areas and transport coming to a halt.
Sports to software!
Telecom and IT Minister Ranjith Siyabalapitiya and Chairman of Hambantota District Development Committee and Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa ceremoniously opening the Mobitel Regional Customer Care Contact Centre in Sooriyawewa as SLT and SriLankan Airlines Director Shamindra Rajapaksa (second right) and Mobitel CEO Lalith De Silva (second left) look on.
More for masses says modest Mahinda
In an apparent sign of modesty as well as looking beyond mere numbers, President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday whilst acknowledging the highest ever GDP growth of 8.3% last year, emphasised that it was important for ordinary people especially those in rural areas to reap fruits of development.
friends or Foes?
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (R) shakes hands with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari during a meeting in New Delhi yesterday in the highest-level dialogue on each other’s soil in seven years as the nuclear-armed foes seek to normalise relations. REUTERS
Credit on a roller coaster!
- CB says despite checks, credit growth continuing at undesired pace
- Net credit to Government up substantially by Rs. 136.3 b during the first two months of 2012
- Credit to private sector up year-on-year, by 34.4%
- Ups policy rates again as a fresh effort
- Government revenue drops; public expenditure to be rationalised; new taxes to help
- Domestic foreign exchange market has shown clear signs of stabilisation
- Economy clocks highest post-independence growth rate of 8.3% in 2011
Credit growth in Sri Lanka appears to be on a roller coaster as recent curbs haven’t produced desired results yet, prompting the Central Bank yesterday to increase its policy rates as a further effort.
Olivia’s oomph in Colombo
World famous Olivia Newton John last night produced a stellar performance in her first live concert in Colombo at Musaeus College Auditorium.
something to smile at last!
Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Senior Ministers Athuda Seneviratne and A.H.M. Fowzie are all smiles, perhaps relieved by the fact that the IMF’s mini-bailout is coming. Minister Rajapaksa yesterday held a media briefing on the launch of the third stage of the Divi Neguma program
Sri Lanka welcomes luxury cruise Queen Elizabeth with 2000 tourists
Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, along with the officials of Sri Lanka Port Authority, welcomed the vessel ‘Queen Elizabeth’ on Friday, at a brief ceremony held in the Colombo harbour.
Positive response for local exporters at Expo 2012
By Cheranka Mendis
Several exporters managed to secure positive inquiries within the first two days of the four-day trade, investment and tourism promotion exhibition, Expo 2012.
People’s Bank towers with best results in 2011
People’s Bank (PB) has stormed its way into the top slot in the country’s banking industry with a superlative performance, posting remarkable results for the financial year 2011.
This ground-breaking performance reflects the unwavering commitment on the part of the bank to sustain and improve on its key performance indicators in a consistent and progressive manner, while upholding high standards of corporate governance, thus living up to the expectations of its diverse stakeholders.

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