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98 percent increase over corresponding period
last year:
FDI inflows hit $ 413 m in six months
The Board of Investment (BOI) approved 92
projects and signed agreements for 95 other projects this year.
Thirty-six projects commenced commercial operations according to the
Annual Performance Report of the Ministry of Economic Development
presented to Parliament yesterday. The 92 approvals include the
expansion of existing projects where agreements were signed and
commercial operations commenced including approvals granted and or
agreements signed in 2010 or prior to 2011.
 Full Story
Public cautioned against strong winds and rain
The Power and Energy Ministry has cautioned the
public against strong winds and rain, since falling trees and
branches near power lines could cause power failures and also deaths
due to electrocution. Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika
Ranawaka told the Sunday Observer that the public could inform
Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) branch offices in their areas to lop
such trees and branches to avoid extensive damage to the domestic
electricity network.
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Embilipitiya paper mill resumes operations
The Embilipitiya Paper mill resumed operations
last week under the National Industrial Re-awakening Program of the
Government, said State Resources and Enterprise Development Ministry
Secretary Dr. W.W. Gamage. He said that Perth Engineering and
Maintenance (WA) (Pvt).Ltd of Australia which offered the highest
capital investment,
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Tourist arrivals to exceed 950,000 next year
The number of tourist arrivals in 2012 could
exceed 950,000 with the increased arrivals from the traditional
markets of South Asia and Western Europe and hitherto untapped
markets such as East Asia and North America. According to the
document, Recent Economic Developments issued by the Central Bank
initiatives such as resumption of the ferry service between Sri
Lanka and India after 20 years would attract more Indian tourists.
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President to open new performing arts theatre
President Mahinda Rajapaksa will open the
“Lotuspond Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre,” the performing arts theatre
in Colombo, on Thursday, December 15, said Mass Media and
Information Ministry Secretary W. B. Ganegala. The theatre is
donated by the Chinese Government. A high-powered Chinese delegation
headed by a Deputy Prime Minister will attend the opening ceremony,
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The visiting foreign Minister of Seychelles Jean Paul Adams and Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris held bi-lateral discussions at the Foreign Ministry this evening.
Sri Lanka registered a superb 35 (five goals) points to 10 (one goal and one penalty) victory over Singapore in their Asian Five Nations Rugby Division 1 tournament match played at Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila, Philippines today.
Two Thai women who were pretending pregnant mothers, were apprehended while attempting to smuggle 162 cocaine tablets. 
The Government decision to increase the import tax on motor vehicles was aimed at controlling the number of vehicles added annually to the vehicle fleet of the country as excessive number of vehicles have been imported to the country during the past three years, Acting Media Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said today. “We had no other intention behind this move other than controlling the number of vehicles added annually to the road network”, the Minister said.
The Catholic Church today appealed to the President to halt any amendments leading to relax existing Abortion Law of the country, cautioning that such measures would aggravate the social issue and deprive children of their right to life. 
Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported Wednesday night that the new head of the government’s Socialist Left party (SV) has ousted veteran SV politician and former party leader Erik Solheim as the government minister in charge of both environmental and foreign aid issues.
The Department of Wildlife and Conservation (DWLC) has launched an investigation why the army shot two wild elephants in Bundala yesterday. According to environmentalists one jumbo was shot in the head and the other sustain similar gun shot injuries.
The Sri Lankan delegation, who left the country Wednesday to attend the 19th session of the United Nations Human Right Council in Geneva, Switzerland, says they have a well-organized plan to counteract the arguments against Sri Lanka.
Eight Indian fishermen from Keechankuppam fishing hamlet in Nagapattinam district sustained injuries in an alleged mid-sea attack by Lankan fishermen at midnight on Tuesday.
The UK still believes that a process led in Sri Lanka is better than one led internationally, said the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Alistair Burt, participating in a debate on the situation in Sri Lanka in the House of Commons yesterday (22).
In a new boost to Sri Lanka’s geo-textile industry and Sri Lanka’s standing as world’s largest exporter of coir fibre, a top US government agency has cleared the way for Sri Lankan made geo-textiles for two projects. 
