South Asia - Fuel subsidy to continue in Sri Lanka

To avoid burdening consumers, the Sri Lankan government has turned down a request by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) urging the government to suspend its fuel subsidy. IMF suggested that the government raise fuel prices to avoid a backlash on the economy. Sri Lanka's government-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation currently incurs losses to the tune of Rs (Lankan) 2 billion (US $18 million) a year.

South Asia - No LPG to shell

Sri Lanka's Supreme Court has issued an injunction preventing the government-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation from selling liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to the multinational corporation Shell. The ruling is in response to a petition filed by Laugfs Gas Pvt Ltd--a domestic oil company. Laugfs argued that if the corporation-produced LPG is sold to Shell, a monopoly will be created in the country.

South Asia

No littering in bhutan:

South asia

cleaning Colombo: The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka in the second week of October has directed the attorney general to prepare a new action plan within a month to reduce air pollution caused by vehicles in the capital city of Colombo. Acting on a petition filed by the Environmental Foundation Limited, a public interest law group, the court suggested introducing a new traffic system to stop all vehicles at the entrance of the city and transport passengers into the city using a public transport system.

South Asia

Second deluge Less than a month after monsoon rains battered the country, a second wave of flooding that began on September 10, is further affecting parts of Bangladesh. According to government officials, the overall death toll from flooding since July had risen to 840, forcing over half a million from their homes.

South Asia

diplomatic roadshow Bangladesh and Myanmar recently signed a deal to construct the first major road between the two countries. The 25-km road is part of an Asian super highway to boost bilateral trade. It is hoped it will eventually connect India, Thailand and China. In another development, India plans to start a direct bus service between India and Myanmar. The bus service, which is part of the proposed Trans-Asia Highway and Trans-Asian Rail link, would take Myanmarese traders and tourists from Mandalay only 12 hours to reach the Indian border town.

South Asia

declining fertility Low levels of fertility among Sri Lankan women will lead to a decline in the country's population after 2040, says a study by the Institute of Policy Studies, Sri Lanka. The country's population is 20 million now. It will reach 20.1 million by 2011 and could attain its peak of 21.1 million in 2031, says the study. There has been a continual decline in the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) registered between 1995 and 2000, it was around 1.96 children per woman but now it is well below the replacement level of 2.1.

Sethusamundram project is unviable

The Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project's (sscp's) documents concluded that it was going to be a financial white elephant. Many contended otherwise. They claimed that sscp would benefit not just the company undertaking the project, but, more importantly, ships traveling around the Indian peninsula. sscp's detailed project report promised a maximum saving of 36 hours for these ships.

South Asia

Refugee concern A recent report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Pakistan government says that about 82 per cent of registered Afghan refugees in Pakistan have no intention to return to their homeland in the near future. Security threats in Afghanistan are a major reason for this. The conclusions of the May 2007 report contrasts with a 2005 survey where most people cited lack of shelter, land and livelihoods in their homeland as the primary impediments to their return.

In short

Mobile alert Cellular companies in Pakistan have turned a deaf ear to the Sindh government's April 5 directive seeking them to shift base stations' antennas and mobile phone towers outside residential areas in Karachi in view of radiation threats. The companies say they are bound only by Pakistan Telecom-munication Authority's guidelines. There are 317 towers in the 15-million city of Karachi. "The cabinet had instructed the ministry of it to take steps to minimise impacts of base station proliferation," says Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari,