India slashes customs duties on 4800 items from SAARC

India has scrapped import duty on more than 4,800 items from four neighbouring countries and reduced customs tariff on these products from Pakistan and Sri Lanka as part of efforts to boost trade in South Asia.

"The import duty has been reduced from 16-40 per cent to zero level on items like meat, fish, milk, dairy products, and dry fruits from the neighbouring least developing countries (LDCs) - Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives," a Finance Ministry official said.

However, the duty rates on these items have been reduced to 12-20 per cent on goods imported from Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The new rates come into effect from January 1.

All pharmaceutical products and drugs can now be imported at 10 per cent duty from LDCs, as against 12.5 per cent duty earlier. However, tariff on drugs has not been cut in case of Pakistan and Sri Lanka, a Finance Ministry notification said.

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http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=14584102

Sanath Jayasuriya goes to Texas

Just what is Sanath Jayasuriya doing in Plano, Texas?

The 38-year-old cricketer from Sri Lanka is visiting USA to help a Texas based non-profit organization raise money for a new community center in Garland.

Helping Hands Inc., founded in 2003 by Kaushalya Siriwardana, is involved with constructing community centers around the world for homeless, orphaned and neglected children. The group has started centers for homeless children in Kurunegala (Sri Lanka), Madoor and Wardha (India).

Helping Hands is now trying to develop a multicultural center that will provide a wide range of programs for children in Garland and other North Texas communities. The programs include after-school recreation; tutoring for the SAT and the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills; a food pantry; and classes for exercise, first aid and foreign languages.

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http://www.dreamcricket.com/dreamcricket/news.hspl?nid=8245&ntid=4