Fernando fireworks see Lankans tame Lions

DERBY, May 22, 2011 (AFP) – Dilhara Fernando took three wickets for four runs as Sri Lanka completed their preparations for next week’s first Test against England with a morale-boosting 38-run win over the England Lions here on Sunday. Sri Lanka, who’d already beaten Middlesex, won on the fourth and final day after being made […]

Sri Lanka private sector urged to hire former combatants

May 23, 2011 (LBO) – An international terrorism expert has suggested Sri Lanka’s private sector should employ former Tamil Tiger separatist fighters who have been rehabilitated to help ensure they don’t return to violence. Sri Lanka’s 30-year ethnic war ended in May 2009 resulting in accelerated economic growth and a tourism boom. Gunaratna said many […]

Sri Lanka inflation to fall in May

May 23, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s inflation is expected to come down in May following spike to 9. 8 percent in the 12-month to April and the central bank is comfortable with the current interest rates, Governor Nivard Cabraal said. Sri Lanka has a pegged exchange rate and foreign exchange market interventions generate rupees […]

Cruise Call

May 22, 2011 (LBO) – India’s first cruise ship, Chennai flagged AMET Majesty will make calls on Sri Lanka’s Colombo and Trincomalee ports when it begins high seas cruises in June, a media report said. India is already the largest generator of tourists to Sri Lanka. Arrivals have boomed since the island introduced visa on […]

” UK staff

NEW DELHI, May 22, 2011 (AFP) – Indian tycoon Ratan Tata has denied calling his British staff lazy after a London newspaper quoted him attacking them for heading home early on Friday afternoons. The Tata Group issued a statement after the Times published an interview in which he described how “nobody is willing to go […]

Pakistan urges Sri Lanka tour despite trouble

KARACHI, May 22, 2011 (AFP) – Pakistan have officially invited Sri Lanka to contest a home series in the hope that the two governments can sort out a tour due to start in October, an official said Sunday. Gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team in March 2009 in Lahore injuring seven Sri Lankan players and […]

Ton-up again for Sri Lankan duo as Lions struggle

DERBY, May 21, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka batsmen Tillakaratne Dilshan and Tharanga Paranavitana both scored their second centuries in as many matches as they warmed-up for next week’s first Test in Cardiff by hauling the islanders back into their contest against the second string England Lions. Dilshan (117) and Paranavitana (125), following on from […]

A call against ad hoc state food restrictions in new bubble

BIG SKY, May 22, 2011 (AFP) – As high food prices push millions of people into poverty, major farming nations are resisting calls to impose trade restrictions and are committing to keep global markets open. APEC — a 21-member Asia-Pacific bloc that encompasses more than half of the world economy and includes the United States, […]

Sri Lanka aims for better rating before $1 bln bond sale

May 21, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka is hoping for a better credit rating to boost its plans to sell a $1 billion sovereign bond this year, an official said Saturday, ahead of a visit by ratings agencies. The Central Bank’s deputy governor Dharma Dheerasinghe said the agencies, Standard and Poor’s, Fitch and Moody’s, will […]

Boot Camp

May 21, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has suspended a government plan to make military training compulsory for students who qualify for university education, an official said Saturday. The top court late Friday ordered the education ministry to delay implementation of the training programme until a ruling is made on a legal challenge […]

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