All Blogs
Klinger gatecrashes South African party to tame Lions
CENTURION, September 12, 2010 (AFP) – Michael Klinger gatecrashed a South African party at the Champions League Twenty20 tournament on Sunday and led South Australia Redbacks to a 11-run victory over Highveld Lions. Skipper Klinger and Callum Ferguson added 97 runs for the third wicket as the slow-starting Redbacks finished with a run flourish to […]
Sri Lanka 83rd in Forbes best countries for business list
Sept 13, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has been ranked 83rd in the latest Forbes Best Countries for Business list, behind India which was placed 77th but ahead of Pakistan at 92 and Bangladesh at 109. Denmark tops the list, followed by Hong Kong in second place, New Zealand in third, Canada in fourth and […]
Fifth interest rate hike expected as India battles inflation
NEW DELHI, September 12, 2010 (AFP) – India is expected to hike interest rates this week for a fifth time in six months after a surge in industrial output strengthened the case for another dose of monetary tightening, economists say. Although India has been the most aggressive in the Asia-Pacific region in raising rates to […]
Sri Lanka Wayamba defeated by South Africa Warriors
PORT ELIZABETH, September 11, 2010 (AFP) – A dream start for South African franchises in the Champions League Twenty20 tournament continued on Saturday as Eastern Cape Warriors defeated Wayamba Elevens by seven wickets. South African President Jacob Zuma and Spanish singing megastar Enrique Iglesias were among those who witnessed star-less Highveld Lions shock the Sachin […]
Campaigners seek more reactive UN rights council
GENEVA, September 12, 2010 (AFP) – Five years after the Human Rights Council was set up, the United States, once among its biggest critics, has now confirmed its full engagement in the UN body. She acknowledged that there are still many critics who “are still arguing that the US should not have joined in the […]
Sports Backing
Sept 10, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s schools sports need private sector support, especially for an upcoming meet that will see children from former war-torn areas taking part in a big way, the education minister has said. The education ministry has also started a s scholarship program for talented students who are financially constrained. “There […]
‘s Mumbai in opener
JOHANNESBURG, September 10, 2010 (AFP) – The Champions League Twenty20 tournament got off to a thrilling and surprise start Friday with local outfit Highveld Lions of South Africa defeating star-studded Mumbai Indians by nine runs. Opener Vandiar led the way at one of the most famous world cricket venues with his runs coming off 48 […]
‘s constitution changes draw US concern
WASHINGTON, September 11, 2010 (AFP) – The United States on Saturday expressed concern over changes to the Sri Lankan constitution, which strengthened the presidency, saying they were undermining the principles of democracy. “The United States is concerned that this constitutional amendment weakens checks and balances and thus undermines the principles of constitutional democracy,” State Department […]
IMF warns of debt menace as recovery slows
WASHINGTON, September 10, 2010 (AFP) – High levels of national debt and a still shaky financial sector threaten to derail the global economic recovery, the IMF warned on Friday. The Washington-based body warned of a funding bottleneck as European nations try to extend their borrowing by rolling over bonds. “Sovereign debt maturing in vulnerable euro […]
Sri Lanka opens state agency debt to foreign buyers
Sept 10, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Urban Development Authority (UDA), a state agency, has launched a 5-year bond to raise 10 billion rupees and 30 percent of the issue is open to foreign investors, officials said. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, secretary to Sri Lanka’s defence ministry, under which the agency operates, said the money would be […]