All Blogs
” global recession
WASHINGTON, April 16, 2009 (AFP) – The International Monetary Fund on Thursday forecast a prolonged, deep global recession in a crisis “nobody is escaping,” with recovery slow and difficult.Weak capital flows to emerging economies in the downturn will hammer Eastern Europe in particular, the IMF said in releasing two chapters from its twice-yearly World Economic […]
Sri Lanka JKH extends deadline for Union Assurance offer
April 16, 3009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s John Keells Holdings (JKH) has extended the deadline for shareholders of Union Assurance, in which it gained full control after buying out Carsons Cumberbatch, the other main shareholder.JKH said the offer was extended due to public holidays over the local New Year holiday season which falls in April. […]
Sri Lanka stocks close 0.5-pct up
Apr 16, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed up Thursday in thin trading, with investors still to return in full strength to the market after a traditional New Year holiday season, brokers said. JKH extended its offer to buy out the remaining stake of its insurance subsidiary Union Assurance Limited. Dialog Telekom a subsidiary […]
Port Proposals
April 16, 2009 (LBO) – Fourteen potential investors have collected bid documents to build and operate a container terminal in a new port coming up next to Colombo harbour, Sri Lankan government officials said. A notable absence is Dubai Ports World, another big global port operator, which is heavily involved in operating container terminals in […]
Medical Mediator
April 16, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s insurance ombudsman has advocated the creation of a similar office to cover the island’s rapidly growing private hospital sector and settle complaints by patients. Wickrama Weerasooriya said the concept of ombudsman is now proving to bring quick relief while legal delays could be attributed to lawyers and litigation […]
India begins voting in marathon election
NEW DELHI, April 16, 2009 (AFP) – Indians voted in their tens of millions Thursday as month-long general elections — the world’s largest democratic exercise — kicked off with little hope of a clear winner at the end of it all.From the southern tropical state of Kerala to the Himalayan foothills of Kashmir in the […]
Sri Lanka advances on Tigers amid international pressure
April 16, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka said Thursday it had made fresh advances into the area still held by Tamil Tiger rebels, ignoring global calls for a truce to rescue thousands of civilians trapped by the fighting. Arguing the civilians were being used as a human shield, the island’s defence ministry said its forces […]
SIA says passenger numbers dived in March
SINGAPORE, April 16, 2009 (AFP) – Singapore Airlines (SIA) said on Thursday that passenger numbers plummeted in March as the global downturn continues to weigh on travel demand. The carrier, majority owned by Singapore sovereign wealth fund Temasek Holdings, reported a 42.8 percent fall in net profit in the third quarter to December, to 337 […]
Hurting Sri Lankans happy to be back in action
April 16, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lankan cricketers will be wary, changed men when they line-up at the IPL, their first foreign assignment since they were caught up in the bloodbath of Lahore. On March 3, gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team bus en route for the third day of the second Test against Pakistan […]
”
LONDON, April 15, 2009 (AFP) – The British and French foreign ministers said Wednesday that Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka are using civilians as human shields, which was preventing them from leaving the conflict zone. Miliband and Kouchner urged both sides to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law and to do everything […]