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Sri Lanka mulls banning Tigers as fighting escalates
December 30, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s government met Tuesday to consider re-imposing a formal ban on the Tamil Tigers as fighting escalated in the island’s north, official sources said.An original ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was lifted in September 2002 ahead of a Norwegian-backed peace process, which collapsed when President […]
Sri Lanka military receives bodies of 17 soldiers
December 30, 2008 (AFP) – The Sri Lanka military has received the bodies of 17 soldiers killed while fighting Tamil Tiger rebels in the island’s embattled north, the defence ministry said on Tuesday. The bodies were sent by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) through the International Committee of the Red Cross in the […]
‘s Murali puts Bangladesh in trouble
DHAKA, December 30, 2008 (AFP) – Muttiah Muralitharan grabbed two quick wickets to push Sri Lanka closer to a big victory over Bangladesh on the fourth day of the opening Test here on Tuesday.The off-spinner dismissed Junaid Siddique and Raqibul Hasan in his four overs as Bangladesh struggled to reach 150-4 in their second innings […]
Sri Lanka dominates Bangladesh in first Test
DHAKA, December 30, 2008 (AFP) – Bangladesh were struggling at 40-1 in their second innings at lunch on the fourth day Tuesday, chasing an unlikely target of 521 runs to win the opening Test against Sri Lanka. Tamim Iqbal was unbeaten on 24 at the break while Imrul Kayes was run out for 13 after […]
” to maintain growth
Dec 30, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has announced a ‘stimulus package’ valued at 16 billion rupees to maintain growth at an optimistic 6.0 to 6.5 percent in 2009, with cuts in energy prices and incentives for exporters. “We have been able to maintain a growth rate of 6.0 percent or above in the past […]
Sri Lanka gives incentives to tea, rubber sectors
Dec 30, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government has moved to protect and revive the tea and rubber industries with a host of incentives announced in a wide-ranging economic stimulus package. These measures meet long-standing demand of tea cultivators, especially small farmers, and factory owners. The government will also set up a state trading institution […]
State workers to take less pay to save country
SAIPAN, December 29, 2008 (AFP) – The Northern Mariana Islands, faced with an escalating economic crisis, needs a four-day working week to cut costs, Governor Benigno Fitial said Monday. Fitial, who rejected a proposed budget bill that contained pay increases for department heads, said cost-cutting measures were “critical.” The department of finance said the Northern […]
Sri Lanka government statisticians defend numbers
Dec 29, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s statistics office has defended their numbers from a growing tide of skepticism amid further revelations about the involvement of the island’s policymakers in manipulating the country’s price index. The skepticism about Sri Lanka’s growth numbers came at first because two different numbers were generated from the Central Bank […]
Sri Lanka rupee dips to 113.80
Dec 29, 2008 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka rupee dipped to a low of 113.80 against the greenback in spot trade Monday as it continued to adjust amidst excess liquidity in the inter bank market, dealers said. In late trading, the rupee steadied at 113.65/113.80 after opening at 112.95/113.15 levels. Authorities announced a repo auction […]
Sri Lanka stocks open flat, forex markets quiet
Dec 29, 2008 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka stocks opened flat Monday with trading in Seylan Bank shares halted pending an official announcement regarding a possible exit by the Ceylinco group, while the spot dollar was quoted at 112.95/113.15, dealers said. Money markets were liquid with call rates at 13.00/13.50 percent. The Colombo All Share […]