All Blogs
IMF ready to lend to countries during financial crisis; endorses G7 plan
WASHINGTON, October 11, 2008 (AFP) – The International Monetary Fund said Saturday it was ready to lend to countries in need of capital, as the 15 eurozone economies and Britain redied a Paris summit to seek a joint response to the global financial crisis. “Using its emergency procedures, the Fund stands ready to quickly make […]
Legal Signal
Oct 11, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka top grouping of legal professionals had unanimously condemned an attack on anti-corruption activist and lawyer J C Weliamuna, sending a powerful message against the culture of impunity in the country, lawyers said. Weliamuna had appeared in human rights cases relating to police brutality. He also appeared in a […]
Gross Betrayal
Oct 11, 2008 9LBO) – Sri Lanka’s former president Chandrika Kumaratunga had grossly violated public trust in a deal where state lands and a tax holiday were given to a firm in which an associate was covertly holding shares, the island’s Supreme Court has said. The judgement delivered by Supreme Court justice Shirani Tillakawardene said […]
Supreme Order
Oct 11, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has called for new laws to cut political interference in investment projects and the handing out of concessions, following the reversal of an illegal sale of state lands in which a former president was involved. The investment value which was first listed as 250,000 US dollars […]
Sri Lankan troops kill 20 rebels
October 11, 2008 (AFP) – Heavy fighting continued between troops and Tamil Tiger rebels across Sri Lanka’s war-ravaged north, with the military killing 20 guerrillas, the defence ministry said Saturday. Friday’s fighting, which took place across several northern fronts, also killed five soldiers and wounded 18, the ministry said. The latest fighting raised the number […]
IMF, World Bank meet amid financial mayhem
WASHINGTON, October 11, 2008 (AFP) – The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank opened their annual meetings Saturday in the midst of global financial chaos that has governments racing to find the means to tame it. The meetings follow Wall Street’s worst week on record and a pledge by the Group of Seven major […]
US plans to inject capital into banks: Paulson
WASHINGTON, October 11, 2008 (AFP) – Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said Friday that the US government planned to invest directly in US banks to prevent them from failing, expanding the focus of the government’s 700-billion-dollar rescue plan. “We’re going to do it as soon as we can do it and do it effectively,” Paulson said […]
Sri Lanka wins with Mendis magic
TORONTO, October 10, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s latest spin sensation Ajantha Mendis took three wickets and was named man of the match as his side clinched a five-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the first game of the Canada T20 event here on Friday. Mendis, recently named the ICC’s Emerging Player of the Year, finished […]
Wall Street searches for bottom after worst weekly pounding
NEW YORK, October 11, 2008 (AFP) – Wall Street’s worst meltdown in recent memory ended the week with a whimper, leaving panicked investors wondering whether the vicious selloff will end soon or will keep ravaging the market. Ironically, some analysts say the meltdown on Wall Street and other global markets could mean a “bottom” has […]
Sri Lanka central bank intervening for stability: Governor
Oct 10, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank is intervening in forex markets to maintain stability and the monetary authority has bought more dollars than it sold this year, Governor Nivard Cabraal said amidst concerns that the rupee is under pressure. “Our intervention is still on the positive side,” Cabraal said.“We have intervened to […]