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Funny Money
Sept 26, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank has named six entities as illegally taking money from the public and engaging in lending or investment activities, including a recently collapsed firm. The central bank said Okanda Finance (Pvt) Ltd of Waidya Road, Dehiwela, Nadini Finance (Private) Limited of 17, Reality Plaza, Colombo Road, Ja- […]
Sri Lanka warring parties warned by European Commission
Sept 26, 2008 (LBO) – The European Commission has warned both sides in Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict against human rights abuses, saying Tamil Tigers were resorting to summary executions and urging the government to ensure relief supplies to refugees. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘lbo’ and send to 678 […]
Sri Lankan troops on outskirts of Tamil Tiger HQ: army chief
COLOMBO, September 25, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lankan government forces have advanced to the outskirts of the northern Tamil Tiger rebel capital of Kilinochchi, the army chief announced Thursday. The government, which pulled out of a Norwegian-brokered ceasefire in January, wants to capture the town and deal what would be a major military and psychological […]
Canadian scientists discover oldest rocks on Earth
WASHINGTON, September 26, 2008 (AFP) – The oldest rocks on Earth have been discovered in Canada, offering scientists a glimpse at the origins of the planet, announced scientists in a study to be published Friday. The rocks, found in a belt of ancient bedrock in Quebec, are estimated to be 4.28 billion years old. The […]
Dutch bank Fortis shares plunge on asset sale reports
THE HAGUE, September 26, 2008 (AFP) – Shares in Belgian-Dutch bank Fortis fell more than 12 percent Friday, having lost some 20 percent at one stage the previous day despite its denial that it faced liquidity problems. Press reports Friday said the giant banking group was looking at asset sales of up to 10 billion […]
Late-night crisis talks in Congress break up with no deal
WASHINGTON, September 26, 2008 (AFP) – Republicans stymied a late-night session of talks designed to resurrect an enormous economic bailout package but new negotiations will be held in the morning, a top Democrat said late Thursday. Barney Frank, chairman of the House of Representatives financial services committee, said a House Republican introduced an alternative plan […]
Japanese consumer prices rise 2.4 percent in August
TOKYO, September 26, 2008 (AFP) – Japan’s inflation rate stayed at a decade high of 2.4 percent in August as soaring energy costs continued to pressure Asia’s largest economy, official figures showed Friday. Core prices rose for an 11th straight month, and at the same pace as in July, when inflation was the fastest since […]
” damage in offensive: FM
UNITED NATIONS, September 25, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka government troops are wary of any “collateral” damage as they move closer to dismantling the Tamil Tigers’ de facto state, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told AFP at the UN Thursday. “We are trying to defeat terrorism and to that extent, whatever engagement is confined,” said Bogollagama, […]
Protests in Sri Lanka Ponzi capital
Sept 26, 2008 (LBO) – Protests erupted against authorities in a sleepy Sri Lankan fishing village which can almost lay claim to be the Ponzi capital of the world, after a financier in the area was blacklisted as running an illegal business, police and residents said. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka named Piyadasa Ratnayake, […]
Sri Lanka lease-backed security retains rating: Fitch
Sept 26, 2008 (LBO) – A lease-backed security issued by Sri Lanka’s People’s Leasing Company, using a trust mechanism, has retained its ‘A-(lka)’ rating which is the same as the originator, Fitch Ratings said.While credit enhancements were enough to support a higher rating, Fitch says there was an unhedged interest rate risk on the floating […]