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Tri-lingual Alert
April 24, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Tigo, a unit of Millicom International Cellular has started short message service (SMS) alerts in Sinhala and Tamil languages, linking up with text news pioneer JNW, officials said. The service runs with content from JNW News (www.jnw.lk) and software developed by Microimage Mobile Media , a Sri Lanka-based […]
Sri Lanka strikes back with air attacks as losses mount
April 24, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka carried out retaliatory air strikes against Tamil Tiger rebels Thursday, a day after intense artillery battles left hundreds killed or wounded, according to officials on both sides.Military jets pounded a suspected hideout of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the coastal district of Mullaitivu where the […]
Sri Lanka war set for long haul, analysts warn
April 24, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s hopes of a quick victory over Tamil separatists looked shattered Thursday after Tamil rebels inflicted the heaviest losses on security forces since pulling out of a truce, analysts said.The military leadership began 2007 by withdrawing from the 2002 ceasefire and vowing to crush the Liberation Tigers of Tamil […]
‘s bloodiest battle in 18 months
April 24, 2008 (AFP) – Tamil rebels killed at least 100 Sri Lankan soldiers in the nation’s bloodiest battle in 18 months on Wednesday, the separatists said, as the military claimed more than 100 rebels died in the fighting. Updated The Tamil Tigers claimed they killed more than 100 government troops and had recovered 30 […]
Wal-Mart unit limits rice to 36kg per person
MIAMI, April 23, 2008 (AFP) – Top retailer Wal-Mart’s Sam’s Club unit said Wednesday it is limiting the amount of rice individual shoppers could buy at one time, as rice prices hit new records around the world. Sam’s Club said it had temporarily placed limits of four 20-pound (nine-kilogram) bags a person for jasmine, basmati, […]
Credit Suisse posts first quarter loss, further writedowns
ZURICH, April 24, 2008 (AFP) – Switzerland’s second biggest bank Credit Suisse on Thursday reported a net loss of 2.148 billion Swiss francs (1.330 billion euros, 2.11 billion dollars) for the first quarter of the year, hit by the ongoing subprime crisis in the United States. Writedowns in leveraged finance and structured products reached 5.3 […]
Athletes reject calls for Olympics boycott, protests in Beijing
LAUSANNE, Switzerland, April 24, 2008 (AFP) – Athletes from national Olympic Committees on Thursday rejected any boycott of the Beijing Games and said sport should be kept separate from politics despite China’s poor human rights record.“We are all of the wholehearted belief that boycotts are pointless and senseless — and only hurt the athletes,” the […]
Sri Lankan stocks edge up on AMW, East-West interest
April 23, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares closed higher Wednesday largely driven by trading in Associated Motorways, East-West Properties and Dialog Telekom, brokers said.All Share price Index went up 8.26 points (0.31 percent) to 2,681.27 while the more liquid Milanka rose 15.41 points (0.47 percent) to 3,322.63. Turnover was 303 million rupees. “AMW has […]
Step Up
April 23, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Fitch Ratings has upgraded Sanasa Development Bank’s speculative grade by one notch to BB(lka) with a stable outlook, the rating agency said. “The upgrade reflects the materialisation of SDB’s planned capital program, and is supported by the bank’s good profitability and asset quality, albeit constrained somewhat by the […]
Sri Lanka says 90 dead in new offensive against rebels
April 23, 2008 (AFP) – At least 90 rebels and soldiers were killed and hundreds wounded when Sri Lankan security forces launched an offensive against Tiger guerrillas on Wednesday, the defence ministry said.A ministry spokesman said 38 soldiers were killed and 84 seriously wounded when they tried to advance into territory held by the Liberation […]