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‘s two-wheeler boom
SINGAPORE, April 12, 2008 (AFP) – Record high oil prices, environmental concerns, affluent lifestyles as well as the need to dodge city traffic are driving a boom in Asia’s motorcycle and bicycle market, industry figures say.The rediscovery of cycling as a way to keep fit is also helping to boost demand for two-wheelers, those at […]
Sri Lankan president urges unity as 10 more deaths reported
April 12, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse called for national unity Saturday in his traditional New Year message as 10 more deaths were reported in the conflict-racked nation.“It is my conviction that we would be strengthened by engaging in New Year traditions and customs as one nation,” Rajapakse said in a message […]
Cooling inflation in Sri Lanka and Vietnam a priority rather than growth: IMF
April 12, 2008 (LBO) – Though some Asian nations are worried about slower growth in the wake of financial turmoil in the US, countries like Sri Lanka and Vietnam should focus on inflation, a top IMF official said. “I would say Vietnam is a case, inflation is running close to 20 percent. They need to […]
Sri Lanka lifts tax surcharge from personal incomes
April 12, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has lifted a surcharge on personal income tax from February 2008, but it would remain in place for companies, the government said Saturday. The government said by public advertisement that a ‘social responsibility levy’ charged from personal income taxes would be withdrawn. Sri Lanka charged a one percent […]
Private Education
April 11, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank has called for legislative and regulatory changes to create a favourable environment for private investment in university education. There is an urgent need for introducing a market oriented, efficient mechanism to the existing university education system, the bank said in its 2007 annual report. The education […]
Inside Deals
April 11, 2008 (LBO) – A Sri Lankan supreme court judge has proposed amending regulations on stock market offences to cover markets regulators as well as all company shareholders. Supreme court judge Saleem Marsoof said a serious deficiency in the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Act is that it does not provide against the use […]
Call Sign
April 11, 2008 (LBO) – Three channels of the ABC radio network would be on air from on April 15, a top official said. The Sinhalese ‘Hiru’, English ‘Gold’ and Tamil ‘Sooryan’ which is starting on next Tueday is part of a network of five radio stations that were closed by the government last year. […]
Sri Lanka says 26 rebels killed
April 11, 2008 (AFP) – At least 26 Tamil Tiger rebels, two soldiers and a civilian have been killed in fighting across Sri Lanka’s northern districts, the defence ministry said Friday.Security forces smashed rebel bunkers and exchanged artillery with Tamil Tiger guerrillas in two days of fighting, while air force jets bombed a suspected Tiger […]
Rate hikes expected as Indian inflation spikes to 7.4-pct
NEW DELHI, April 11, 2008 (AFP) – Indian inflation accelerated to 7.41 percent, according to official data released Friday, dealing a blow to the government and fanning expectations of monetary tightening. Annual inflation quickened to 7.41 percent for the week ended March 29, from seven percent the previous week, according to the Wholesale Price Index, […]
Nude pic of French first lady Carla Bruni sold for US$91,000
NEW YORK, April 10, 2008 (AFP) – A photograph of a nude Carla Bruni, the ex-model now married to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, was sold Thursday to a Chinese collector for 91,000 dollars at Christie’s — more than 20 times its predicted price. The gelatin silver print, taken by photographer Michel Comte in 1993, depicts […]