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‘s MAS fabric park signs up renewable power
April 03, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan apparel exporter MAS Holdings has signed up with a hydro power firm to buy electricity for an eco-friendly plant in a bid to reduce fossil fuel based energy use, an official said. . Under a five year deal, Nilwalabase Hydro Power Limited will supply between 2.5 to 4.0 […]
Sri Lanka pushes Myanmar, Pakistan, India to crack rice export curbs
April 03, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is in talks to relax rice export curbs in at least three countries so that cheaper imports could lower the price of the staple commodity ahead of a local festival, a senior minister said. Trade minister Bandula Gunewardene said Sri Lanka has had discussions with Myanmar, Pakistan and […]
In a first, Boeing says it has flown a hydrogen-battery plane
OCANA, Spain, April 3, 2008 (AFP) – US aircraft maker Boeing flew a plane earlier this year that was powered by a hydrogen battery in a first for the aviation industry that could herald a greener future, senior company officials said in Spain on Thursday. But the company said that although hydrogen fuel cells could […]
World Bank calls for new solution to fight old problem
WASHINGTON, April 2, 2008 (AFP) – The World Bank on Wednesday called on the international community to mount a wide-ranging fight against hunger as skyrocketing food prices critically threaten the world’s poor.“We need a New Deal for Global Food Policy,” World Bank president Robert Zoellick said in a speech to a Washington think tank ahead […]
Zimbabwe opposition wins parliamentary control, presidential results awaited
HARARE, April 3, 2008 (AFP) – Zimbabweans waited anxiously on Thursday for an end to a deafening official silence over the outcome of their presidential election, after the opposition took control of parliament.The economy of Zimbabwe has been in meltdown since the start of the decade, with inflation now standing at over 100,000 percent and […]
” while ordinary Americans lose homes
WASHINGTON, April 3, 2008 (AFP) – The US Congress Thursday steps up scrutiny of the government role in the rescue of Bear Stearns, even as Fed chairman Ben Bernanke argued the central bank “did not bail out” the Wall Street investment giant. A Senate hearing will seek details of the deal engineered by the Federal […]
West Indies win toss, field against Sri Lanka
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, April 3, 2008 (AFP) – West Indies won the toss and chose to field on the opening day of the second and final Test against Sri Lanka on Thursday at Queen’s Park Oval.West Indies have made two changes to their line-up, bringing in left-handed opener Sewnarine Chattergoon and fast bowler Fidel […]
Sri Lanka set for regional vote in former Tiger bastion
April 3, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka Thursday announced that key local government elections will be held next month in an area that was last year wrested from rebel control after months of heavy fighting.The elections commission said voting for the Eastern Provincial Council will be held on May 10. Security forces established control over […]
Sri Lanka main opposition activated on 28-pct inflation
April 03, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s main opposition United National Party says it is starting a protest campaign against rising prices after inflation in the country hit a new record. “The whole of 2007 we saw increases in prices. Daily the prices increased,” UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told a meeting of the party’s women’s […]
‘s sovereign downgrade
April 03, 2008 (LBO) — Sri Lanka has disputed a sovereign credit downgrade by one notch to ‘B+’ by Fitch Ratings Thursday, saying it was based on the rating agency’s pessimistic views and was not in line with economic fundamentals. . “The downward revision of ratings is based on Fitch’s pessimistic views on the security […]