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Sri Lanka confirm one-day series in Pakistan
LAHORE, Pakistan, March 20, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka have agreed to play a five-match one-day series in Pakistan to help fill the gap created by the postponement of Australia’s tour over security fears, officials said Thursday.“We are thankful to the Sri Lankan board, who have agreed to tour for a series of five one-day […]
Warnapura cements Test spot with half-century
PROVIDENCE, Guyana, March 19, 2008 (AFP) – Malinda Warnapura became the favourite to open the batting in the first Test starting on the weekend when he retired out on 50 in Sri Lanka’s second innings against the Guyana Cricket Board President’s XI on Wednesday. Warnapura made 132 in the Sri Lanka first innings and he […]
Sri Lanka says 22 rebels killed in fresh fighting
March 20, 2008 (AFP) – Fighting between government troops and Tamil Tigers across Sri Lanka’s war-ravaged northern districts claimed at least 22 rebel lives, the defence ministry said Thursday. Security forces killed the rebels during artillery duels in Jaffna, Weli Oya, Mannar and Vavuniya on Wednesday, the ministry said, adding that two soldiers were wounded. […]
Sri Lanka stocks close lower, telecom deals drive turnover
March 19, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka stocks closed lower Wednesday dragged down by heavy trading in telecom shares whose prices fell in afternoon trade.The All Share Index lost 0.59 percent (15.11 points) to close at 2,536.18 points while the Milanka Index shed 0.72 percent (23.16 points) to close at 3,195.84. Over 6.1 million shares […]
Space Prophet
March 19, 2008 (AFP) – British-born science fiction guru, Arthur C.Clarke, died at a hospital in Sri Lanka on Wednesday, his aide Rohan de Silva told AFP.He was 90. “I have no regrets and no more personal ambitions,” said the writer, who was confined for the past three decades to a wheelchair because of the […]
Hutch Boost
Mar 19, 2008 (LBO) – Subscribers of the Sri Lanka mobile unit of Hutchison Telecom doubled to more than a million in 2007, while revenue growth topped 50 percent, the group said in a statement. . Total subscribers had increased by 104 percent to 1,141,000 in 2007 while revenue measured in Hong Kong dollars grew […]
Sri Lankan Airlines chases Indians
Mar 19, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan Airlines, already the biggest foreign carrier to India with over 100 flights a week, says it is intensifying efforts to attract Indians to fly its network and bring them to its hub in Colombo. More than 100,000 Indians visited Sri Lanka in 2007, with authorities expecting volume to […]
Asia Pacific travel industry to weather US recession: PATA
SINGAPORE, March 19, 2008 (AFP) – Tourism revenues in the Asia Pacific region are expected to surpass 4.6 trillion US dollars by 2010 and visitor arrivals should reach close to half a billion people, an industry association said Wednesday.A US recession is likely to affect the industry, but strong growth in key Asian economies such […]
China to start building large airliners and freighters: report
SHANGHAI, March 19, 2008 (AFP) – China is expected by May to officially launch a company making large jets that could eventually rival Boeing and Airbus, official media reported Wednesday.The state assets watchdog and the government of Shanghai, where the aircraft will be assembled, will be the first and second biggest shareholders respectively, the China […]
Arthur C. Clarke to have secular funeral
March 19, 2008 (AFP) – British-born science fiction guru Arthur C.Clarke who died here Wednesday is likely to be buried at the main cemetery in Colombo at the weekend at a “strictly secular” funeral, an aide told AFP.“The funeral is most likely to be on Saturday,” Clarke’s secretary Nalaka Gunawardena said. “We are awaiting the […]