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Roots of democracy sold for US$21mn
NEW YORK, Dec 18, 2007 (AFP) – One of only 17 existing copies of the Magna Carta, an 800-year-old English royal manuscript setting out the rights of man, sold at auction at Sotheby’s in New York Tuesday for 21.3 million dollars. Arguably the most important document ever to be auctioned, the iconic vellum manuscript was […]
Arctic towns make a killing on Santa Claus
ROVANIEMI, Finland, Dec 19, 2007 (AFP) – SantaSport, SantaFood, SantaPark, Hotel Santa Claus, Santa Hair Center: in the Finnish Arctic town of Rovaniemi Father Christmas is everywhere, milked to the max by local businesses.“Christmas tourism is a magnet for investments,” says Tuula Rintala-Gardin, the head of tourism for the municipality of Rovaniemi, a town of […]
‘s Jayawardene torments England in final Test
GALLE, Sri Lanka, Dec 19, 2007 (AFP) – Skipper Mahela Jayawardene became Sri Lanka’s leading century-maker on Wednesday to dampen England’s hopes of a series-levelling win in the third and final Test here. Jayawardene was unbeaten on 149 as Sri Lanka, taking advantage of a butter-fingered English display, carried their overnight score of 147-4 to […]
‘s Jayawardene, Dilshan punish England fumbles
GALLE, Sri Lanka, Dec 19, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene was one run away from becoming his country’s leading centurion as England paid dearly for missed chances in the third Test here on Wednesday.Jayawardene was unbeaten on 99 as Sri Lanka took their overnight total of 147-4 to 287-6 by tea on […]
Sri Lanka police say blast near train
Dec 19, 2007 (AFP) – A trackside blast hit a passenger train in northeastern Sri Lanka Tuesday, but there were no casualties, police said.The incident occurred at Kantalai in the port district of Trincomalee, a police official in the area said by telephone. “There was some sort of an explosion by the side of the […]
Sri Lankan industrialists demand protection
Dec 19, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lankan industrialists and leftwing politicians have called for protection as an opening economy that is integrating with the world threatens to give cheaper goods to consumers and put them out of business. However, Commerce Department officials said the opening up of the economy in recent years had given the […]
Sri Lanka economy expands 7.0 pct in third quarter
Dec 19, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s economy has expanded 7.0 percent in the third quarter up from 6.4 percent in the second quarter, putting the country on track to clock up 6.7 percent growth in 2007, officials said. However, growth slackened from the 7.7 percent for the same quarter in 2006 with a downturn […]
Sri Lanka 3-month treasury yields up sharply amidst cash crunch
Dec 18, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s 3-month Treasury bill yields soared by 115 basis points to 20.14 percent in one of the biggest one day gains ever, at Wednesday’s auction, though 6 and 12 month yields were steady, dealers said. The six month average yield was 19.99 percent and the 12-month yield was 19.96 […]
Better Outlook
Dec 18, 2007 (LBO) – Fitch Sri Lanka has lifted the outlook on Edirisinghe Trust Investment’s ‘B+(lka)’ rating to ‘positive’ from stable citing substantial improvements in the in the firm’s operational risk management. . “The company concluded the automation of its systems across all business lines in the six month period ending September 2007,” Fitch […]
Consumer Slowdown
Dec 18, 2007 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings Lanka has lowered the outlook on the ‘A+(lka)’ long-term ratings on Singer Sri Lanka’s senior unsecured notes to negative, the rating agency said Tuesday. Singer is the Sri Lanka’s largest retailer of consumer electronics and household appliances, in terms of revenue and points of presence. It is 84 […]