All Blogs
‘s best but cannot end drought
NEW YORK, Sept 5, 2007 (AFP) – Andy Roddick has tested Roger Federer, even forced the world number one to make some astonishing shots.But for the 14th time in 15 matches, the top US player could not beat the Swiss tennis magician. Three-time defending champion Federer beat Roddick for the 10th time in a row […]
Rights group says 43 aid workers killed in Sri Lanka
Sept 6, 2007 (AFP) – At least 43 aid workers have been killed in Sri Lanka since early last year amid an escalation of fighting between troops and Tamil separatists, the Asian Human Rights Commission said on Thursday. The AHRC said that another 14 people had gone missing since January 2006 as the government and […]
Top spies from Sri Lanka, Asia Pacific meet to combat security threats
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 5, 2007 (AFP) – Top military intelligence chiefs from 19 nations gathered here Wednesday for the first time to discuss terrorism, maritime security and disaster relief. “This is an opportunity for the intelligence chiefs from all these countries to get together to talk about areas of mutual cooperation and how we can […]
Kero Hurdle
Sept 6, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka would make a fixed payment to poor households on income support from this month but limit a promised subsidy to fishermen to one month, a senior minister said. Ceylon Petroleum Corporation would make a 4,000 rupee one-off payment to 16,036 fishermen for the month of August at a […]
Sri Lanka 3-month treasuries move up to 17.80%, rupee weaker
Sept 5, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s 3-month Treasury bill yields moved up 15 basis points to 17.80 percent rolling over 9.3 billion rupees of debt on Wednesday’s auction, the government’s debt office said.The cut-off for the 3-month bill had moved to 17.95 percent, dealers said. The 6-month yield moved up 16 basis points to […]
Fast Links
Sept 05, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Telecom, the island’s dominant fixed phone operator, has increased bandwidth to accommodate rapidly growing high-speed broadband ADSL connections and plans a further expansion by December, an official said. But SLT cannot give telecom service level agreements (SLAs) guaranteeing ADSL performance as many factors determining service quality are beyond […]
Official banquet for China but Taiwan dines alone
SYDNEY, Sept 5, 2007 (AFP) – When Chinese President Hu Jintao sits down to smoked chicken, prawns and lamb at a formal state banquet in Australia, it will be in stark contrast to the Taiwanese delegation’s APEC dinner.The Taiwanese held their dinner at a famous dim sum restaurant in Sydney’s Chinatown on Tuesday night and […]
‘s central bank leaves rates on hold
SYDNEY, Sept 5, 2007 (AFP) – Australia’s central bank Wednesday left interest rates on hold for another month despite building price pressures, but analysts said another rise by year-end remained on the cards.The government’s handling of the booming economy is seen as one of its top vote-winners, but high interest rates are likely to hit […]
‘s Chandana quits in disgust
Sept 5, 2007 (AFP) – All-rounder Upul Chandana, one of Sri Lanka’s 1996 world cup winning team, on Wednesday announced he had quit international cricket and accused the selectors of treating him shabbily.“I was hoping to get selected for the world cup after doing consistently well in domestic cricket. It did not happen and when […]
Murali-less Sri Lanka fancy Twenty20 title
Sept 5, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka have the resources to win the world Twenty20 crown despite the absence of star off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, their captain said Wednesday before leaving for South Africa. Skipper Mahela Jayawardena said Sri Lanka, the top limited-overs team in Asia and World Cup finalists in the Caribbean in April, needed […]