All Blogs
France, Germany pledge to defend independent ECB
TOULOUSE, France, July 16, 2007 (AFP) – France and Germany agree on the need to keep the European Central Bank free of political meddling, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday. “We are both in agreement on the fact that the European Central Bank is independent.It is very important,” Merkel told a joint news conference with […]
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister arrested: aide
DHAKA, July 16, 2007 (AFP) – Former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed who led the country from 1996 to 2001 and faces charges of corruption and murder was arrested Monday, an aide said.“She has been arrested and taken away and is now being taken to the court,” Hasan Mahmud, personal secretary to Sheikh Hasina, […]
Need Based
July 16, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has announced fuel subsidies to the poor on state welfare and warned of more price hikes with the onset of a hurricane season that disrupts international offshore petroleum production. The government says they are willing to pay a fuel subsidy to three-wheeler tax owners if they install metres. […]
Monthlies
July 16, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will adjust fuel prices monthly on a transparent formula to cut losses in petroleum utilities, an official said, which is expected to reduce exchange rate pressure and avoid the build-up of macro-economic imbalances. Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Chairman Ashantha de Mel says a cabinet sub-committee on energy had […]
Sri Lanka seeks foreign aid for captured province
July 16, 2007 (AFP) – The Sri Lankan government said Monday it would seek foreign aid to rebuild a key province recently wrested from the Tamil Tiger rebels after months of fighting.The rebels have admitted losing control of Thoppigala, formerly a key stronghold, but said they would revert to guerrilla tactics there. Donors would be […]
Credit Enhancement
July 15, 2007 (LBO) – A US government agency is giving credit guarantees to small Sri Lankan businesses to increase their access to loans from a specialized leasing firm, the US embassy in Colombo said. The guarantee would be given for up to 3 million US dollars (330 million Sri Lanka rupees) of money lent […]
Sri Lanka tourist arrivals plunge 30 percent in June
July 15, 2007 (AFP) – Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka plunged 30 percent in June compared to a year ago as fighting escalated in the country’s bitter ethnic war, the tourism board said Sunday. The rebels have been fighting for a separate homeland for minority Tamil and the conflict has claimed more than 60,000 lives […]
Bangladesh to donate Buddha hair relic to Sri Lanka
DHAKA, July 15, 2007 (AFP) – The small Buddhist community in Bangladesh plans to donate a few strands of a lock of hair said to have come from the Buddha to Sri Lanka as a goodwill gesture, officials said Sunday. Three cabinet ministers from majority-Buddhist Sri Lanka along with religious leaders are scheduled to arrive […]
‘s 700-wicket Murali aims for 1,000
KANDY, Sri Lanka, July 14, 2007 (AFP) – Prolific Muttiah Muralitharan has set his eyes on taking 1,000 Test wickets after becoming only the second bowler in history to reach the 700-mark on Saturday. The Sri Lankan off-spinner achieved the landmark with the last ball of the third and final Test against Bangladesh here that […]