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Sri Lanka to repeat 1996 World Cup-winning aggression
COLOMBO, Feb 26, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s cricketers want to play aggressive cricket, like they did in 1996, to secure their second World Cup success, captain Mahela Jayawardene said Monday.“We have been playing a pretty exciting brand of cricket in the past couple of years, as our results have shown,” Jayawardene said ahead of […]
Thirty people banned from World Cup entry
KINGSTON, Feb 26, 2007 (AFP) – Around 30 people so far have been denied entry to the Caribbean with two weeks to go before the official opening ceremony of the World Cup.Peter Phillips, Jamaica’s national security minister, who is leading the Caribbean community’s security programme for the cricket showpiece, said the measures were taken by […]
Aussies work on bowling confidence ahead of World Cup
SYDNEY, Feb 26, 2007 (AFP) – Australia will gear their World Cup training sessions towards targeting star rival batsmen, coach John Buchanan said Monday, as alarming statistics reveal their bowling woes.Australia head to the World Cup in the Caribbean this week with figures showing that since the start of last year their bowlers have performed […]
Sri Lanka leader brings elephant and jumbo delegation to China
BEIJING, Feb 26, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse began a week-long state visit to China on Monday — and showed up with an elephant as a gift as well as a large delegation, state media said.Rajapakse, in China to mark 50 years of diplomatic ties between the countries, will meet Chinese President […]
Last rites read over peace process in Sri Lanka
Feb 25, 2007 (AFP) – As thousands flee for their lives amid heavy weekend artillery fire in northern and eastern Sri Lanka, analysts say the government, Tamil rebels and Norway are clinging to a truce that is dead.The Oslo-backed peace process suffered yet another blow last week when the rebels vowed to resume their campaign […]
Sri Lanka troops take more rebel bases after fresh offensive
COLOMBO, Feb 25, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops seized at least four bases from Tamil Tiger strongholds in the northeast in the past week, the defence ministry said Sunday, in fighting that has forced thousands to flee.The LTTE has not commented on the military’s claim, but on Thursday night announced they were relaunching their […]
‘s lingerie hopes
BIYAGAMA, Feb 25, 2007 (AFP) – For some engineers in this Sri Lankan industrial town, making women happy is their main job — they design sexy bras which are comfortable too. Ranil Vitarana is one of hundreds of Sri Lankans developing exotic undergarments for top international brands including Victoria’s Secret, Marks and Spencer and Triumph […]
Arjuna Fire
NEW DELHI, Feb 24, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka had always been a talented side often giving the impression of being too soft on the field until captain Arjuna Ranatunga changed it all with his aggressive approach to win the 1996 World Cup.They always had skilful individuals, but as a team they achieved worldwide fame […]
Blood Money
RIYADH, Feb 24, 2007 (AFP) – A 97-year-old Saudi man waiting to be beheaded for murder has launched an appeal for donations of blood money in order to spare him from the death sentence, a local newspaper reported on Saturday.H. al-Zahrani, who has been imprisoned for several years, made his plea to raise 2.6 million […]
Summoned
February 23 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s foreign minister has summoned the Saudi envoy in Colombo over the beheading and ‘crucifixion’ of four Sri Lankans, including a man who was told he was serving a prison term, the foreign affairs ministry said Friday, . Four Sri Lankans Victor Corea, Ranjith Silva, Sanath Pushpakumara and Sharmila Sangeeth […]