All Blogs
Sri Lanka president invites TNA to work with govt; democracy to areas re-taken from Tigers
February 04 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s president invited the largest political party representing north-eastern Tamils to work with the government in his Independance Day speech and promised democratic rule to territory recently wrested back from Tamil Tiger control. . President Mahinda Rajapakse said the Tamil National Alliance, widely considered to be Tiger proxies, had so […]
Sri Lanka marks national day amid tight security
Feb 4, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka was set to mark independence day on Sunday amid heightened security and calls from the president for fresh peace talks with Tamil Tiger rebels to end more than three decades of bloodshed.As the island prepared to celebrate its national day, police discovered a powerful bomb in the capital […]
Sri Lanka tea trade under pressure in first quarter, after record earnings in 2006
February 03 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tea crop is set to drop in January after record earnings in the past year, as unfavourable weather slowed a recovery of strike-hit estates, industry officials said. “Estates which normally send had 8,000 to 10,000 kilograms to the auctions, are sending about 2,500 kilograms,” says Lal Alawattegama, of Asia Siyaka […]
Mass arrests in Sri Lanka after bomb find
Feb 3, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lankan police on Saturday arrested 266 people on the eve of independence day celebrations in a security roundup after finding a powerful bomb in the capital. Mass arrests in Sri Lanka after Colombo bomb find ATTENTION – UPDATES with arrests /// The 2.5-kilo (5.5-pound) was found in a three-wheeler […]
Sri Lanka president offers talks from former Tiger town
VAKARAI, Sri Lanka, Feb 3, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapkse offered fresh peace talks on Saturday and asked Tiger rebels to lay down weapons as he visited this former guerrilla-held town.The president said he was ready to offer a political package to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to end the […]
Sri Lanka police find bomb in Colombo
Feb 3, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lankan police Saturday found a powerful bomb hidden in a taxi in capital Colombo — a day ahead of independence day celebrations, police said.The bomb, weighing 2.5 kilos (5.5 pounds) was found in a three-wheeler taxi parked in a garage near the Khettarama Cricket Stadium, where troops who will […]
Small Change
February 02 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s banks have reported much smaller volumes than previously expected, though state banks are yet to complete their reports, an official said. With only the Bank of Ceylon and People’s Bank yet to report dormant assets, information regarding 545 million rupees worth of assets have been collected, Acting Bank Supervisor, […]
Musical Chairs
February 02 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s 54-member jumbo cabinet is causing logistical headaches for parliamentary staff, with senior members who crossed over from the United National Party, being entititled to the available meeting rooms officials said.Perks for each cabinet minister include an office space in the parliament complex, but the facility only has about three […]
‘s biggest mutual fund: report
BEIJING, Feb 2, 2007 (AFP) – China plans a special firm to manage one fifth of its forex reserves, laying the foundations of a behemoth that will handle more money than the biggest mutual fund in the world, state media said Friday.The State Foreign Exchange Investment Company is expected to be in charge of 210 […]
Sri Lanka cricketers look for revenge in India
COLOMBO, Feb 2, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka hope to avenge an embarrassing thrashing by India 15 months ago when they play a four-match series from next week in the build-up to the World Cup.When Sri Lanka played in India in November, 2005, they were routed 6-1 in the one-dayers and 2-0 in the three-Test […]