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Wireless Talk
Jan 23 (LBO) – Sri Lankan mobile operator Dialog said Tuesday it had rolled out broadband wireless services for a few pilot customers, with plans to extend it to other parts of the island over the next few months. The mobile operator also provides retail and wholesale international voice and data services, Internet services and […]
Crossover pressure mounts in Sri Lanka as opposition runs out of options
January 23, (LBO) – Around 18 opposition parliamentarians will crossover to the government by Monday in the first round, if a cabinet re-shuffle takes place over the weekend, a United National Party ‘Karu’ faction official said. The LTTE also split in two after it stopped fighting the government during the ceasefire agreement. Parliamentarian Rajitha Senaratne […]
Sri Lanka journalists protest killings, abductions of their colleagues
COLOMBO, Jan 23, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lankan journalists Tuesday protested the killings and abductions of colleagues during a rally in the capital that called for the government and Tamil rebels to halt the violence.“Hands off journalists,” said a banner carried by a reporter. “Report Card 2006-2007: Eight journalists killed,” said another placard. Activists at […]
Graft-buster campaigns to track down Sri Lanka tsunami corruption
Jan 23, 2007 (AFP) – An international graft-buster Tuesday kicked off a campaign for survivors of Sri Lanka’s December 2004 tsunami to report allegations of corruption involving local and international aid. Transparency International, an international anti-corruption group, set a five-month timetable to give tsunami victims a chance to voice any charges of graft when aid […]
Roadside blasts kills 2 in northern Sri Lanka
Jan 23, 2007 (AFP) – Two roadside bombs exploded in northern Sri Lanka Tuesday, killing two people and wounding 10, while suspected Tamil Tiger rebels hijacked a truck with six construction workers, police said.The blasts occurred in the besieged government-controlled Jaffna peninsula, while the workers were kidnapped by suspected Tiger rebels in the northern town […]
Talking Up
MUMBAI, Jan 23, 2007 (AFP) – India’s largest private phone company, Bharti Airtel, posted Tuesday a third quarter net profit surge, which more than doubled and was above analyst forecasts as demand for telecom services rose.The company said net profit was up to 12.15 billion rupees (274 million dollars) in the quarter ended December 31, […]
Sri Lanka hits road to raise US$ 200 mn from overseas investors this year: Central Bank
January 22, 2007 (LBO) – Top Central Bank officials will hit the road next month to drum up overseas investor support to raise 200 million dollars in government bonds this year, officials said Monday. The bank’s Assistant Governor, Y M W B Weerasekera is due to fly off to Singapore and Hong Kong early next […]
High Alert
January 22, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka plans probe deeper into the financial activities of non-governmental organizations, by beefing up its financial intelligence unit, Central Bank governor, Nivard Cabraal said Monday. Operating since July last year, the unit was set up to track foreign exchange dealings in excess of 5,000 dollars, to ensure unscrupulous people […]
Cool Chat
January 22, 2007 (LBO) – Motorola Inc plans to introduce a low budget handset next month to popularize the use of cellular phones among less affluent people, officials said Monday. As at end last year, bank estimates around 5.8 million people were connected to the local cellular network. Updated-weekly sales Sri Lankans can pick up […]
Secret World
KYOTO, Japan, Jan 22, 2007 (AFP) – In these days of the Internet, cellphones and iPods, few Japanese girls still dream of becoming a geisha with a strict life of training and duties. Facing growing competition from nightclubs and karaoke, Kyoto’s geisha are having to adapt to survive.At one tea house in Japan’s ancient capital, […]