All Blogs
‘s last “open outcry” trading pits shuts in Singapore
SINGAPORE, Sept 28, 2006 (AFP) – They curled their fingers, raised their arms, and tapped their heads while their throats went dry from hours of shouting.In front of the pictures, a mannequin wears a red jacket and a chunky identity tag. His hand is sideways, making one last offer in the pit. – by Ian […]
200 civilians die in two months of Sri Lanka fighting: monitors
Sept 28, 2006 (AFP) – Fighting between Sri Lankan troops and Tamil Tiger rebels has caused the deaths of at least 200 civilians in the past two months, Norwegian-led truce monitors said Thursday.The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) said both the Colombo government and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had openly violated […]
Norway steps up Sri Lanka peace drive
Sept 28, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s peace broker Norway stepped up moves to arrange face-to-face talks after the government accepted a pledge by the rebel Tamil Tigers to resume negotiations, diplomats said Thursday.The renewed effort came as truce monitors said that intensified fighting between government troops and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) […]
Hedge Advice
Sept 28, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka should hedge oil prices to mitigate negative effects on the economy, by entering into contracts with foreign banks, the country’s central bank said in a statement. The Central Bank said it had made a presentation in early September to the President and Cabinet of Ministers to explain schemes […]
Sri Lanka economy grew 7.2% 2Q06: Statistics Dept
September 28, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s economy expanded 7.2 percent for the second quarter of this year, on the back of good rainfall and higher export volumes, the Census and Statistics Dept said Thursday. Economic growth during the same period last year was 6.0 percent, the statement said. Good rainfall helped agriculture sector to […]
‘s cash markets hit treasuries; dealers refuse to discount gilts
September 27, 2006 (LBO) – Aftershocks of Tuesday’s withdrawal of the central bank’s standing cash facility has hit short-term treasuries, with Sri Lanka’s public debt office rejecting bids at Wednesday’s auction and dealers refusing to discount gilts as prices crashed. Meanwhile the Sri Lanka rupee closed sharply down against the dollar at 103.70 against the […]
Sri Lankan agri-business company CIC launches tea advisory service
Sept 27, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lankan agri-business company CIC on Tuesday launched an advisory company for plantation firms and smallholders, in efforts to up productivity and yields on local tea estates.Mohamed says that 40 percent of tea produced in the country is of low quality, based on reports from the Tea Commissioners Division, while adoption […]
India could process 30 percent of US bank transactions by 2010: reports
NEW DELHI, Sept 27, 2006 (AFP) – India’s outsourcing industry will be able to process up to 30 per cent of US bank transactions by 2010, more than triple the current figure, the industry’s main lobby group was quoted as saying Wednesday. “Currently, eight per cent of US banking transactions are processed by Indian BPOs […]
Sri Lankan boxers disappear in Germany
Sept 27, 2006 (AFP) – Two Sri Lankan boxers taking part in the world military championships in Germany have fled their hotel after eluding security, officials said here on Wednesday.The duo identified as W.R.G.G. Weligalla and P.W.R.D. Fernando of the Sri Lanka army were part of a seven-member squad at the World Military Boxing Championships […]
Sri Lanka killing fields to haunt negotiators at Swiss talks
GENEVA, Oct 27, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s warring parties are to meet in Geneva Saturday amid international pressure to stop a new spiral of killings in Asia’s bloodiest civil strife. Tamil Tiger reels who took up arms in 1972 want a separate state for the island’s ethnic Tamil minority. Political talks on power-sharing remain […]