All Blogs
Journalist abducted in Sri Lanka freed after appeals
Aug 30, 2006 (AFP) – An abducted Sri Lankan radio journalist held overnight was freed Wednesday by unidentified men after appeals for his safe return. Nadaraja Guruparan, a member of the minority Tamil community, said he was forced out of his car Tuesday as he drove to his radio station, Surayan FM, but treated well […]
Rights body raises cry over deteriorating media freedom in Sri Lanka
Aug 30 (LBO) – The media rights organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has voiced deep concern about the rapidly deteriorating media freedom in Sri Lanka.The statement came after the abduction of the news director of a Tamil language radio station in Colombo. Nadarajah Guruparan, the news director Sooriyan FM, a part of the ABC radio […]
Finland, Denmark, Sweden to complete pull out of Sri Lanka observers on time
HELSINKI, Aug 30, 2006 (AFP) – Finland, Denmark and Sweden will pull out all their ceasefire monitors from Sri Lanka by the end of the month in response to a deadline set by rebels, officials said on Tuesday.In Helsinki the government said that the 10 monitors return home by Wednesday. Most of the Swedish observers […]
Minor Slip
August 30, 2006 (LBO) – Dominant lubricant supplier Caltex Lanka Ltd is expecting a marginal drop in volumes this year as intensified fighting in the northeast dries up sales. Caltex says sales to the conflict zones accounts for around 10-12 percent of total volumes, and was growing steadily until hostilities erupted in July. Prior to […]
Cable Cut
August 30, 2006 (LBO) – The Asian Development Bank has dropped the second loan installment due to Sri Lanka, as the government is reluctant to push ahead with Ceylon Electricity Board’s reforms. The Manila based bank had earlier pledged 30 million dollars under a power sector project, with loan installments linked CEB reforms. Loan conditions […]
Sri Lankan rupee strengthens, 3-year bond yields rise sharply
August 29, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lankan rupee firmed up against the U.S. dollar Tuesday, while share prices dipped as investors hunted for market leads, brokers said. Colombo’s benchmark All Share Price Index shed 2.81 points or 0.13 percent to 2,141.98, while the liquid Milanka Price Index, which tracks 25 stocks, slipped 10.40 points or […]
Aitken Spence to raise million of dollars in India for Kerala hotel project
August 29, 2006 (LBO) – Aitken Spence Hotels Holdings together with an Indian partner plans to raise up to ten million dollars in India, to fund its hotel expansion into Kerala. The company has tied up a 50:50 joint venture deal with Floatels India Limited, to buy up a 15 acre plot of land on […]
Security Cable
August 29, 2006 (LBO) – Cable operator CBNSat may need Defence Ministry clearance to re-start transmission, as the company steps up its public campaign appealing to authorities to expedite their government approvals. Over 100,000 viewers in Sri Lanka enjoy CBNSat which has a maximum of 28 international TV channels and packages ranging from 500 to […]
Asian workers missing out on stellar growth: ILO
BUSAN, South Korea, Aug 29, 2006 (AFP) – Asian workers are missing out on the region’s stellar growth, facing longer hours and lower pay than elsewhere and this imbalance has to be addressed, the UN Labor agency said Tuesday.International Labor Organization (ILO) Director General Juan Somavia told a regional meeting here that the gains of […]
‘s leg amid security crackdown
WELLINGTON, Aug 29, 2006 (AFP) – Champion New Zealand disabled athlete Kate Horan is back on track for next week’s world championships after her special running leg was found Tuesday, more than a week after an airline mislaid it.Horan, who until recently held the world record for the 400 metres in her class, used to […]