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Sri Lanka fighting leaves investors jittery
Apr. 28 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s bloodiest bombings in four years have made investors jittery and led to the first-ever downgrade in the island’s sovereign ratings, industry officials said Friday. Three British nationals were wounded in a mine attack aimed at a naval bus in the island’s northeast this month, prompting Britain to issue a […]
Donors press Sri Lankan parties to resume negotiations
OSLO, Apr. 28 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s international donors meeting in Oslo on Friday pressed both rebels and the Sri Lankan government to return to negotiations to shore up the country’s faltering ceasefire.“We call upon both sides to put a stop to the violence.On this basis we call upon the two parties to come to […]
Bombings heap more woes on tsunami-hit Sri Lankan fisherman
MUTTUR, Sri Lanka, Apr. 28 (AFP) – Displaced by the war, displaced by the tsunami, now Kiyathupillai Mohideen is on the move again — this time after clashes between the Sri Lankan military and Tamil Tiger rebels killed three members of his family. The 66-year-old white-bearded devout Muslim is not the only one who has […]
Iranian Shadow
LONDON, Apr. 28 (AFP) – World oil prices eased Friday on receding worries over US motor oil supplies but held above 70 dollars per barrel on rising tensions over Iran’s disputed nuclear programme. UN nuclear chief Mohamed ElBaradei was expected to report that Iran had failed to meet Friday’s deadline to stop enriching uranium, opening […]
‘s April inflation swings up
Apr. 28 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s inflation rate for April rose over consumer demands for bananas, fresh fish, milk foods and vegetables during the traditional New Year season, the Census & Statistics Dept. said Friday. On a point-to-point basis inflation for April rose to 9.2 percent over 6.4 percent reported in March, as the government […]
International rating agencies lower Sri Lanka’s credit outlook
Apr. 27 (LBO) – International rating agencies Fitch and Standard & Poor’s Thursday cut Sri Lanka’s credit outlook to negative from stable, reflecting the island’s worsening security situation. Should the violence become more widespread, adversely affecting the economy, public finances and donor inflows, Sri Lanka’s sovereign ratings could be downgraded, both agencies said. – Mel […]
S&P cuts Sri Lanka Telecom’s credit outlook
Apr. 27 (LBO) – US credit ratings agency Standard & Poor’s Thursday cut Sri Lanka Telecom’s credit outlook to negative from stable, in the wake of escalating violence, which may result in the country slipping back to war. The cash rich operator posted net profits of 3,093 million rupees, while revenues surged 10 percent to […]
Standard & Poor’s cuts Sri Lanka’s credit outlook
Apr. 27 (LBO) – International rating agency Standard & Poor’s Thursday lowered Sri Lanka’s credit outlook to negative from stable, amid escalating violence and fears that the island may slip back to war. However, S&P warned: “The country’s external liquidity could come under pressure if war causes reduced foreign exchange inflows from tourism and tourism-related […]
Mission possible — Britain’s secret service trawls for new talent
LONDON, April 27, 2006 (AFP) – Britain’s secret service, famed for lurking in the shadows, launched its first overt recruitment operation on Thursday, calling on men and women who are looking for a challenge.For the first time in its 97-year history, MI6, the country’s foreign spy agency, published an open advertisement in a newspaper. “From […]
Pakistan’s Afridi withdraws retirement from Test cricket
KARACHI, April 27, 2006 (AFP) – Pakistani allrounder Shahid Afridi has withdrawn his temporary retirement from Test cricket, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Thursday.Afridi, 26, shocked his team when he announced earlier this month that he was giving up the longer form of the game until after the 2007 World Cup to concentrate […]