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EU agrees in principle to ban Sri Lankan rebels
COLOMBO, May 19, 2006 (AFP) – The European Union has agreed in principle to blacklist Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels as a “terrorist” group, EU diplomats said Friday, in a move the rebels said would only lead to war in the country. US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Camp […]
EU ban on Sri Lanka rebels will only lead to war: rebel negotiator
COLOMBO, May 19, 2006 (AFP) – A European Union ban on Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels will only lead to war in the country, the rebels’ top negotiator said in comments received Friday. The statement by Anton Balasingham came as Sri Lanka’s foreign minister visited Japan where he sought the help of donor nations to […]
Sinking Further
May 17 (LBO) – Petroleum retailer Lanka IOC, Friday reported a 7.1 billion rupee loss for the year ended March 31, as the Sri Lankan government fail to settle its subsidy bills. A unit of the Fortune 500 Indian Oil Corp., LIOCs financial health has been deteriorating since total subsidy claims climbed up to 7.695 […]
Continuing violence slowing down aid projects: World Bank
May 19, 2006 (LBO) – An upsurge in violence in the north east part of Sri Lanka could slow down progress post-conflict development projects, a top World Bank official said Friday. The bank, which lends around 80-100 million dollars to Sri Lanka each year, has a few medium-term projects in the north east. “We are […]
First sex ‘theme park’ set to open in London
LONDON, May 18, 2006 (AFP) – The world’s first “theme park” dedicated to sex and relationships is set to open in London’s bustling West End later this summer, its promoters said Thursday.Amora: The Academy of Sex and Relationships, featuring “high-tech and interactive exhibits together with new media displays,” expects up to 600,000 visitors within its […]
Time to eat? You’ve got 3.5 minutes…
LONDON, May 18, 2006 (AFP) – The average British worker spends just 3.5 minutes on average actually eating lunch, in order to cram as much as possible into their break, according to a survey published Thursday.The study of 2,000 people suggested nearly two-thirds (64 percent) tried to fit a number of activities into their lunch […]
Airbus A380 touches down at London’s Heathrow Airport
HEATHROW AIRPORT, England, May 18, 2006 (AFP) – The biggest passenger aircraft in the skies, the Airbus A380, landed at London’s Heathrow Airport on Thursday.The super-jumbo touched down at the west London airport at 1:19 pm (1219 GMT), making its British debut to test new facilities for jumbo aircraft. The arrival of the gigantic double-decker […]
Annan says it’s Asia’s turn for secretary general
TOKYO, May 18, 2006 (AFP) – UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said Thursday that most nations believe his successor should come from Asia, as campaigning for his replacement intensifies.“I can say that most of the member states believe that it is a turn for Asia,” Annan told a news conference in Tokyo. “It is a […]
Mortar bomb attacks in Sri Lanka’s restive region
May 18, 2006 (AFP) – Heavy mortar bomb attacks were reported from Sri Lanka’s restive north-eastern port district of Trincomalee Thursday, residents and police said.Security forces were firing at suspected Tamil rebel positions from which they came under attack overnight, police said as residents said they heard several mortar bomb explosions within a half-hour period. […]
Good Windfall
May 18, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s NDB Bank Thursday reported a 585 percent jump in first quarter profits boosted by capital gains from the partial equity stake sale in Eagle Insurance. “The results are not surprising, considering the capital gains made from the part sale of Eagle to Aviva,” notes Chinthaka Ranasinghe, Head of […]