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‘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. […]
U.S. gives million dollars to spruce up tsunami shelters
May 18, 2006 (LBO) – The United States Thursday gave Sri Lanka a one million dollar grant to upgrade and improve the living conditions in 40,000 transitional shelters built after the December 2004 tsunami. Nearly 20,000 people still live in transitional shelters, of which around 40 percent are in need of upgrades, the U.S. said […]
Critics crucify ‘Da Vinci Code’ in Cannes
CANNES, France, May 17, 2006 (AFP) – The most hotly-awaited movie of the year “The Da Vinci Code” failed to crack an audience of movie critics here at a sneak preview ahead of Wednesday’s opening of the Cannes Film Festival.Several whistles instead of applause were all that greeted the end of Ron Howard’s 125-million-dollar film, […]
Disappointing Year
May 17, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Hayleys Ltd Wednesday reported a 24 percent drop in net profits for the financial year ended March 31, due to higher input costs in its various subsidiaries. Hayleys, which has diversified interest in power, rubber products, coir, transport, agriculture, resorts and consumer durables, said group net profits were […]
Tough Call
May 17 (LBO) – Expensive telephone calls and tough labour laws could scare off multinational companies eyeing Sri Lanka as a possible destination to outsource business. South Asia has some of the highest firing costs in the region and Sri Lanka stays on top for rigid labour laws and high severance pay, a World Bank […]
” in Cannes
CANNES, France, May 17, 2006 (AFP) – The most hotly-awaited movie of the year “The Da Vinci Code” failed to crack an audience of movie critics here at a sneak preview ahead of Wednesday’s opening of the Cannes Film Festival.Several whistles instead of applause were all that greeted the end of Ron Howard’s 125-million-dollar film, […]
Japan to fingerprint and photograph foreign visitors
TOKYO, May 17, 2006 (AFP) – Japan’s parliament narrowly approved Wednesday a bill to follow the United States in fingerprinting and photographing foreign visitors, despite concern the security measures violated privacy.The upper house voted 131 to 94 to support the bill, which would also allow the justice minister to expel terrorist suspects. The lower house, […]
Foreign bid to pull Sri Lanka from war amid killings
May 17, 2006 (AFP) – The United States is leading international efforts to halt Sri Lanka’s slide back to war, diplomats and officials said Wednesday as four more people died in fresh violence.A US State Department official left here Tuesday, urging the government and Tamil Tiger rebels to resume talks suspended in April 2003 and […]
Quantum Leap
May 17, 2006 (LBO) – Runaway global oil prices is expected to cost Sri Lanka 2,250 million dollars this year, the government said Wednesday, in a broad hint that a retail fuel price revision was around the corner. Sri Lanka is a net oil importer, with last year’s fuel bill climbing up to 1.64 billion […]
Sri Lanka joins ADB initiative to combat corruption
May 17, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Wednesday joined an Asian Development Bank- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development initiative to develop an action plan to combat corruption. “Knowledge – Commitment – Action against Corruption in Asia-Pacific”, a book that explores innovative reforms discussed at the ADB OECD 5th Regional Anti-Corruption Conference for Asia-Pacific in […]