Author: LBO
Sri Lanka’s army chief back at work after bombing
July 26, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s army chief Sarath Fonseka has resumed work after surviving a suicide bomb attack three months ago, military spokesman Prasad Samarasinghe said Wednesday. More than 60,000 people have been killed in the conflict.Lieutenant General Fonseka returned to the capital Colombo Tuesday after undergoing specialised treatment in Singapore for more […]
Fitch upgrades People’s Leasing securitsed notes to A+(lka)
July 26, 2006 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings Lanka Wednesday has upgraded the Lease Backed Trust Certificates issued by People’s Leasing Trust Nine to ‘A+(lka)’ from ‘A(lka)’. People’s Leasing trust nine, is a special purpose vehicle created by People’s Leasing Company of Sri Lanka (PLC) for the sole purpose of this transaction. The rating action says […]
Singapore to shut ‘open outcry’ facility, one of last in Asia
SINGAPORE, July 25, 2006 (AFP) – There will be no more shouting or waving of hands in obscure signals from September when one of Asia’s last traditional “open outcry” exchange trading facilities is closed in Singapore.The Singapore Exchange said Tuesday its open outcry facility will shut at the close of business on Friday September 29 […]
WTO collapse set to fuel Asia’s “noodle bowl” effect
TOKYO, July 25, 2006 (AFP) – The breakdown of the WTO talks is likely to encourage the further proliferation of bilateral free trade pacts in Asia that have raised concerns about a “noodle bowl” of overlapping rules, analysts said. East Asian nations have already been rushing to negotiate individual agreements to remove barriers to trade, […]
Macau to lead the way in Asia’s gaming boom: industry
SINGAPORE, July 24, 2006 (AFP) – Casino gaming is increasingly accepted as a revenue stream for Asian governments and the sector is set to continue growing phenomenally with Macau leading the way, industry players said Monday. From Australia to Singapore and other Asian countries, the region’s governments now recognise that integrated gaming “resorts”, offering casino […]
Sri Lanka’s rights watch dog slammed for dropping investigations
July 18, 2006 (AFP) – A Sri Lankan watchdog has halted its probes into the disappearance of thousands of people so that the government can avoid paying compensation, the Asian Human Rights Commission charged Tuesday.Sri Lanka’s Human Rights Commission (HRC), appointed and funded by the government, has shelved some 2,000 current probes into people who […]
Microsoft software to improve India’s cricket umpires
NEW DELHI, July 16, 2006 (AFP) – India’s cricket chiefs are negotiating with Microsoft for new software aimed at raising umpiring standards in the country, an official said on Sunday. The Indian board will record all domestic matches with six cameras and the footage will be analysed by the software to be developed by Microsoft, […]
Car trunks key for Zimbabwean ‘millionaires’
HARARE, July 16, 2006 (AFP) – Becoming a millionaire in Zimbabwe is easy these days, but wallets and purses have given way to car trunks and suitcases as the crucial accessory for carrying wads of nearly worthless cash.As the southern African country battles hyper-inflation and grinding fuel and foreign exchange shortages amid a seven-year economic […]
Ex-captain Ranatunga, three others set to run Sri Lanka’s cricket
July 14, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s only World Cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga is among four cricketers recommended by ex-players to run the sport in the island nation, sources told AFP on Friday.Elections to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), scheduled to be held on Saturday, were cancelled on the advice of the country’s President Mahinda […]
Sri Lanka’s trade deficit widens despite strong export growth in May
July 13, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s trade deficit expanded to 429 million dollars for the five months to May, amidst strong growth in export earnings. Exports from Sri Lanka rose 5.8 percent to 2,530 million dollars from Jan – May, as the island shipped more clothes, tea, rubber based products. During the month of […]
Indian servant’s tell-all book on a domestic’s hard life
NEW DELHI, July 12, 2006 (AFP) – For many affluent Indians, the ideal servant is one who is seen and not heard, rises early to get the kids off to school and uncomplainingly serves the family their last cup of tea at night. They don’t want to hear any heart-wrenching or even mundane details of […]
Zimbabwe’s churches say they may have answer to economic woes
HARARE, July 9, 2006 (AFP) – Zimbabwe’s churches are rallying to provide what they call a “comprehensive document” they believe could help lift the embattled southern African country from its political and economical muddle.The plan drawn up by the influential Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) comes in the wake of a recent call by President […]