Sri Lanka to keep original budget gap despite floods: IMF mission

Feb 18, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lankan authorities want to keep the budget deficit target of 6. 75 percent of gross domestic product for 2011 despite the additional flood related expenditure, IMF mission chief Brian Aiken said. “Addressing the impact of the floods may require some re-allocation of budget resources, but the authorities felt that […]

Tough to axe Sri Lanka team-mates, says de Silva

NEW DELHI, February 18, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s chief selector Aravinda de Silva has spoken of his tough decision in omitting fellow 1996 World Cup winners Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas from the squad. De Silva scored 107 not out and took 3-42 as Sri Lanka beat Australia by seven wickets in the 1996 […]

Police ban flag poles from World Cup

Feb 18, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s police has announced they will deal firmly with anyone sporting a flag pole at any of the world cup venues As far as the police is concerned, anyone with any musical instrument is a kill joy. They will be quickly banished from the games. Even pens, pencils, and […]

India ends onion export ban after price collapse: report

Feb 18, 2011 (LBO) – India has ended a two month ban on onion exports, which sent traditional buyers to alternative sources, after wholesale prices crashed and farmers protested in the streets. India banned onion exports in December after earlier putting a minimum export price floor of 1,200 US dollars a tonne. After the price […]

Malaysia, India sign free trade pact

KUALA LUMPUR, February 18, 2011 (AFP) – Malaysia and India signed a long-delayed free trade pact on Friday that they say will double two-way trade to billion by 2015 and help strengthen economic ties. “The signing of today’s agreement shows our commitment to much deeper economic integration between our two countries,” premier Najib Razak said […]

Sri Lanka India coal project hit by legal queries: report

Feb 18, 2011 (LBO) – A state joint venture coal power plant between India and Sri Lanka which has been negotiated for several years has been hit by further delays following legal queries from the island nation, a media report said. India’s National Thermal Power Corporation and Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Electricity Board has been talking […]

Americans warned to be alert during cricket World Cup

WASHINGTON, February 17, 2011 (AFP) – The United States on Thursday urged its citizens to be extra vigilant about terror risks if they are in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka during the cricket World Cup. “While the US government has no specific threat information regarding the Cricket World Cup, large, high-profile events of this nature […]

Tele Rating

Feb 18, 2011 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings has confirmed Sri Lanka Telecom’s (SLT) long-term foreign currency rating at ‘B+’ with a positive outlook, a statement said. The agency has also confirmed SLT’s long-term local currency rating at ‘BB-‘ and its national long-term rating at ‘AAA(lka)’ with a stable outlook for both. The foreign currency rating […]

Sri Lanka shares end up 0.8-pct

Feb 18, 2011(LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed 0. 85 percent higher Friday helped by gains in Ceylon Tea Services and Bukit Darah stocks, brokers said. The All Share Price Index closed at 7,672. 49, up 0.85 percent (64.70 points) while the Milanka Price Index of more liquid stocks closed at 7,242. 15, up 0.24 […]

Minnows capable of World Cup heroics

NEW DELHI, February 17, 2011 (AFP) – 8. 2-6-7-3. Those are not the bowling figures of Australian leg-spin wizard Shane Warne or Pakistani fast bowling great Wasim Akram, but of a one-time tennis player in a World Cup match. Kenyan left-arm spinner Aasif Karim, who also represented his country in the Davis Cup, was 39 […]

Curtain up on cricket World Cup

NEW DELHI, February 17, 2011 (AFP) – Canadian rocker Bryan Adams helps kickstart the 2011 cricket World Cup on Thursday at the tournament’s opening ceremony, marking the start of a gruelling six-week sporting marathon. The 10th edition of the showpiece event is being launched in Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, joint hosts of the 14-team competition […]

Family deaths hit Sri Lanka curtain raiser

February 17, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lankan batsman Chamara Silva is likely to miss his team’s opening World Cup match, due to a death in his family, an official said Thursday. Sri Lanka, the 1996 champions and 2007 runners-up, face Canada in their first match at the newly-built Mahinda Rajapakse Stadium in the southern town […]

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