Pakistan cricket players charged with corruption

LONDON, February 4, 2011 (AFP) – British prosecutors charged Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer as well as an agent with corruption offences on Friday as an alleged spot-fixing scandal headed towards the courts. The charges relate to alleged incidents during a Test match against England at Lord’s last year, when Britain’s […]

Sri Lanka flexible exchange rate can cut carry trade risk: IMF

Feb 04, 2011 (LBO) – A flexible exchange rate that moves in both directions can ward off speculative capital flows by signaling the risk of capital losses, while also improving competitiveness, an International Monetary Fund official said. Policy rates in Sri Lanka are now on a 7.0 to 8.5 percent band compared to almost zero […]

Sri Lanka president promises growth

KATARAGAMA, February 4, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapakse promised Friday to promote economic development at all costs to make up for opportunities lost during the country’s separatist war. In an address on the country’s 63rd anniversary of independence from Britain, Rajapakse said he would press ahead with infrastructure projects and double per […]

Tharanga guides Sri Lanka home with ton

February 3, 2011 (AFP) – Upul Tharanga cracked an unbeaten 101 to steer Sri Lanka to an emphatic eight-wicket victory over the West Indies in the second one-day international on Thursday. The left-handed opener hit seven fours in his ninth one-day century as Sri Lanka achieved a rain-revised target of 197 with more than four […]

Bangladesh World Cup war on old cars

DHAKA, February 3, 2011 (AFP) – Bangladesh ordered owners of old cars to spruce up their vehicles ahead of the cricket World Cup Thursday, warning that they will be targeted by mobile courts, an official said. Old and worn-out cars and buses in Dhaka and the southeastern city of Chittagong must “get fit, smarter and […]

Gas Blast

Feb 04, 2011 (LBO) – Repair work on vessels in Colombo Dockyard is continuing uninterrupted after an accidental explosion caused by leaking gas that injured 14 workers, a statement said. The yard is repairing two naval vessels, four tankers and a research vessel along with a liquid petroleum gas carrier owned by the Shipping Corporation […]

Sri Lanka gets more cash, path open for reforms: IMF

Feb 03, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has got 216. 6 million US dollars from the International Monetary Fund despite missing one key target and lack of data for another, with the lender banking on better budgeting and inflation control. The dollar reserves are more than enough to convert the entire rupee monetary base which […]

Sri Lanka forex reserve target missed due to Iran repayment

Feb 03, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka missed a foreign reserve target set in a deal with the International Monetary Fund due to an early repayment of a loan to Iran, IMF resident representative Koshy Mathai said. The government itself has no capacity to generate foreign exchange, except by borrowing and indebting future generations. Exports […]

” Sri Lanka

WASHINGTON, February 2, 2011 (AFP) – US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton voiced hope for a “just and democratic” Sri Lanka as she offered congratulations ahead of the war-torn island’s Independence Day on Friday. Clinton said in a statement Wednesday that the United States and Sri Lanka have historically enjoyed “a strong relationship based on […]

Sri Lanka apparel industry shrugs off loss of trade benefit

Feb 03, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lankan apparel exporters are getting enough overseas orders and not been affected as badly as feared by the loss of duty free access to European Union markets, officials said. “Exports are growing moderately,” said A Sukumaran, chairman of the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), an industry body. “We have […]

Sri Lankan Airlines starts flights to fourth Chinese city

Feb 03, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lankan Airlines has begun flights to the Chinese city of Guangzhou (Canton), the national carrier’s fourth destination in China, a statement said. The airline said that operations to more cities in China with good frequencies will assist in promoting business and tourism between the two countries. Besides Guangzhou, the […]

‘s

Feb 03, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka earned a record 1. 37 billion US dollars in tea exports in 2010, exceeding that of Kenya, which exported more, owing to higher prices and more valued added shipments, brokers said. The island’s tea export earnings from exporting 314 million kilos were 16 percent more than in 2009. […]

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