Author: lbostgadmin
‘s new rich prove reluctant philanthropists
NEW DELHI, December 30, 2010 (AFP) – A huge charity gift by a high-tech tycoon has shone a harsh light on the philanthropic track record of India’s established and emerging billionaires. Azim Premji, who transformed a family-owned cooking oil firm into the software giant Wipro, announced earlier this month that he was giving two billion […]
Sri Lanka shares gyrate after forced-selling scare
Dec 30, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed lower Thursday after recovering from sharp losses in early trade on panic selling by investors confused over a regulator order for brokers to force-sell equities of buyers in default, brokers said. The All Share Price Index closed at 6,614.13, down 0.49 percent (32.79 points) while the […]
‘s chicks, nuts and sex workers
Dec 29, 2010 (LBO) – Serious shortages of essential food forced Sri Lanka’s government to import chicken, onions and coconuts, but a survey by health authorities has shown that the country is also desperately short of sex workers. Doctor Sujatha Samarakoon of the AIDS prevention unit of the health ministry has said that there are […]
SriLankan Airlines wins award for campaign that improved sales
Dec 29, 2010 (LBO) – SriLankan Airlines won the ‘Travel & Tourism’ category at the island’s recent Effie Awards for its ˜Hotseats’ marketing campaign that led to better sales, a statement said. SriLankan received a Bronze for the campaign, which was produced by the ad agency Grant McCann Erickson. It was the highest award presented […]
Bangladesh to explore gas in restive hill region
DHAKA, December 28, 2010 (AFP) – Bangladesh has invited some of the world’s leading state-owned gas giants to help explore its insurgency-hit southeastern hill tracts region, an official said Tuesday. The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) region makes up one-tenth of the South Asian country’s landmass but has been largely left unexplored due to a decades-long […]
‘s poorest
KAVRE, December 29, 2010 (AFP) – Seven years ago, Nepalese farmer Madhab Parajuli faced an agonising choice: lose his small plot of farmland to mounting debts, or sell one of his kidneys to an organ trafficker. “Local people see that you can give up a kidney and still try to live a healthy life. So, […]
Mobile Identity
Dec 29, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is to delay a move to restrict the number of mobile phone SIM cards individuals can own after requests for more time from mobile phone companies, a senior Telecommunications Regulatory Commission official said. TRC director-general Anusha Pelpita said that under the new rule the number of registered SIM […]
Wider Margins
Dec 29, 2010 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings has confirmed the National Long-term rating of Sri Lanka’s Housing Development Finance Corporation Bank (HDFC) at ‘BBB+(lka)’ with a stable outlook, a statement said. The rating agency has also confirmed the ‘BBB+(lka)’ rating on the bank’s outstanding 195 million rupee senior unsecured redeemable debentures. “HDFC’s ratings reflect its […]
Trade Links
Dec 29, 2010 (LBO) – India is helping Sri Lanka to revive commercial operations at a port and airport in the island’s north to re-establish regional trade and communications links, a statement said. The High Commission of India said Defence Secretary of India, Pradeep Kumar, had discussed the projects during a three-day visit to Sri […]
Heavy Lift
Dec 29, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan logistics firm FPS Lanka is considering setting up offices in the new southern port of Hambantota and in eastern Trincomalee harbour to handle an anticipated influx of cargo flows for post-war reconstruction. It expects new logistics contracts to be awarded in the first quarter of 2011 as projects […]
Sri Lanka shares end up 0.3-pct
Dec 28, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed higher Tuesday with investors focusing on the banking sector, brokers said. The All Share Price Index closed at 6,641. 08, up 0.30 percent (19.57 points) while the more liquid Milanka index rose 0. 53 percent (37.09 points) to close at 7,063.65, according to stock exchange provisional […]
Sri Lanka shares end up 0.09-pct
Dec 29, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed higher Wednesday with institutions showing a high level of activity in trading, brokers said. The All Share Price Index closed at 6,646.92, up 0.09 percent (5.84 points) while the more liquid Milanka index rose 0.16 percent (37.09 points) to close at 7,074.83, according to stock exchange […]