Author: lbostgadmin
India-Pakistan cloud hangs over South Asia summit
THIMPU, April 26, 2010 (AFP) – A familiar game of “will they-won’t they” centred on a possible meeting between the leaders of India and Pakistan looks set to overshadow a summit of South Asian nations in Bhutan this week. The summit is supposed to culminate in a joint declaration entitled “Towards a Green and Happy […]
Tele Group
Apr 26, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Telecom group profits fell 36 percent to 604 million rupees in the March quarter from a year earlier, but had returned to profits from a loss in the December quarter, interim accounts showed. Group revenue grew 3.0 percent to 12.2 billion rupees, while revenues of the standalone company […]
Competition
Apr 26, 2010 (LBO) – Hutchison Telecom International’s Sri Lanka unit lost mobile phone subscribers in 2009 amid intense competition in the market, according to the group’s annual report released to the Hong Kong stock exchange. The number of mobile phone subscribers of Hutchison Telecom Lanka shrank by 12 percent to 779,000 although it continued […]
Sri Lanka rubber plantations shares in demand
Apr 26, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks edged higher Monday as investors bought selected blue chips and midcap stocks, as well as rubber plantation shares seen as doing well with the rise in rubber prices, brokers said. The All Share Price Index closed at 4,136. 05, up 0.35 percent (14.41 points) while the more […]
” education crisis worsens: report
Apr 26, 2010 (LBO) – A crisis in Sri Lanka’s state-run ‘free’ education system funded by people’s taxes has worsened with 47 percent of students failing a key junior high school test leaving them stranded with no prospects, a report said. At Sri Lanka’s general certificate of education – ordinary level, equal to a junior […]
Sri Lanka public investments increasing: Treasury chief
Apr 26, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s public investments are on the rise as government builds new infrastructure for a post-war revival, laying the foundation for more private investment, Treasury secretary P B Jayasundera said. “Now we have around 25 percent of total investment. ” In 2009 the government invested the equivalent of 6.7 percent […]
Sri Lanka considers ending emergency laws
April 25, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka may scrap the state of emergency laws that gave sweeping powers to police and troops during the island’s long ethnic conflict with Tamil rebels, a newly appointed minister said Sunday. Peiris, who was appointed on Friday after recent parliamentary elections, said he wanted to address concerns from the […]
Sri Lanka desperate to add Twenty20 to collection
April 25, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka, world champions in the 50-over format in 1996, are desperate to add the Twenty20 title to their collection in the Caribbean after a series of near-misses. Captain Kumar Sangakkara’s men lost the World T20 championship by eight wickets to Pakistan at Lords last year. Two years earlier, the […]
Sri Lanka sling bowler Malinga ready to fly high
April 25, 2010 (AFP) – The untamed bleached blond locks have been dyed black as Sri Lanka’s sling sensation Lasith Malinga tempers his looks and polishes his armoury for the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean. Short and squat, his unorthodox action, with a low point of release against the backdrop of the umpire’s chest or […]
Sri Lanka to expand first post-war cabinet
April 24, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s president will expand his new cabinet by five ministers but the government will still have far fewer members than the previous one, an official source said Saturday. President Mahinda Rajapakse, whose ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance took victory in this month’s parliamentary election, will bring in five more […]
World Bank opens data goldmine to all
Apr 22, 2010 (LBO) – The World Bank has opened its statistics spanning 50-years to and called upon the global community to use the data to help poor people in the developing world. “I believe it’s important to make the data and knowledge of the World Bank available to everyone,” a World Bank statement quoted […]
Developing nations call for finance reform
WASHINGTON, April 22, 2010 (AFP) – Delaying financial reform could put the global economic recovery at risk, a group of 24 developing nations warned on Thursday as they called for “vigorous” implementation of reforms. Visiting Wall Street — the epicenter of the global meltdown — Obama called on company bosses to help pass sweeping financial […]