Author: lbostgadmin
” by Sri Lanka to deny Swedish FM visa: EU
LUXEMBOURG, April 28, 2009 (AFP) – The European Union lashed out on Tuesday at Sri Lanka’s decision to deny a visa to Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, describing the move as a “grave mistake” and warning Colombo of repercussions.“It is lamentable that the Sri Lankan government denied him a visa,” Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, […]
Merchant Deal
April 28, 2009 (LBO) – Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka (MBSL) said it had almost completed a deal to take control of Ceylinco Savings Bank, a member of the troubled Ceylinco group, for 100 million rupees.MBSL, a unit of state-run Bank of Ceylon, had been in talks with the banking regulator, the Central Bank, to […]
Rail Freight
April 28, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s state-run railway service has started a goods wagon repair workshop aimed at improving maintenance and more carriage of freight in order to increase revenues, senior officials said.Transport Minister Dallas Alahapperuma said the government wants to reverse years of neglect of the railway that has reduced it to making […]
British, French, Swedish FMs to visit Sri Lanka
LONDON, April 26, 2009 (AFP) – The foreign ministers of Britain, France and Sweden will visit Sri Lanka on Wednesday, government officials in London said Sunday after Colombo rejected a ceasefire declared by Tamil Tiger rebels. “Foreign Secretary David Miliband, together with his French counterpart Bernard Kouchner and Swedish counterpart Carl Bildt, will visit (Sri […]
Tamils protesters attack Sri Lankan, Indian missions in London
LONDON, April 27, 2009 (AFP) – Six people were arrested Monday after Tamil protesters smashed windows at India’s High Commission in London and caused damage outside Sri Lanka’s diplomatic mission, Scotland Yard said. Some 200 people gathered outside each of the two countries’ missions to demonstrate against the ongoing violence in Sri Lanka, where Tamil […]
Sri Lanka CEB in trouble due to politicians: minister
April 27, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s state-run power utility is in financial trouble because politicians have made wrong decisions, a government minister said as the utility was issued a license by a newly set up regulator. “The Ceylon Electricity Board is in trouble because decision that should have been made by engineers have been […]
Sri Lanka Asian Alliance life-insurance profits up
Apr 27, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Asian Alliance Insurance Company said 2008 profits rose 20 percent to 135.4 million rupees due to higher profitability in life insurance business despite the non-life portfolio losing money. Premium income from motor insurance had increased 55 percent, marine insurance 26 percent and miscellaneous insurance 11 percent. However premium […]
Sri Lanka army to stop using heavy weapons: govt
April 27, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s military has been ordered to stop using heavy guns and combat aircraft that could cause civilian casualties in the battle against Tamil Tiger rebels, the government said Monday. The Sri Lankan government says its forces have cornered the Tamil Tigers in a small strip of coastal territory in […]
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April 27, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers will never surrender and will fight on until their demands are met, rebel spokesman S. Puleethevan told AFP by telephone on Monday. He said fighting was continuing to rage between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and security forces on Monday, a day after the […]
Panic in Mexico, US as killer swine flu fears cross globe
MEXICO CITY, April 27, 2009 (AFP) – World health officials on Monday stepped up the battle against a new swine flu blamed for dozens of deaths in Mexico, after the US declared a public emergency amid signs the disease was spreading. Panic grew in Mexico as citizens heeded government warnings to avoid contact with each […]
Fast Track
April 27, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has ordered a list of assets of the failed Golden Key Credit Card Company and its directors to be filed by May 11, to be seized and sold to repay depositors, lawyers said. Golden Key, a unit of Sri Lanka’s Ceylinco group collapsed in December 2008, […]
Top Marks
April 27, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Commercial Bank of Ceylon said its Bangladesh operations have been given an ‘A’ rating by the banking regulator in that country. Last year, the Commercial Bank’s operations in Bangladesh was awarded a rating of AA+ for long term credit, an upgrade from the previous rating of AA, by […]