Foreign Unit

Sept 11, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Commercial Bank said the long term credit rating of its Bangladesh unit had been upgraded by one notch to AA+ from AA, by Credit Rating Information and Services Ltd (CRISIL). CRISIL had given it a ST-1 short term rating. Commercial Bank of Ceylon had bought Credit Agricole lndosuez […]

Bunker Supply

Sept 11, 2008 (LBO) – Ship fuel prices at Colombo port could fall by around five percent after a tank farm previously operated by one player is converted to a common storage facility, a supplier has said.Lanka Marine Services (LMS), a unit of John Keells Holdings was ordered to return a tank farm and land […]

Sri Lanka becomes top South Asian reformer in 2008: IFC study

Sept 10, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has been rated the top South Asian reformer in an annual business regulation study by the World Bank group, with a new company law and credit information improvements boosting its scores.Singapore led the global rankings on the overall regulatory ease of doing business for a third consecutive year.New […]

OPEC a spectator as oil sinks below US$100

VIENNA, September 9, 2008 (AFP) – Oil prices dipped below 100 dollars for the first time since April on Tuesday as OPEC met in Vienna, with pressure growing within the exporter group for Saudi Arabia to rein in its production. OPEC is expected to announce an unchanged production policy that in theory binds 12 of […]

Lehman Brothers in freefall as hopes fade for new capital

NEW YORK, September 9, 2008 (AFP) – Shares of Lehman Brothers went into a freefall Tuesday as hopes faded for an injection of fresh capital for the ailing Wall Street investment bank, analysts said. Lehman, one of Wall Street’s most prominent investment firms, saw its shares tumble 44.95 percent to end at 7.79. The shares […]

Sri Lankan Airlines on new direction to trim fuel

Sept 10, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan Airlines says it is cutting fuel use by making clean landing approaches at its home base in Colombo and through a series of efficiency measures devised in house and with international advice. To recieve instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘lbo’ and send to 678 […]

UN chief alarmed by worsening strife in Sri Lanka

UNITED NATIONS, September 9, 2008 (AFP) – UN leader Ban Ki-moon expressed alarm Tuesday over escalating strife between government troops and rebels in northern Sri Lanka and reminded the parties of their obligations to ensure the safety of civilians. “The secretary general expresses his deep concern over the increased hostilities in northern Sri Lanka, and […]

Sri Lanka relief move endangers trapped civilians: Amnesty

September 10, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s move to evict relief workers from its embattled north worsens the humanitarian situation for tens of thousands of civilians who rely on aid, Amnesty International said Wednesday. The London-based rights group said the Colombo government lacked the capacity to provide basic essentials and safety for those who have […]

Small blast on railway track near Sri Lanka capital: police

September 10, 2008 (AFP) – A bomb exploded on a railway track just outside Sri Lanka’s capital on Wednesday, police said, adding that there were no casualties. The blast created a small crater, but there was little damage, a police official at the scene said. There were no trains in the area at the time […]

Bunker Business

Sept 10, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s John Keells group said its bunkering unit Lanka Marine Services (LMS) will continue to supply bunkers at Colombo port with a tanker and would also use the proposed common user facility to continue in business. “LMS will also continue to provide bonded storage and delivery services of marine […]

Sri Lanka treasuries rates edge lower

Sept 10, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s 12-month treasury bill yield fell 16 basis points to an average of 18.34 percent and 6-month bills fell 30 basis points to 17.45 percent at Wednesday’s auction, the government’s debt office said. The debt office which is a unit of the central bank said 8,000 million rupees of […]

UN pulls out of Sri Lanka war zone

September 9, 2008 (AFP) – The United Nations said Tuesday it was withdrawing all its aid agency personnel from Sri Lanka’s embattled north, following a government order to quit ahead of a major military offensive. Only a few aid agencies, including the UN outfits, still operate inside the rebel-held Wanni district in northern Sri Lanka. […]

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