Author: lbostgadmin
Heavy casualties in Sri Lanka fighting
March 24, 2008 (AFP) – Heavy fighting between Tamil Tiger rebels and Sri Lankan troops in the north of the island over the weekend has resulted in heavy casualties, both sides said Monday.According to the defence ministry, clashes on Saturday and Sunday in the districts of Mannar, Vavuniya and Weli Oya left at least 100 […]
Vaas, Jayawardene star as Sri Lanka declares at 476
PROVIDENCE, Guyana, March 23, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka collected the prized scalp of Chris Gayle to strengthen their hold on the opening Test against West Indies on Sunday after their captain Mahela Jayawardene posted his 22nd Test hundred. Left-arm fast-medium bowler Chaminda Vaas inflicted an early blow to the West Indies’ batting, when he […]
Sri Lanka asks for new Pakistan schedule to stay in Twenty20 game
March 24, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka have asked Pakistan to re-schedule a proposed one-day international series in order to allow their players to take part in the Indian Premier League (IPL), a top official said here Monday. Chief executive of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Duleep Mendis said the team would tour Pakistan only if […]
Christians celebrate Easter, pope calls for Tibet solution
CARACAS, March 23, 2008 (AFP) – From the streets of Caracas to a rain-soaked Saint Peter’s Square, Christians around the world celebrated Easter Sunday amid messages of renewal, peace and hope. At the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI called for “solutions that will safeguard peace and the common good” in Tibet, the Middle East and Africa […]
Afghanistan to privatise national telephone firm
KABUL, March 23, 2008 (AFP) – Afghanistan said Sunday it planned to sell up to 80 percent of its telecommunications arm in one of the most ambitious parts of the country’s ongoing privatisation programme. Bidders must register their interest in purchasing part of Afghan Telecom by April 4 and the tender process was expected to […]
Singapore inflation in February 2008 highest since breaking hard peg
SINGAPORE, March 24, 2008 (AFP) – Singapore’s inflation rate struck an annual 6.5 percent in February, pushed up by higher food and housing costs, the government said Monday.Despite the surge, the government said underlying inflation remained stable and maintained its inflation forecast of 4.5-5.5 percent for 2008. Inflation for 2007 was 2.1 percent. Higher costs […]
Emirates starts airborne mobile phones
Mar 24, 2008 (LBO) – Emirates airline has commercially launched an in-flight mobile telephone service costing 27 million dollars, partnering with the communications firm AeroMobile, the carrier said. “The first authorised mobile phone call made from a commercial flight was made today at 30,000ft enroute to Casablanca, onboard an Emirates Airbus A340-300 aircraft,” the airline […]
Tele Deal
March 24, 2007 (LBO) – Nippon Telegraph and Telephone, Japan’s largest phone company, is tipped to sell off its flagship investment in Sri Lanka as early as this week, to the owner of Malaysia’s biggest mobile operator. “Supreme Court has allowed the sale to proceed, and we expect the Malaysian investor to wrap up the […]
Pending Deal
March 24, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Telecom, the island’s dominant fixed access operator has not been informed of a date for the sale of a stake held by major shareholder NTT Communications of Japan, a top official said. SLT’s new chairperson Leisha De Silva Chandrasena, who represents the interests of the government of Sri […]
Sri Lanka stocks slump; money rates spike despite cash injections
March 24, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks slumped Monday with trades in index heavy Sri Lanka Telecom dominating turnover as speculation swirled about an imminent sale by major shareholder NTT Communications of Japan. Brokers said speculators were yet to get back in full swing following a weekend extended by two religious holidays. The All […]
Sri Lanka dollar risk rates shoot up as banks chase US currency
Mar 24, 2008 (LBO) – Premiums above benchmark rates for dollar loans in Sri Lanka’s interbank markets have rocketed as a global credit crunch made the US currency dearer and local demand was boosted by an active swap market, bankers said.. “Banks were borrowing in the interbank market at around 15 basis points above the […]
No evidence for Arthur C Clarke child sex allegations: Sri Lanka
March 23, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lankan authorities said Sunday that the British-born sci-fi writer Arthur C.Clarke had been cleared of decade-old paedophile allegations before his death last week.Clarke was buried Saturday in Colombo, where he had lived since 1956.Obituary writers have resurrected the 1998 accusations that he had sex with young boys in his […]