Brand Values

Mar 08, 2008 (LBO) – Local brands will have to boost their image to compete against experienced and focused international manufacturers, who now having a larger market share in Sri Lanka, a branding expert has said. International manufactures are well focused and equipped to provide the goods that will have high appeal among consumers. “International […]

Saving Grace

Mar 08, 2008 (LBO) – State-run Sri Lanka Savings Bank, started to take over operations of defunct Pramuka Bank, will get a 1.5 billion rupee government guarantee to meet minimum regulatory capital, officials said. . “The capital requirement is met out of government funds, we are in a comfortable position to offer capital of 1.5 […]

Fuel Pricing

March 07, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s state-owned petroleum utility aims to hold retail fuel prices at current levels for the time being despite crude oil prices hitting record highs, its chairman Ashantha de Mel said. Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) is hoping income from oil futures hedging and its refinery resuming production after a shut […]

Grease Pal

March 07, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s state-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) is looking for a joint venture partner to start a lubricant retailing business, a senior government minister said. Information minister Anura Yapa said the ministry of petroleum has told Sri Lanka’s cabinet of ministers that lubricants would be sold under the brand Ceypetco. […]

Sri Lanka says 47 combatants killed in fresh fighting

COLOMBO, March 7, 2008 (AFP) – At least 42 Tiger rebels and five government troops were killed in fresh fighting across Sri Lanka’s embattled north, where a lawmaker was also killed in a blast, the defence ministry said on Friday.Sri Lanka has in the past accused international diplomats raising rights concerns as “terrorists” and supporters […]

Hayden a liar and Gilchrist no saint, says Harbhajan

NEW DELHI, March 7, 2008 (AFP) – Controversial spinner Harbhajan Singh further deepened the animosity between India and Australia on Thursday when he called Matthew Hayden “a big liar” and Adam Gilchrist “no saint.” Harbhajan has been a thorn in Australia’s flesh since 2001 when he claimed 32 wickets in three home Tests to play […]

Dollar falls to fresh low after ECB refuses to print money

NEW YORK, March 6, 2008 (AFP) – The dollar extended its losses against the euro on Thursday, tumbling to another record low after the European Central Bank left its rates unchanged and said fighting inflation was a priority. The euro set a new all-time high of 1.5393 dollars before settling at 1.5381 dollars at 2200 […]

Strong Euro, soaring gold tip Japan foreign reserves above trillion dollars

TOKYO, March 7, 2008 (AFP) – Japan’s foreign exchange reserves have topped the one-trillion-dollar mark for the first time, led by the soaring value of gold and the euro, the government said Friday.At the end of February Japan had a total of 979.17 billion dollars in foreign currency, with the rest in gold or International […]

Fed runs out of printing steam?

PARIS, March 7, 2008 (AFP) – A senior US Federal Reserve official issued a warning here Friday against expectations the central bank might soon approve another cut in US interest rates aimed at shoring up stock market sentiment. “The Fed is taking a very pro-active stance regarding what we view as economic developments,” Richard Fisher, […]

Architecture Prize

Mar 07, 2008 (LBO) – A bus terminus in rural Sri Lanka, a car showroom in the capital Colombo and a lowland forest visitor centre are vying for a million rupee award given in the name of Sri Lanka’s famed architect Geoffrey Bawa, officials said. The winner will be chosen after an on site technical […]

Equity Gains

March 07, 2008 (LBO) – Lanka Orix Leasing Company (LOLC) December quarter profits were boosted 250 percent with unrealized equity gains, while revenues grew 77 percent, its interim accounts and officials said. Group assets were 32 billion rupees, while LOLC’s own gross assets were 26.5 billion rupees. Group net profits grew to 485 million rupees […]

Sri Lanka stocks close higher; rupee kept down

March 07, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s stocks closed marginally higher Friday with the help of heavy trading in Sri Lanka Telecom shares, brokers said. The market All Share Index closed up 1.5 points at 2,567.79 with the more liquid Milanka Index closing up one point at 3,217.91. In forex markets the rupee briefly spiked […]

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