Author: lbostgadmin
Sri Lanka artillery battles kill 27: defence ministry
March 3, 2008 (AFP) – Artillery exchanges between Sri Lankan troops and Tamil Tiger separatists across the embattled tropical island’s north left at least 25 rebels and two soldiers dead, the defence ministry said Monday.Heavy fighting in Vavuniya and Weli Oya left 21 rebels dead on Sunday, the ministry said in a statement, putting government […]
France to extend Champagne-growing area
REIMS, France, March 2, 2008 (AFP) – As champagne sales pop all-time record highs and demand outstrips supply, France’s wine-making czars are to issue an historic ruling to extend the champagne-growing area, a move that will pour new wealth into 40 small rural villages. Like other French wines, Champagne-labelled bottles are produced only from grapes […]
Japanese shares plunge 4.0 percent, Yen up; US bond insurer woes renew
TOKYO, March 3, 2008 (AFP) – Japanese share prices tumbled 4.0 percent in morning trade on Monday, battered by a stronger yen and mounting worries about the health of the US economy, dealers said.The benchmark Nikkei-225 index was down 545.93 points or 4.01 percent at 13,057.09 by lunch, while the broader Topix index of all […]
Indian Collapse
March 3, 2008 (LBO) – India is deploying crack sleuths to track down the operators of a Goldquest-Questnet scheme in the Karnataka state after thousands of victims complained to the police, media reports said. “Initial investigations into the fraud committed by Quest-Net India Limited has revealed the firm had duped people to the tune of […]
Gold Standard
Mar 03, 2008 (LBO) — A top Sri Lankan advertising agency that stirred up the industry after the Chilies 2008 ad awards has chosen not to go public with its grievances, but the row has raised new questions.Leo Burnet Solutions which bagged 30 percent of the awards, and clinched the second slot created a controversy […]
Construction Consortia
Mar 03, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan construction companies which visited the Middle East to bid for a share of the building boom there are forming consortia to pool their resources, an industry official said. The firms will form joint stock companies which will be managed by the Chamber of Construction Industries (CCI), its secretary […]
Hatton Number
Mar 03, 2008 (LBO) – Hatton National Bank group net profits went up 40 percent to 3.2 billion rupees in 2007, as revenues increased 37.6 percent, results filed with the Colombo Stock Exchange showed. HNB’s stand alone profits went up to 3.0 billion rupees from 2.2 billion. Chairman Rienzie Wijetilleke told shareholders the profit would […]
Outside Aspirations
Mar 03, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Hatton National Bank is keen to get into Bangladesh though its first attempt to buy into a bank in that country was not completed, an official said. HNB was short listed to buy over Orient Bank which was being re-structured but in the final stage the bank gave […]
Sri Lanka shares edge higher, LMF draws interest
Mar 03, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed slightly higher Monday with a crossing of Sampath Bank shares and heavy in Lan trading in Lanka Milk Foods helping turnover, brokers said. Market heavyweight Dialog Telekom closed flat at 17.75 after going up to 18.00 during the day. The All Share Price Index gained 2.68 […]
Soldier killed in Sri Lanka blast, says army
March 2, 2008 (AFP) – A government soldier was killed in a roadside bomb attack carried out by Tamil Tiger guerrillas Sunday in northern Sri Lanka, the army said.Casualty figures provided by both sides differ vastly and cannot be independently verified since the government bars journalists and human rights workers from frontline and rebel-held areas. […]
Sri Lankans fined for slow over rates
MELBOURNE, March 2, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka paid the price for its thrilling win over Australia at the MCG on Friday, fined by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday for slow over rates. ICC match referee Jeff Crowe ruled the Sri Lankans were one over short when time allowances were taken into consideration […]
ECB to cut growth forecasts; keep rates steady
FRANKFURT, March 2, 2008 (AFP) – The European Central Bank will make a cut of sorts this week — but with eurozone inflation stubbornly high the cut will be to its growth forecasts, not interest rates. “The ECB council will cut on Thursday its forecasts for growth in the euro zone, but not its main […]