‘s top order

MELBOURNE, Feb 22, 2008 (AFP) – Australia’s top order woes continued as they made 184 for seven against Sri Lanka in the tri-series one-day match here on Friday.The home side slumped to 54 for four before Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey again came to the rescue to help them build a competitive total. Hussey held […]

Sri Lanka beaten by Australia in rain-shortened match

MELBOURNE, Feb 22, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s chances of reaching the tri-series finals were dealt a serious blow when Australia beat them by 24 runs in a rain-shortened one-day match on Friday. The visitors’ gamble to bowl first — expecting the match to be shortened by the weather — looked to have paid off […]

‘s largest solar plant to be built in the US

WASHINGTON, Feb 21, 2008 (AFP) – Abengoa Solar plans to build the world’s largest solar plant in Arizona in cooperation with an energy utility in the southwestern state, the companies said Thursday.Abengoa Solar, a subsidiary of Spain’s Abengoa technology company, signed a contract with Arizona Public Service Co. (APS) to build, own and operate what […]

Zimbabwe annual inflation over 100,000-pct official figures

HARARE, 2008 (AFP) – Zimbabwe’s annual inflation rate has soared to over 100,000 percent, weeks ahead of elections in the southern African country, according to official figures obtained by AFP on Wednesday.“The year-on-year inflation rate for the month of January 2008, as measured by the all items Consumer Price Index (CPI) stood at 100,580.2 percent, […]

Rebuilding Mobility

Feb 22 2008, (LBO) – A Sri Lankan inventor is setting up a facility to provide customized artificial limbs to thousands who have lost their limbs to war, disease and accidents.. “My aim is to cater to disabled soldiers who have sacrificed so much for us and diabetic patients who are amputees and victims of […]

Aitken Spence India strategy to dwarf Sri Lanka

Feb 22, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Aitken Spence Hotels is on track to control around 1,400 rooms in India within two years, making them overtake domestic operations unless new hotels are built in the island, an official said. The firm has bagged eight management deals in India, some with equity participation, which will see […]

Sri Lankan retail investors play on mid-sized stocks

Feb 22, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed lower amid profit taking but retailers were selectively betting on mid sized stocks, brokers said. The All Share Price Index lost 6.18 points or 0.25 percent to end at 2,510.79 while the more liquid Milanka index was hardly changed at 3,163.75 with turnover being 270 million […]

Sri Lanka central bank says policy tight, credit to govt. at record low

Feb 21, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s money supply growth is slowing and credit to government was at a record low of 17 billion rupees, the Central Bank said in its monetary policy statement in January, promising tight policy ahead. The statement made no mention of policy rates, with the monetary authority no longer targeting […]

Exploration

Feb 21, 2008 (LBO) – Petroleum minister A H M Fowzie said Sri Lanka would have lost the confidence of global oil firms if it had postponed the bids for offshore exploration and was keen to ensure transparency in the bidding. The government had also appointed a cabinet appointed negotiating committee to negotiate with the […]

Sri Lanka ruling party strengthens parliamentary clout

Feb 21, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s ruling party appointed a new member in place of a rebel member who died in a car crash, strengthening its clout in the legislature by one. Reggie Ranatunga, a provincial governor until his appointment, would represent the Gampaha district, north of Colombo. Updated/recast Ranatunga, the father of Sri […]

Sri Lanka bunker battle kills 15, says military

Feb 21, 2008 (AFP) – At least 13 Tamil Tiger rebels and two government soldiers were killed in an intense battle for a bunker line in northern Sri Lanka, the defence ministry said Thursday.Government forces destroyed five bunkers held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during fighting on Wednesday afternoon, the defence ministry […]

Sri Lanka fighting kills 95: military

Feb 21, 2008 (AFP) – At least 92 Tamil Tiger rebels and three government soldiers died in intense battles for a bunker line in northern Sri Lanka, the defence ministry said Thursday. Government forces destroyed five bunkers held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during fighting on Wednesday afternoon, a ministry statement said. […]

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