Author: lbostgadmin
Fast Cash
Dec 14, 2007 (LBO) – Western Union has rapidly expanded its money transfer network in Sri Lanka through its tie up with Aitken Spence and is eyeing a bigger share of the three billion dollar foreign remittance market. Company officials said they also want to tap the estimated two billion dollars sent to the island […]
Sri Lanka stocks close lower, rupee steady
Dec 14, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka stocks slid 0.2 percent lower Friday in wafer-thin trading ahead of a crucial budget vote and the rupee was steady against the greenback at 109.98/109.00, dealers said. The All Share Index lost 5.96 points while the Milanka index of liquid stocks fell back 0.34 percent amidst thin trading […]
Sri Lanka gets UN human rights visitor
December 13, 2007 (LBO) – A United Nations human right representative concerned with refugees is to arrive in Sri Lanka today on a week long visit at the invitation of the government, the UN has announced. Walter Kalin, representative of the UN Secretary General on the human rights of internally displaced people, will hold talks […]
Malaysian Tamils with alleged Sri Lanka Tiger links arrested
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 13, 2007 (AFP) – Five leaders of Malaysian Indian activist group Hindraf were arrested Thursday under controversial security laws that allow for detention without trial, a spokesman said.Hindraf enraged the government last month by mounting a mass rally alleging discrimination against minority ethnic Indians in Malaysia, which is dominated by Muslim Malays. […]
Ranatunga set to head Sri Lanka Cricket
COLOMBO, Dec 13, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s World Cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga is tipped to head the country’s cricket administration, government sources told AFP on Thursday.Ranatunga, 44, who is a ruling party legislator, could take over as early as Friday when parliament meets for a crucial vote on President Mahinda Rajapakse’s budget for […]
Sri Lanka England Test heads for draw
Dec 13, 2007 (AFP) – England’s batsmen saw off Sri Lanka’s early challenge on the fifth and final day as the second Test headed towards a draw on Thursday. The tourists, needing to bat out the day after trailing by 197 runs on the first innings, carried their overnight score of 48-0 to 152-1 at […]
Wall St. gains as global central banks promise to print emergency cash
NEW YORK, Dec 12, 2007 (AFP) – Wall Street rode a roller coaster session Wednesday as stocks rallied, then fell before swinging higher after the Federal Reserve and other central banks unveiled a coordinated plan to ease a global credit crunch. In a move analysts described as the most concerted effort since the September 11, […]
Dollar weaker in Asia despite central bank credit plan
TOKYO, Dec 13, 2007 (AFP) – The dollar slipped against other major currencies in Asian trade on Thursday amid uncertainty about how effective a central bank plan to ease a global credit crunch will be, dealers said. The euro rose to 1.4720 dollars in Tokyo morning trade from 1.4702 dollars in New York late Wednesday, […]
Sri Lanka counters British broadside, envoy summoned
Dec 13, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has expressed displeasure at outspoken remarks by Britain’s envoy on national politics, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday, but it remained silent on charges that politicians were corrupt. “The British High Commissioner, Dominic Chilcott, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to express the deep displeasure of the […]
Sri Lankan seamen institute gears to meet demand for crews
Galle, Dec 13, 2007 (LBO) – A seamen training institute run by Sri Lanka’s Mercantile Shipping Company launched a new lifeboat replacing that damaged by the tsunami, as it prepares to meet booming worldwide demand for crew. The lifeboat christening ceremony was held at the Mercantile Seamen Training Institute in the historic port town of […]
No Scams
December 13, 2007 (LBO) – Organizers of a Sri Lankan advertising award scheme say they would clamp down on ‘scam’ ads, which are especially made to win awards but are not widely placed in media. This year the steering committee of the ‘Chillies 2008’ awards has devised stringent rules to counter such scam ads. According […]
Upturn
Dec 13, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka saw more foreign visitors in November with Western Europe, a key generating market rallying 40 percent to drive total arrivals up by 20 percent, the tourism promotion office said. Arrivals from UK grew 53 percent to 7,938, Germany 24 to 4,005 while the Netherlands grew 85 percent to […]