Top Rating

Dec 11, 2007 (LBO) – Fitch Sri Lanka has confirmed John Keells Holdings (JKH) national ‘AAA (lka)’ rating with a stable outlook, but expressed concern that most of its cash is generated by bunkering and container operations. “JKH’s ratings reflect its strong cash flow generation and increasing earnings diversity,” Fitch said. But the rating agency […]

Sri Lanka could stabilize economy with inflation targeting: IMF director

Dec 10, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka could stabilize its economy and rein in galloping prices by moving to an inflation targeting framework and a flexible exchange rate, a top International Monetary Fund official said. Unlike East Asia and some Latin American countries, critics say five decades after creating a central bank with money printing […]

‘s eight-wicket pair frustrate Sri Lanka in second Test

COLOMBO, Dec 10, 2007 (AFP) – England’s eight-wicket pair of Matthew Prior and Ryan Sidebottom put on 55 undefeated runs to keep Sri Lanka at bay in the second cricket Test here on Monday.England, looking for a series-levelling win after losing the first Test in Kandy last week, took their first innings to 327-7 by […]

South American inflation kings launch regional bank

BUENOS AIRES, Dec 9, 2007 (AFP) – Six South American presidents on Sunday launched the Bank of the South, the region’s answer to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund as a source for development funds. Presidents Nestor Kirchner of Argentina, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, Nicanor Duarte of Paraguay, Rafael Correa […]

Singapore to invest almost 10 billion dollars in troubled UBS

SINGAPORE, Dec 10, 2007 (AFP) – The Singapore government’s investment arm announced Monday that it will inject almost 10 billion US dollars into Swiss bank UBS, its largest ever investment in a company.The Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) said it would inject 11 billion Swiss francs (9.74 billion US dollars) into UBS, which on […]

Sri Lanka rupee volatile against greenback Monday

Dec 10, 2007 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka rupee came down from early highs of 108.10/20 against the greenback to lows of 109.50 in spot trade Monday showing unusual intra-day volatility, dealers said. Sri Lanka’s forex markets are not used to high levels of volatility as the Central Bank plays a market maker role to […]

England fume over umpiring errors in second Test

Dec 9, 2007 (AFP) – England captain Michael Vaughan was furious with the umpires after Sri Lanka grabbed four wickets in the final session to scuttle his team’s confident start in the second Test here on Sunday.Fast bowler Lasith Malinga took two wickets off successive balls as England, electing to take first strike in good […]

Streaker halts play in England-Sri Lanka Test

Dec 9, 2007 (AFP) – A male streaker ran on the field on the opening day of the second cricket Test between England and Sri Lanka on Sunday, forcing play to be halted for three minutes.The unidentified man, part of the nearly 3,000-strong band of travelling England supporters, sprinted from the stand next to the […]

Developing world must be able to lift emissions: Nobel winner

NEW DELHI, Dec 8, 2007 (AFP) – Developing nations must be allowed to boost carbon emissions to lift millions out of poverty, says the head of the Nobel prize-winning climate change panel slated to formally get the award on Monday.“If you have the case of India, a half a billion people who do not even […]

Reducing carbon emissions: the options

NUSA DUA, Indonesia, Dec 9, 2007 (AFP) – Here are the main options for tackling greenhouse-gas emissions, listed by order of feasibility: – ENERGY EFFICIENCY: Improve energy efficiency in transport, buildings, appliances, lighting. ADVANTAGE: Can make big, early gains in braking growth in carbon pollution.DISADVANTAGE: Tougher standards may run into opposition from transport lobby, consumer […]

Still On

Dec 09, 2007 (LBO) – A Saudi Arabian court has begun to review a case where a Sri Lankan teenaged maid was accused of murdering an infant in her care, but a decision may take more time, a report from the desert kingdom said. . The lawyer of the maid Rizana Nafeek was quoted by […]

Clemency

Dec 09, 2007 (LBO) – A Saudi Arabian court has begun reviewing the case of a Sri Lankan housemaid condemned to death for killing a four-month-old infant in her care. The Middle Eastern English language daily Arab News reported Sunday that a three-member court, headed by Dawadmi High Court chief judge Abdullah Abdul Aziz Al-Rosaimi, […]

Page 2213 of 3053