Activists denounce mass arrests of Tamils in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO, Dec 4, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lankan rights groups Tuesday slammed the government arrest of nearly 2,200 minority ethnic Tamils after Tamil Tiger rebels were held responsible for two bomb attacks last week.The Free Media Movement, a press rights group, and the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), a private think-tank, said they were considering […]

Australian cricket chief hails Murali

SYDNEY, Dec 4, 2007 (AFP) – Australia’s cricket chief Tuesday brushed aside criticism of Sri Lanka’s record-breaking spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, saying he should be hailed for his “great feats”. Muralitharan, who broke Australian Shane Warne’s world record for most Test wickets by taking his 709th against England in Kandy on Monday, has faced criticism in […]

‘s ton frustrates England in first Test

KANDY, Sri Lanka, Dec 4, 2007 (AFP) – Kumar Sangakkara hit an unbeaten century as Sri Lanka tightened the screws on England in the first cricket Test here on Tuesday. Sri Lanka, resuming after lunch on the fourth day at 292-3, moved to 392-5 in their second innings by tea, an overall lead of 299 […]

Hire women to unlock services trade and prevent overstaying: World Bank

WASHINGTON, Dec 3, 2007 (AFP) – Rich nations should hire women from developing economies in a bid to break a WTO deadlock on cross-border movement of professional service providers, a World Bank study says.Industrialized nations are reluctant to accept migrants from developing economies such as nurses and IT workers as part of proposals under the […]

EU, IMF see darker outlook for eurozone growth in 2008

BRUSSELS, Dec 3, 2007 (AFP) – Growth in the 13 nations sharing the euro is expected to be weaker than expected only several months ago, according to the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund on Monday.The head of the IMF’s European department, Michael Deppler, painted a darker outlook for the eurozone in a presentation […]

Digital Learning

Dec 04, 2007 (LBO) – A Sri Lankan e-learning initiative for rural students is seeking corporate sector support to expand and cover 400 computer centers around the island, its designers said. The Shilpa Sayura project initiated by eFusion, a local software company, is a learning tool for rural students who do not have the necessary […]

M-Waste

Dec 04, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s top celco Dialog Telekom wants to collect a million old phones and recycle them in the next two years in an initiative that will keep dangerous heavy metals from contaminating the environment, officials said. Phone batteries for example have heavy metals such a lead, nickel and cadmium. Dialog […]

Counter Measures

Dec 04, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is aware of a campaign to block the renewal of trade concessions for apparel exports into the European Union and the government is taking counter measures, a minister said. “Human rights is just a football in that whole game.” “We’re very well aware of the campaign and the […]

Sri Lanka power utility needs reform, price revisions says IMF

Dec 03, 2007 (LBO) – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has called for further reforms of Sri Lanka’s state electricity utility which looks set to make a 20 billion rupee loss this year. Many of the losses in the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) were financed by loans from state banks posing a threat to the […]

‘s record

Dec 2, 2007 (AFP) – Muttiah Muralitharan equalled Shane Warne’s world record tally of 708 wickets as Sri Lanka sent England crashing in the first cricket Test here on Sunday. The off-spinner grabbed 4-30 in 23 overs as England, replying to Sri Lanka’s modest 188, slumped to 186-6 by tea before heavy rain washed out […]

‘s Muralitharan becomes top Test bowler

KANDY, Sri Lanka, Dec 3, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan claimed his 709th wicket in the first Test against England on Monday to become Test cricket’s most successful bowler.The off-spinner, playing his 116th Test, bowled Paul Collingwood to grab his fifth wicket in the innings and surpass retired Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne’s […]

‘s Test wicket record will stand forever, says Warne

SYDNEY, Dec 3, 2007 (AFP) – Shane Warne has congratulated Muttiah Muralitharan on reclaiming the world record for most Test wickets, declaring on Monday that the mark will stand forever.Muralitharan claimed his 709th wicket in Sri Lanka’s first Test against England in Kandy on Monday to become Test cricket’s most successful bowler. The off-spinner, playing […]

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