Emirates airline boosts Mideast market leader status

DUBAI, Nov 13, 2007 (AFP) – Dubai-owned Emirates airline, already the largest carrier in the Middle East, has reinforced its position as regional market leader with multi-billion-dollar orders at the Dubai air show. Emirates’ buying spree is in step with the ambitious plans of the city-state to establish itself as a regional hub for travel, […]

Sri Lanka apparel makers design a way up the value chain

Nov 14, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s apparel makers are making inroads into design, collaborating closely with international brands to becoming an integral link in the supply chain of a fashionably evolving global industry. Sri Lanka’s top apparel makers stepped into the design stage of garments about five years ago, but are now getting deeper […]

Sad Situation

DUBAI, Nov 14, 2007 (AFP) – The governments of Gulf countries including Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, as well as Lebanon, are failing to curb abuses against Sri Lankan domestic workers, Human Rights Watch charged Wednesday. “While much remains to be accomplished, the UAE government — working with the private sector and […]

Sri Lanka wildlife park no go zone for Britons

Nov 14, 2007 (LBO) – Britain has advised its citizens not to travel to the popular Yala wildlife park in southern Sri Lanka after a spate of killings and explosions suspected to have been carried out by Tamil Tiger guerrillas. “We advise against all travel to Yala National Park,” a travel advisory issued by Britain’s […]

Bank Number

Nov 14, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s National Development Bank (NDB) net profit for the September rose 45 percent to 298 million rupees, with a deferred taxation adjustment helping counter higher provisions for bad loans. Total group income for the quarter increased to 2.6 billion rupees from 1.7 billion rupees, according to interim results filed […]

Fresh Start

Nov 14, 2007 (LBO) – One of the youngest stockbrokering firms in Sri Lanka, which started as a unit of the First Capital Group is now operating as an independent entity as a with the group selling out its stake. First Capital Equities is formally changing its name to First Guardian Equities from today, the […]

Sri Lanka media hit by Australian agency blackout; fears of anti-Murali conspiracy

Nov 13, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka fears missing out on hero Muttiah Muralitharan’s feat of becoming the greatest ever wicket taker in Test cricket because of an ongoing dispute over media access. Master spinner Muralitharan needs just seven wickets to overtake retired Australian and fellow spinner Shane Warne’s world record tally of 708. Muralitharan […]

Commonwealth gives Pakistan suspension ultimatum

LONDON, Nov 13, 2007 (AFP) – The Commonwealth on Monday gave Pakistan a 10-day deadline to restore its constitution and lift other emergency measures or face suspension from the 53-nation grouping.The ultimatum came after emergency talks among the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) in London to decide how to respond to President Pervez Musharraf’s declaration […]

China concerned at 6.5-pct inflation; GDP growth 11.5-pct

BEIJING, Nov 13, 2007 (AFP) – China’s consumer price index, the main gauge of inflation, rose 6.5 percent in October year-on-year, the government said Tuesday, as Premier Wen Jiabao promised to stabilise prices.The figure was up from 6.2 percent in September, and the same as the 6.5 percent in August, then the highest level in […]

Bangladesh launches Internet sabotage probe

DHAKA, Nov 13, 2007 (AFP) – Bangladesh on Tuesday launched an investigation after the country’s Internet link was sabotaged, disrupting communications nationwide for most of the day.Officials said cables were also severed twice last week causing massive disruption to businesses in the impoverished country. “We are investigating the cable cutting incident which took place today […]

Sri Lanka power firm warns of time lag

Nov 13, 2007 (LBO) – A power investor says it may take more than two years to set up a thermal plant if it was given the go ahead now, after Sri Lanka’s power minister said the state electricity utility was seeking additional capacity. . “If we were given the go ahead now, it may […]

One Solution

Nov 13, 2007 (LBO) – Iran’s Mammut group has tied up with Sri Lanka’s Mod-Tec trading company to provide infrastructure services to the island’s wireless telecom operators, senior company officials said. Mammut provides a broad range of turnkey solutions, from land acquisition, architectural designs, construction, and electronic service implementation to training of individuals and maintenance. […]

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