Author: lbostgadmin
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WASHINGTON, Oct 19, 2007 (AFP) – Developing countries on Friday dismissed the International Monetary Fund’s pace of reforms to increase their voice in the troubled institution as “disappointing and unacceptable.” The Group of 24 developing countries, representing the majority of the IMF’s membership but only an impotent minority in its operations, reiterated its call for […]
Getting Connected
Oct 20, 2007 (LBO) –The number of Sri Lankans buying mobile phones is still increasing rapidly, opening new avenues for equipment sellers and cellular operators who expand coverage and add services, industry officials say. Nokia and Siemens, two leading telecom equipment providers who merged in March this year, are hoping to cash in on the […]
Big Bank
Oct 20, 2007 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings Lanka has affirmed the National Long-term rating and Individual Rating of Bank of Ceylon (BOC) at ‘AA(lka)’ and ‘D/E’ respectively. It said in a statement the affirmation reflected “the bank’s systemic importance as the largest bank in Sri Lanka with 18.2% of the banking system assets, its relatively […]
Sri Lanka urged to resume talks with Tigers
Oct 19, 2007 (AFP) – An international counter-terrorism expert Thursday urged Sri Lanka’s warring parties to return to the negotiating table to end decades of bloodshed.Gerard Chaliand said Colombo’s military push was not the answer to the rebels’ violent campaign for autonomy for minority Tamils in the island’s north and east. “I believe generally, terrorist […]
Sri Lanka military says 41 Tamil rebels killed
Oct 18, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s military said Thursday its troops killed 41 suspected Tamil Tigers in renewed clashes in the island’s north, although the rebels said some of the victims were civilians.The Sri Lankan navy fired early Thursday at a cluster of Tamil Tiger boats off the northwest coast. They recovered an abandoned […]
Sri Lanka spring Atapattu surprise
Oct 18, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s selectors on Thursday named former captain Marvan Atapattu as a surprise late inclusion for the upcoming trip to Australia, nearly two years after his last Test match.The 36-year-old veteran, who has the support of Sri Lanka’s sports minister, was added almost two weeks after the initial 16-man squad […]
‘s Angelo Matthews wins 2006 Prince of Wales cricket trophy
Oct 19, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lankan schoolboy cricketer Angelo Matthews, named the island’s best player in the 2006 under 19’s world cup, has won the 2006 Prince of Wales trophy, British High Commissioner, Dominick Chilcott announced Friday. Matthews of St Joseph’s College, Colombo, has been a regular member of the Sri Lanka under 19’s […]
Strauss axed for England tour to Sri Lanka
LONDON, Oct 19, 2007 (AFP) – England opener Andrew Strauss has been dropped for his country’s forthcoming Test tour of Sri Lanka.England squad for Test series in Sri Lanka: Michael Vaughan (Yorkshire, capt), James Anderson (Lancashire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Ravi Bopara (Essex), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Paul Collingwood (Durham), Alastair Cook (Essex), Matthew Hoggard (Yorkshire), Philip […]
At least 125 dead as bombs target Bhutto
KARACHI, Oct 19, 2007 (AFP) – A suicide bombing targeting former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto killed at least 125 people, turning her emotional homecoming parade after eight years in exile into a scene of carnage Friday.Bhutto was unhurt, escaping with her life as the blast ripped through the police escort for the parade in […]
Oil prices pass record $90 amid supply, geopolitical fears
NEW YORK, Oct 18, 2007 (AFP) – New York crude oil prices surpassed a record 90 dollars a barrel in after-hours trading Thursday as Iraq urged Turkey not to take military action against Kurdish rebels located in northern Iraq.Traders said oil prices were also stoked higher by a weakening US dollar and global supply jitters. […]
Nobel-winning climate chief warns Asia at risk
TOKYO, Oct 19, 2007 (AFP) – The head of a UN climate panel that shared the Nobel Peace Prize warned Friday that Asia was particularly vulnerable to global warming, with the continent set for more disasters unless action is taken. “Asia being the rapidly growing continent with the largest share of the human population located […]
Indian shares fall 2.44 percent on capital control fears
MUMBAI, Oct 19, 2007 (AFP) – Indian share prices slid 2.44 percent in volatile trade on Friday as investors chose to unwind positions fearing sharper falls on concerns over capital flow controls, dealers said.They said the markets could drop further until clarity emerges on a regulatory proposal to curb capital flows into India. The benchmark […]