Author: lbostgadmin
Sri Lankan ex-president stripped of perks
COLOMBO, May 3, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court Thursday stripped former president Chandrika Kumaratunga of her official staff and 36 government cars, saying that she was not entitled to extravagant privileges.A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Sarath Silva held that it was also illegal for her to occupy a state bungalow refurbished […]
Sri Lankan media censored, rights group says
COLOMBO, May 3, 2007 (AFP) – A worsening climate of violence against the press in Sri Lanka has resulted in de facto censorship, the island’s main media rights group said Thursday as it marked international press freedom day.With seven journalists murdered over the past year and two more still missing, the Free Media Movement (FMM) […]
‘s World Cup stars return
May 3, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s World Cup cricketers returned to an elaborate welcome Thursday after being stranded in London following Tamil Tiger rebel air raids in Colombo, officials said on Tuesday.The team was received at the VIP lounge of the Bandaranaike International airport where Buddhist monks, Hindu and Catholic priests and Muslim clerics […]
Jayawardena says they lost to a better team
May 3, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s skipper Mahela Jayawardene returned home expressing disappointment over his team’s failure to secure the cricket World Cup, but said they lost to a better Australian team. Cricket fans lined up along the team’s route from the international airport despite heavy rains which lashed the city, after the World […]
Flat Chat
May 3, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s top celco Dialog Telekom revenue grew 26 percent but consolidated profits remained flat in the March quarter as newly acquired subsidiaries dragged its bottom-line down. Group profit after tax for the three months ended March 2007, was 2,426 million rupees against 2,397 million rupees last year, up one […]
Sri Lanka tea export earnings boosted by high prices
MAY 3, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lankan tea exports fell in the first quarter of 2007 but earnings were up because of high prices caused by supply shortages owing to a strike and dry weather, brokers said. Shipments of Ceylon tea in January-March 2007 fell 4% to 74.4 million kg from the record 77.8 million kg […]
Airport Curfew
COLOMBO, May 3, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s international airport will close at night from next week following a spate of bombing raids by Tamil Tiger aircraft taking the cover of darkness, a top aviation official told AFP. The Bandaranaike International Airport would close for six hours nightly from May 10, acting director general of […]
Sri Lanka money markets open quiet, stocks delayed in a rain-washed day
May 03, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s inter-bank markets opened quiet after a two-day religious holiday with money at 13.25 percent, but stock trading was delayed in a rain washed morning, dealers said.The spot dollar was trading around 110.70 rupees in early trading. The Colombo stock market did not open at the scheduled time of […]
Australia plays down Sri Lanka Tiger funding role
SYDNEY, May 2, 2007 (AFP) – Australia Wednesday played down a suggestion that it was a major source of funds for Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers, after two local businessmen were charged with channelling money to the rebels.The two Melbourne men have been accused of sending cash raised under the guise of tsunami relief to the […]
Sri Lanka among countries where media freedom in decline
NEW YORK, May 1, 2007 (AFP) – Press freedom around the world deteriorated last year due to coups, attempts to stifle political opposition and regulate use of the Internet, a leading watchdog said in a report Tuesday.The survey gave 74 countries out of the 195 included the “free” rating and 63 the “not free” label.The […]
Press freedom in Sri Lanka, world, in decline: watchdog
NEW YORK, May 1, 2007 (AFP) – Press freedom around the world deteriorated last year due to coups, attempts to stifle political opposition and regulate use of the Internet, a leading watchdog said in a report Tuesday.The survey gave 74 countries out of the 195 included the “free” rating and 63 the “not free” label. […]
Killings mar Sri Lanka religious holiday
May 2, 2007 (AFP) – Two Tamil civilians and 13 Tamil Tiger rebels were killed in northern Sri Lanka as the country marked the holiest Buddhist anniversary, military officials said on Wednesday. Unidentified gunmen short dead the two civilians on Tuesday night, the start of the Wesak festival marking the birth, enlightenment and death of […]