Sri Lanka look to 1996 for World Cup inspiration

April 20, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka are drawing inspiration from their 1996 World Cup victory ahead of their likely match-up with New Zealand in the next week’s semi-finals.Sri Lanka stunned India in a group game in 1996, beating them again in the semi-final before going on to lift the trophy. Romesh Kaluwitharana, the former […]

Mobile Capital

April 20, 2007 (LBO) – Dialog Telekom, a unit of Malaysia Telekom, is raising 20.5 billion rupees from the capital market through an issue of ordinary and preference shares, the firm told the Colombo Stock Exchange Friday. (1 US dollar = Rs 110) The mobile operator, Sri Lanka’s largest is raising 15.54 billion rupees by […]

Digital Gap

April 20, 2007 (LBO) –Sri Lanka would need 12,000 information technology (IT) sector workers over the next two years, but the country’s educational system can supply only half that, the government’s IT promotional body said. “Future demand patterns indicate a requirement of nearly 12,000 more IT workers over the next couple of years,” Sri Lanka’s […]

Coming Through

April 20, 2007 (LBO) – George Steuart and Company has started a school for Chartered Institute of Management Accountants(CIMA) students to meet growing demand for professionals with the qualification. The CIMA council says that Sri Lanka is in need of more CIMA qualified professionals to satisfy the rising demand. The demand for CIMA qualifiers is […]

‘s Sri Lanka unit reveals interest in offshore oil exploration

April 20, 2007 (LBO) – US oil giant Chevron-Texaco is interested in bidding for offshore oil exploration blocks in Sri Lankan waters, a top official of its local unit, Caltex Lubricants said. “Chevron is interested in the exploration opportunity,” Kishu Gomes, Managing Director Caltex in Sri Lanka told reporters. “There is a delegation going to Houston, […]

Caltex Sri Lanka unit eyes Maldivian lubricant market

April 20, 2007 (LBO) – Chevron Texaco’s Sri Lanka unit, Caltex Lubricants, Friday signed a five-year deal with a Maldivian firm to expand in to the lubricant market in the archipelago. The agreement will let Caltex enhance its market position in the Maldivian lubricant market which is growing at 12 percent a year.“Currently we have approximately […]

Southwest Sri Lanka coastal hotel property sold by John Keells

April 20, 2007 (LBO) – The hotel unit of John Keells Holdings has sold a hotel property on Sri Lanka’s Unawatuna coastal town in the South West of the island, the firm told the Colombo Stock Exchange Friday. Last week another listed firm, Hemas said a re-branding of several hotels in partnership with the Minor […]

Floating Tax

April 20, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tiny shipping industry has begun talks with the Customs authorities to clear a dispute over the payment of a tax on their vessels, an official said. Shipping analysts say taxing local owners could make them less competitive in international waters where their vessels trade and prompt them to […]

Dialog Sri Lanka preference shares get AA+ rating from Fitch

April 20, 2007 (LBO) – Dialog Telekom’s five billion rupee preference share issue had been rated AA+ (lka), a notch below the telco’s senior debt rating of AAA (lka), Fitch Ratings said Friday. The company is 87.67 percent owned by Telekom Malaysia Berhad. “The one-notch difference between the issuer and preference shares’ ratings reflects the […]

Sri Lanka rupee falls to a new low; overnight rates ease

April 19, 2007 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka rupee fell to a new low of 110.50 to the dollar in early trading Thursday dealers said, while short-term interest rates eased. The rupee had ended just short of 110 to the dollar earlier in the month with high rupee interest rates encouraging exporters to convert to […]

Sri Lanka media crisis takes international twist

April 19, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s top defence official summoned Britain’s envoy Thursday after he expressed solidarity with an editor facing death threats, diplomats said.Although there is no formal censorship imposed, Sri Lankan authorities prevent journalists from travelling to areas held by the rebels, who are waging a separatist conflict that has killed more […]

‘s Malinga fit for semi-final: Mahela

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, April 19, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jaywardene is confident of having fast bowler Lasith Malinga fit for Tuesday’s World Cup semi-final in Jamaica. Malinga, who has taken 15 wickets at under 15 apiece at the tournament, has missed Sri Lanka’s last three matches after damaging left ankle ligaments. His […]

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