Author: lbostgadmin
Mutual Benefits
February 22 (LBO) – A tax-efficient closed-end fixed income mutual fund launched by National Asset Management (NAMAL) is already attracting commitments from the corporate sector, officials said. But monetary policy has been tightened since December, sending market interest rates shooting up. The NAMAL Flexi Income Fund will invest mostly in better yielding corporate bonds and […]
Sri Lanka marks truce anniversary, conflict rages on
COLOMBO, Feb 21, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lankan government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels mark the fifth anniversary of their Norwegian-brokered truce this week but the fighting rages on, with nearly 4,000 people killed in the past year.The ceasefire, signed separately by the Tamil Tiger chieftain and Sri Lanka’s then premier, came into effect on […]
Sri Lanka asks India to crack down on cross border gun-running
COLOMBO, Feb 21, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka on Wednesday asked neighbouring India to intensify a crackdown on suspected Tamil rebel gun-running across the narrow strip of sea dividing the two South Asian countries.Sri Lanka’s defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said the interception last week by the Indian coastguard of a boat loaded with weapons indicated […]
Mine blast kills three people in Sri Lanka
COLOMBO, Feb 21, 2007 (AFP) – At least three people, including a policeman, were killed and 16 wounded Wednesday in a mine attack in eastern Sri Lanka, police said.The road side blast targeting a police vehicle was caused by a Claymore-type bomb at Ottamawadi in the district of Batticaloa, a police official said by telephone. […]
Norway calls for fresh commitment to Sri Lankan truce
COLOMBO, Feb 21, 2007 (AFP) – Norway Wednesday called for a fresh commitment from Sri Lanka’s warring parties to maintain its peace brokering efforts on the eve of the fifth anniversary of a truce that now holds only on paper. His remarks came amid calls by the government’s former Marxist ally, the JVP — or […]
State media praise money printing president on birthday as people burn from inflation
HARARE, Feb 21, 2007 (AFP) – Zimbabwe’s state-run media lavished praise on veteran President Robert Mugabe on the 83rd birthday of Africa’s oldest-serving leader Wednesday, while stores in the capital Harare ran out of bread.“President an unparalled visionary,” read the headline of The Herald newspaper, which dedicated 16 pages to pictures and congratulatory messages to […]
Crucified
February 21 (LBO) – Saudi Arabia has ‘crucified’ four Sri Lankans after beheading them, including a man who was told he was only serving a prison-term, media reports from the desert kingdom said. In 2006 consumer inflation in Sri Lanka rose by 19.3 percent and the rupee fell to 109 to the dollar after the […]
Imminent Act
February, 21 (LBO) – Every attempt is being made to bring the new companies act into effect from next financial year starting from April 02 making it easier to set up and operate firms, an official said. An advisory committee charged with giving effect to the act met this week to iron out remaining stumbling […]
Shelter
February 21 (LBO) – The World Bank is helping tens of thousands Muslim victims of Tamil Tiger ‘ethnic cleansing’ who were driven out of the northern Jaffna peninsular, to build their own homes through a new project approved this week. Recent fighting in eastern Sri Lanka has created new refugees, but some have started to […]
Sad End
TYRE, Lebanon, Feb 21, 2007 (AFP) – The body of a Sri Lankan housemaid, missing since Israeli missiles struck the building where she worked during last summer’s war in Lebanon, was found Wednesday, police said.The body of the 35-year-old woman, whose name was not given, was found on the seventh floor of the building in […]
Housing Billion
February, 21 (LBO) – HDFC Bank, Sri Lanka’s largest mortgage lender, is to raise one billion rupees in 10-year funds through a mortgage securitization issue to fund their growing housing loan book, an official said.At the end of September 2006, the bank had 8.5 billion rupees of performing advances and assets of 10.2 billion rupees. […]
Upside Protection
February, 20 (LBO) – Ceylon Petroleum Corporation wants to hedge 300,000 barrels of diesel before the end of the month, but is looking for better upside protection, an official said. Firms like Sri Lankan airlines hedges more than 70 percent of its oil though it is done by Emirates in Dubai. Last week it bought […]