Author: lbostgadmin
Flying Cheap
SINGAPORE, Nov 10, 2006 (AFP) – Costs, not competition, worry Tony Fernandes of AirAsia Bhd, who said Friday he foresees continued expansion for the Malaysian-based lowcost pioneer. “The only thing that we worry about is our cost,” said Fernandes, the airline’s group chief executive. “There can be a hundred low cost carriers out there. It […]
’07 budget may lift taxes, foreign borrowing
November 10, 2006 (Dow Jones)–The Sri Lankan government is likely to lift taxes and increase foreign borrowing in its 2007 budget in a bid to meet bloated defense costs and fund large development projects, say analysts. They expect the budget deficit next year at 7.5%-8.0% of gross domestic product, down from an expected 9% this […]
Sri Lankan markets jittery as bullets fly ahead of next week’s budget
November 10, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lankan share prices are breaking records amidst flying bullets, but financial markets are uneasy that the government may use next Thursday’s budget to tax capital gains, analysts said. One of Asia’s best performing indexes, the island’s tiny stockmarket is up over 30 percent since January, largely on deal making […]
Sri Lankan government under fire over refugee carnage
Nov 9, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s government came under international criticism Thursday after killing 65 refugees and wounding hundreds of others in an artillery blitz of the rebel-held east of the island.Nearly 3,300 people have been killed in fighting in the past year despite a 2002 truce in Sri Lanka’s separatist conflict. Nordic monitors […]
” over refugee killings
Nov 9, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s government Thursday expressed “regret” over the killing of some 65 civilians in an artillery blitz on the rebel-held east of the island, but blamed the Tamil Tigers for using human shields.Government defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said the military had targeted two Tamil Tiger artillery positions in Wednesday’s attack […]
Sri Lanka Navy gunboat attacked by Tiger suicide craft
COLOMBO, Nov 9, 2006 (AFP) – A heavy sea battle erupted in northern Sri Lanka Thursday after Tamil Tiger rebels staged a suicide attack against a navy gunboat, military sources said.The battle came as the government expressed “regret” over the killing of up to 65 civilians in an attack on suspected Tamil Tiger positions in […]
Norway demands explanation from Sri Lanka for attack
Nov 9, 2006 (AFP) – Norway said Thursday it had demanded an immediate explanation from Sri Lanka for a grenade attack against unarmed Nordic truce monitors.Aid Minister Erik Solheim said the Norwegian-led Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) came under grenade attack in the island’s north Wednesday while examining a route to the Jaffna peninsula. “It […]
Tigers capture sailors in sea battle, Sri Lanka regrets killings
Nov 9, 2006 (AFP) – Tamil Tigers sank two naval gunboats and captured four sailors in a fierce sea battle Thursday, the rebels said, as Sri Lanka expressed regret over the killing of 65 civilians in an artillery blitz. The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said they sank two Dvora gunboats and damaged […]
American in Nepal moves from royal consort to peace campaigner
November 9, 2006 (AFP) – Barbara Adams has been witness to huge change in Nepal during the 45 years she has lived in the Himalayan country. Well before backpackers and overland travellers from Europe made Nepal a fixture on the hippy trail, Adams was living in the remote kingdom as consort of a prince from […]
Zimbabwe watchdog to enforce price controls
HARARE, Nov 9, 2006 (AFP) – The Zimbabwean government is to establish an official commission to monitor prices and incomes in the latest attempt to stall skyrocketing inflation, a government minister said Thursday.“We are hopeful that the (incomes and pricing) commission will be in place soon,” Industry and International Trade Minister Obert Mpofu told AFP. […]
Losing Weight
Nov 09, 2006 (LBO) – Despite scores of raids, arrests and legal penalties over the years, Sri Lankan authorities say many shopkeepers and other vendors still doctor their measuring scales. From our annual raids we have been able to catch around 1134 vendors in 2005 and there is a slight increase in the numbers compared […]
Safe Haven
Nov 09 (LBO) – Sri Lanka stands the risk of getting too complacent about its low prevalence of AIDS, researchers say and should strengthen treatment and care of those living with the disease. There are an estimated 5000 people living with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which attacks the body™s immune system – the body™s ability […]