Author: lbostgadmin
Tamil Tiger arms ship bombed off the coast of Sri Lanka
COLOMBO, Sept 17, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s navy gunboats and war planes bombed a suspected Tamil Tiger arms ship Sunday, the defence ministry said, despite efforts by peace broker Norway to hold talks to uphold a truce.The defence ministry said in a statement that naval craft called for air support after the unnamed vessel […]
Japan Power
SINGAPORE, September 16, 2006 (LBO) – Japan has come forward to help Sri Lanka expand its energy mix, with financial backing to build a liquefied natural gas power plant, a top official said. Sri Lanka’s Treasury Secretary P B Jayasundara says the government hopes to have an LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) plant up and running […]
Sri Lanka earns place among religious freedom violators
WASHINGTON, Sept 16 (AFP) – The United States on Friday classified six Asian countries as religious freedom violators, aside from China, Myanmar, North Korea and Vietnam already blacklisted as worst offenders in the region. Afghanistan, Brunei, India, Laos, Pakistan and Sri Lanka were included in a “significant” list of violators of religious freedom in the […]
More deaths in Sri Lanka ahead of peace talks
Sept 16, 2006 (AFP) – Suspected Tamil Tiger rebels shot dead three civilians and a government soldier in separate incidents, the defence ministry said Saturday.The Tamil rebels are fighting for an independent homeland for the Tamil minority. More than 60,000 people have been killed in Sri Lanka’s bitter ethnic conflict since 1972.Two civilians were killed […]
Flight Plan
SINGAPORE, September 16, 2006 (LBO) – SriLankan Airlines plans to take ownership of three aircraft currently under lease and extend the lifespan on two others that come up for renewal next year, its chief financial officer said Saturday. We are in the last stages of paying up the lease on three aircraft, with two A340s […]
IMF asks domestic policymakers to be nimble to external risks
Singapore September 15, 2006 (LBO) – The International Monetary Fund Friday asked domestic policymakers to be nimble and adapt to external risks like inflation and high oil prices that is threatening to disrupt global economic growth. The Washington based global financial watchdog and biggest financial backer, is also keen to boost its surveillance role of […]
Tit for Tat
Sept 15 (LBO) – Lanka Indian Oil Corp., will drop fuel prices again from Friday to recover a 50 percent loss in volumes due to price wars with Sri Lanka’s state oil corporation. We will be reducing our prices by one rupee on a litre of petrol and diesel with effect from midnight Friday. It […]
Troops shell Tigers in new Sri Lanka fighting
TRINCOMALEE, Sri Lanka, Sept 15, 2006 (AFP) – Government forces shelled Tamil Tiger positions in northeastern Sri Lanka Friday as suspected guerrillas shot dead four civillians in renewed unrest on the island, officials said. Meanwhile, four civilians have been shot dead in separate incidents in Jaffna peninsula and in the neighbouring districts of Vavuniya and […]
” English test
SYDNEY, Sept 15 (AFP) – Migrants to Australia would have to pass an English language test to prove they were “fair dinkum” (genuine) about fitting into society Down Under, Prime Minister John Howard said Friday. Howard also said the length of time migrants had to live in Australia before they could become citizens would be […]
Zimbabwe inflation hits new record
HARARE, Sept 15, 2006 (AFP) – The annual rate of inflation in Zimbabwe reached a new record high of 1,204.6 percent in August, the central statistics office announced on Friday.The announcement of the new rise came after slight falls in the rate for June and July, which had raised hopes by central bank chief Gideon […]
’s peak winter tourist season
Sept 15 (LBO) – Arrivals to Sri Lanka from some European tourist markets saw another month of declines in August, but tour operators say possible peace talks this year could change that by winter. European travellers have been cautiously holding off on visiting the troubled island in the past few months, with top markets like […]
Asian Trading
MANILA, Sept 15, 2006 (AFP) – The Asian Development Bank said Friday it has launched a 10 billion-dollar Asian currency note programme that would serve as the first platform for bond issues in regional currencies. Under the scheme, Asian currency bonds are issued in their domestic markets under a single unified framework with a common […]