Author: lbostgadmin
Foreign loans, overseas remittances, keep Sri Lanka floating
May 15 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s balance of payments (BOP) has recorded a 150 million dollar surplus for the three months to March, the Central Bank said Monday as it maintained key interest rates for the fifth straight month. The balance of payments is a record of the island’s total payments to foreign countries, including […]
Sri Lanka, rebels trade charges after civilian massacre
May 15, 2006 (AFP) – The Sri Lankan government traded charges with Tiger rebels on Monday over the killing of 13 Tamil civilians at the weekend, amid escalating violence in the restive northern region.Another bomb went off in the northern peninsula of Jaffna on Monday but there were no casualties, military officials said. Security had […]
Cricket Board wins Premadasa Stadium on a 30-year lease
May 15 (LBO) – A proposed lease of the state owned R. Premadasa Stadium to the Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLCB) for maintenance, has got Cabinet approval. -Anupa Perera- “The Cabinet has approved the lease of the Premadasa Stadium to the Cricket Board for a 30 year period for an annual lease rental of two […]
Malaysian schools offer daily report card — on SMS
KUALA LUMPUR, May 15, 2006 (AFP) – Malaysian parents anxious to know what their children are up to at school will soon be able to receive daily SMS text messages from schools. The service is being offered at 88 schools in a pilot project but will be made available nationwide over the next two years. […]
New Japan breeds slacker generation
TOKYO, May 15, 2006 (AFP) – “A salaryman can never have high hopes,” Takao Kimijima says on a Tokyo street as he finishes a puff on his cigarette outside his non-smoking building.The soft-spoken 30-year-old is not among the needy but a dark-suited corporate researcher who earns five million yen (45,000 dollars) a year, slightly above […]
BBC World Service radio attracts record listeners
LONDON, May 15, 2006 (AFP) – Record numbers of radio listeners are tuning into the BBC World Service, the public broadcaster said on Monday.The Service is attracting an average of 163 million listeners per week to its 33 language services during 2006, up from 149 million last year. The new high beats a previous weekly […]
” image
WASHINGTON, May 15, 2006 (AFP) – Don’t be so loud.Listen. Dress up. Those are among the tips offered to US business executives traveling abroad in a new guide aimed at countering the image of the “ugly American”.Launched this month by a non-profit group concerned about mounting anti-Americanism worldwide, the “World Citizens Guide” has 16 suggestions […]
Aviation sector faces a critical five years: industry
SINGAPORE, May 15, 2006 (AFP) – The commercial aviation sector faces a critical five years where the two key players, airlines and airport operators, must take the initiative to innovate ahead of a new era in passenger travel, industry experts said Monday Those who refuse to adapt will be left behind and could become takeover […]
Solid Innings
May 15, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) said Monday, group net profits for the first quarter of 2006 topped 1.3 billion rupees, despite continued losses from its mobile subsidiary and a levy on international calls. At the close of Monday’s trading SLT’s shares dipped 0.25 rupees or 1.9 percent to 13.00 rupees. -by […]
Sri Lanka leaves interest rates at current levels for fifth straight month
May 15, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank opt to maintain its policy rates for the fifth straight month Monday amidst a possible bottoming out of inflation, though private sector credit demand has shown little signs of abating.The repurchase rate, which drains the money from the banking system, stays at 8.75 percent, while the […]
Tamil Tigers dismiss calls to end navy operations
COLOMBO, May 14, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers dismissed calls by Scandinavian truce monitors to stop rebel navy missions and have threatened “war” to keep their men at sea, officials said Sunday.The LTTE’s naval wing chief, Colonel Soosai, said on the pro-rebel Tamilnet website said that the LTTE were “not prepared to relinquish […]
Sri Lanka seeks help to identify woman suicide bomber
May 14, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka Police asked for help from the public Sunday to identify a woman suicide bomber who attacked the island’s army chief killing 10 people. The police Criminal Investigations Department said in a statement that the bomber had yet to be identified contrary to earlier claims that she was a […]