Author: lbostgadmin
Cricket: Sri Lanka, Pakistan gear for Jayawardene finale
GALLE, August 4, 2014 (AFP) – Hosts Sri Lanka hope to give retiring former captain Mahela Jayawardene a winning farewell when they take on Pakistan for a sixth Test series in as many years from Wednesday.The elegant right-hander, sixth in the all-time scorers’ list with 11,671 runs in 147 Tests since his debut in 1997, […]
Economic Migrants
SYDNEY, August 4, 2014 (AFP) – Asylum-seekers held on an Australian customs vessel at sea for weeks were given lifeboats and told to make their own way back to India, a lawyer for the group said Monday.The boatload of 157, who lawyer Hugh de Kretser said were mostly Christian Tamils fleeing persecution in Sri Lanka, […]
On Track
Aug 04, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s regulator driven consolidation is on track with 12 banks and 57 non-bank lenders submitting plans for mergers and recapitalization, the Central Bank said. Another 19 non-bank lenders have completed internal processes to allow them to submit the plans, the regulator said. Already 19 proposals have been approved. Consultants […]
Sri Lanka stocks close up 0.2-pct
Aug 04, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s stocks closed 0.18 percent higher with Ceylon Tobacco Company gaining amid strong domestic participation, brokers said. JKH’s W0022 warrants closed 10 cents higher at 64.20 rupees and its W0023 warrants closed 50 cents lower at 71.00 rupees. Dialog Axiata closed 10 cents higher at 10.90 rupees and Sri […]
UN slams Sri Lanka over deportation of asylum seekers
COLOMBO, August 2, 2014 (AFP) – The UN refugee agency accused Sri Lanka on Saturday of failing to respect international law by deporting Afghan and Pakistan refugees before their asylum claims could be assessed. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said Sri Lankan authorities arrested 214 Afghan and Pakistani nationals in an operation […]
China-India energy rivalry in spotlight as Modi visits Nepal
KATHMANDU, August 2, 2014 (AFP) – Energy will be high on the agenda when India’s new Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Nepal on Sunday, eager to claw back lost ground in the race for resources with China. “It makes more sense for Delhi and Beijing to work together — whether it’s a case of using […]
Sri Lanka apologises to Indian PM over caricature
COLOMBO, August 1, 2014 (AFP) – Sri Lanka extended an “unqualified apology” to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday over an article and uncomplimentary illustration of the leader and a regional Tamil politician published on a government website. The Sri Lankan defence ministry said it had taken down the offending caricature of Modi and the […]
Nationalist Move
SYDNEY, August 2, 2014 (AFP) – Some 157 asylum-seekers who were detained at sea for weeks by Australia have been sent to the Pacific island of Nauru after rejecting a return to India, officials said Saturday.The group, thought to be mostly ethnic Tamils from Sri Lanka and including 50 children, left the Indian port of […]
Growth Path
Aug 01, 2014 (LBO) – Profits at Sri Lanka’s National Development Bank rose 5.6 percent from a year earlier to 843 million rupees, helped by higher net interest income, amid falling interest expenses, interim accounts showed. The bank reported earnings of 10.50 rupees per share. In the half year to June the group reported earnings […]
Sri Lanka stocks close lower
Aug 01, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s stocks closed 0.06 percent lower with Ceylon Tobacco Company losing ground amid net foreign selling, brokers said. The Colombo benchmark All Share Price Index closed 3.77 points lower at 6,810.13, down 0.06 percent. The S&P SL20 closed 13.09 points lower at 3,759.42, down 0.35 percent. Turnover was 775.04 […]
‘s UDA to sell Rs30bn listed debt
Aug 01, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Urban Development Authority is planning to sell up to 30 billion rupees of Treasury guarantee listed debt in three tranches, Chairman Nimal Perera said.The cash will used to build 30,000 houses he said. The sale will be managed by state-run People’s Bank. The agency wants to first sell […]
Sri Lanka inflation accelerates to 3.6-pct in July
July 31, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s consumer prices rose 3.6 percent in the 12 months to July 2014, with inflation accelerating from 2.8 percent in June, official data showed.The International Monetary Fund said yesterday credit has been slow, but inflation has to be watched and the Central Bank should be prepared to raise rates […]