Author: lbostgadmin
” rating confirmed on lower inflation, better SOE balances: S&P
July 8, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s ‘B+’ rating was confirmed with a ‘stable’ outlook on lower inflation and better state enterprise performance despite weak institutions and high debt service, Standard and Poor’s, a rating agency said. S & P said there was a marked improvement in state-run Ceylon Electricity Board and Ceylon Petroleum Corporation […]
‘s asylum-seeker plans
SYDNEY, July 7, 2014 (AFP) – A High Court on Monday barred Australia from handing back a boat carrying 153 asylum-seekers to Sri Lanka, a day after Canberra returned another vessel to Colombo following a week of secrecy.The Tamil Refugee Council has claimed at least 11 of those on board have been tortured by Sri […]
Football: History hangs heavy as Dutch, Argentina clash
SAO PAULO, July 8, 2014 (AFP) – Fuelled by decades of hurt, Lionel Messi’s Argentina and Arjen Robben’s Holland will carry competing motivations into Wednesday’s tantalising World Cup semi-final showdown at Sao Paulo’s Corinthians Arena. Argentina, who last reached the final in 1990, will be determined to pay appropriate homage to former great Alfredo Di […]
Babel
July 8, 2014 (LBO) – Google has added Sinhalese, spoken by a majority of residents in Sri Lanka to its Gmail webmail service along with 13 other languages. The display language can be changed by going to settings and choosing from a dropdown menu. Gmail is already available in 58 languages, and today we’re bringing […]
Boat People
GALLE, July 8, 2014 (AFP) – A Sri Lankan court Tuesday granted bail to 27 of 41 migrants who were returned to the country by Australia after a controversial mid-sea transfer, with one of them slamming Canberra for its lack of human rights.As anxious relatives waited outside the colonial-era court building in the southern city […]
Australian Nationalism
SYDNEY, July 8, 2014 (AFP) – Australian government lawyers said Tuesday 153 Sri Lankan asylum-seekers were in custody on the high seas and agreed to give three days’ notice before handing any back to Colombo, as criticism mounted. A late-night interim injunction Monday temporarily halted the transfer of the would-be refugees from the boat, whose […]
Sri Lanka stocks close up 1.0-pct
July 08, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s stocks closed up 1.03 percent pushing the index to a four-month high with the favorable economic outlook boosting foreign investor sentiment, brokers said. Lion Brewery Ceylon closed 31.50 rupees higher at 524.90 rupees and Ceylon Beverage Holdings closed 14.60 rupees lower at 550.00 rupees. The Colombo benchmark All […]
Australia hands asylum-seekers back to Sri Lanka
SYDNEY, July 7, 2014 (AFP) – Canberra confirmed Monday a boat load of Sri Lankan asylum-seekers who attempted to reach Australia have been handed back to Colombo, sparking sharp criticism after a week of secrecy.“Australia’s international obligations are reliant upon a credible processing system and we have deep concerns about how that could have been […]
Football: Brazil players ready to cope in Neymar absence
TERESÓPOLIS, July 7, 2014 (AFP) – Willian and Bernard, the two leading contenders to replace Neymar in Brazil’s World Cup semi-final line-up against Germany insisted on Sunday that the team can still win the competition without their star player. “Neymar sets the standard for us.He is capable of deciding any game, so playing without him […]
Sri Lanka tourist boom boosts beer sales
July 7, 2014 (LBO) – Strong tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka have boosted beer sales, with demand brimming over during the high season in popular tourist spots, the island’s top beer maker said. Sri Lanka has seen a strong increase in budget tourists who interact directly with the small businesses and enterprises. “Unlike in the […]
Sri Lanka stocks close up 0.3-pct
July 07, 2014 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s stocks closed 0.33 percent higher starting the week with a positive note despite net foreign selling, brokers said. Ceylinco Insurance closed 74.70 rupees higher at 1,399.90 rupees and Commercial Leasing and Finance closed 10 cents lower at 4.00 rupees. Oil palm firms Bukit Darah closed 19.70 rupees lower […]
Australian minister to visit Sri Lanka amid boat dispute
COLOMBO, July 6, 2014 (AFP) – Australia’s immigration minister will visit Colombo this week for talks on illegal immigration following international concern at his country’s handling of Sri Lankan asylum-seekers, it was announced Sunday.The US and European Union member states have said rights abuses against the ethnic Tamil minority continued even after the war’s end […]