Stars pull out of Sri Lanka book fair under pressure

JAIPUR, January 21, 2011 (AFP) – Nobel-winning Turkish author Orhan Pamuk and fellow writer Kiran Desai have pulled out of Sri Lanka’s main literary festival, Pamuk’s publisher said on Friday, following pressure from press freedom groups. Reporters Without Borders and a Sri Lankan rights group had targeted foreign writers in a campaign that called on […]

Sri Lanka stocks close up 0.8-pct

Jan 21, 2011(LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed up 0.85 percent Friday with active retail trading in the manufacturing sector, brokers said. The All Share Price Index closed at 7,254.01, up 0.85 percent (60.91 points) while the Milanka Price Index of more liquid stocks closed at 7,292.95, down 0.11 percent (7.73 points) according to stock […]

Naval Rescue

SEOUL, January 21, 2011 (AFP) – South Korean navy commandos Friday stormed a ship hijacked by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean, rescuing all the 21 crew and killing eight pirates, military officials said. The SEAL special forces boarded the South Korean ship before dawn, freeing all the hostages and killing the pirates in cabin-to-cabin […]

Chip Growth

Jan 21, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s computer chip consumption will grow more than 25 percent in 2011 driven by growing information technology use and government measures to push IT literacy, an industry official said. In 2010 Sri Lanka is estimated to have used 260,000 chips, according to data by IDC, a market intelligence consultancy, […]

Sri Lanka exports surge in Nov

Jan 21, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s exports surged 36 percent in November 2010 to 833 million US dollar, led by industrial exports which grew 40. 8 percent from a year earlier to 633 million US dollars, according to official data. The surge helped exports to grow 3. 7 percent to 7.33 billion US dollars […]

” to test Cup venues

January 21, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka are eager to test the island’s new cricket venues ahead of next month’s World Cup, skipper Kumar Sangakkara said Friday. Sri Lanka, who were runners-up in the last Cup in 2007, will stage 12 matches of the showpiece event, in Hambantota, Pallekele and Colombo. The remaining games will […]

‘s Murali to quit after World Cup

January 21, 2011 (AFP) – Record-breaking Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan said Friday he would retire from international cricket after the 2011 World Cup. “This World Cup will be my last outing,” Muralitharan, 38, told reporters on the sidelines of a training session in Colombo. “I am retiring totally from international cricket thereafter. ” The […]

Sri Lanka Piramal Glass profits up five fold in Dec

Jan 21, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Piramal Glass Ceylon, a unit of India’s Piramal Glass said profits in the December 2010 quarter rose more than five fold to 190 million rupees from 28. 6 million a year earlier. The firm which makes glassware saw revenues grow 28. 2 percent to 1,166 million rupees according […]

Sri Lanka stocks close at all time high, up 1.9-pct

Jan 20, 2011(LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed up 1.91 percent Thursday at an all time high, brokers said. The All Share Price Index closed at 7,193.10, up 1.91 percent (134.77 points) while the Milanka Price Index of more liquid stocks closed at 7,300.68, up 0.72 percent (52.48 points) according to stock exchange provisional figures. […]

Text Reminders

Jan 20, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s credit information office is planning a text message alert service by mobile phone for borrowers who forget to make credit card payments, an official said. The service is likely to be available by April. Sri Lanka has about four million borrowers. Gamini Karunaratne, general manager of the Sri […]

Sri Lanka cable firm to build hotels

Jan 20, 2010 (LBO) – Sierra Cables, a listed power cable maker said it will build hotels in a joint venture with another group as strong tourist arrivals increased drew investment capital into the sector. Colombo is to see at least two 500 million dollar hotel and apartment development complexes on state land and existing […]

Sri Lanka to open rice flour factory with state backing

Jan 20, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is opening a rice flour factory with a loan from a state bank re-financed by the central bank, the monetary authority said. The central bank said the monetary “in association with several key stakeholders and two state banks, is currently promoting rice based industries in the country with […]

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