No Dividend

June 18, 2007 (LBO) – Seylan Merchant Bank said it was unable to pay a dividend proposed earlier, following a solvency test specified in a new company law. The investment bank said in a stock exchange filing that shareholders who attended its annual general meeting last week had already been told that a 25 cent […]

Sri Lanka appoints new committee to examine plantation leases

June 18, 2007 (LBO) – The government is setting up a new committee to examine the long-term leases of estate lands to the privatized plantations firms, a senior government minister said. Sri Lanka has privatized former government held estates through long-term leases given to more than 20 plantations companies. Cabinet Spokesman Anura Yapa said a […]

Knowledge Cash

June 18, 2007 (LBO) – Amba Research, an investment research outsourcing firm which raised new venture capital financing Monday, is planning to expand operations in Sri Lanka, officials said. Over the last two years the government absorbed 42,000 unemployed graduates into the already bloated public sector, while outfits like Amba is searching high and low […]

New Zealand central bank intervenes to push currency down

WELLINGTON, June 18, 2007 (AFP) – New Zealand’s central bank intervened in the foreign exchange market Monday in an attempt to bring down the value of the local currency from near two-decade highs, market sources said.The New Zealand dollar fell from 75.45 US cents in early Monday trading to around 75 cents after the central […]

‘s busiest port

SINGAPORE, June 18, 2007 (AFP) – Shanghai is set to overtake Singapore as the world’s busiest port in 2008 as the Chinese economy continues with its stellar growth, an executive of the city-state’s port operator said in remarks published Monday.Flourishing global trade has enabled Singapore terminals to handle a record number of shipping containers in […]

Affordable tickets for fans in Sri Lanka and subcontinent at next World Cup

BHURBAN, Pakistan, June 18, 2007 (AFP) – The South Asian nations hosting the 2011 cricket World Cup promised on Monday to hold a spectator-friendly tournament with affordable ticket prices.The next organising committee meeting will be held in India in November-December this year. The pledge by India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh comes after the 2007 […]

Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India begin talks for 2011 World Cup

BHURBAN, Pakistan, June 17, 2007 (AFP) – Top cricket officials from across South Asia will meet here Monday to launch preparations for the 2011 World Cup, which will mark the third time the tournament has been played in the region.India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh (IPSB) will jointly hold the mega-event, with the opening ceremony […]

Erosion of media freedom and human rights in Sri Lanka under watchdog eye

June 18, 2007 (LBO) – An international mission by rights bodies will take place later this month to asses the deteriorating media freedoms and human rights in Sri Lanka, the Free Media Movement (FMM) said Monday. FMM said the mission made up of 11 bodies including the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), International Media Support […]

‘s Tamil Tigers make fresh pledge to free child soldiers

June 18, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels on Monday made a fresh pledge to rid their ranks of child soldiers by the end of the year.The rebels, classified as one of the worst offenders in the world for the recruitment of children to fight, made the same promise in 1998 but have […]

Disturbing Rule

June 17, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s insurance industry has voiced concern over a recent proposal by regulators to transfer the Strike, Riot, Civil Commotion and Terrorism Fund to the National Insurance Trust Fund. The industry is asking the government to relax the proposal for compulsory ceding of re-insurance premiums, said Marina Tharmaratnam, CEO of […]

Atapattu opts out of Sri Lanka team for Bangladesh series

June 17, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s former captain and opening batsman Marvan Atapattu has opted out of the Test series against Bangladesh, a top Sri Lanka Cricket official said Sunday.SLC secretary Kangadaran Mathivanan said the former skipper had told them he would not be available for the Bangladesh tournament despite being chosen for the […]

Bangladesh in Sri Lanka despite security fears

June 17, 2007 (AFP) – Bangladesh’s national cricket team arrived in Sri Lanka on Sunday for three Test matches and three one-day internationals despite heightened fears of Tamil Tiger bomb attacks, officials said. The Sri Lankan government immediately hailed the visit as a sign of confidence in the island’s security arrangements. “The Bangladeshi government has […]

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