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”’ outlook could be upgraded if budgets improve: Fitch
April 23, 2007 (LBO) – The ‘negative’ outlook on Sri Lanka’s BB- rating could be upgraded to ‘stable’ if Sri Lanka could produce better budgets, reduce inflation and show that the conflict’s effect on the country’s ability to repay debt had lessened, Fitch Ratings has said. The rating agency Monday affirmed Sri Lanka’s sovereign rating […]
Plastic Probe
LONDON, April 21, 2007 (AFP) – British police are investigating a global credit card scam, allegedly linked to Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels, which has conned thousands of British motorists out of cash, the BBC reported Saturday. BBC television said that the Sri Lankan government has claimed that its opponents, the Tamil Tigers, are behind […]
Aussies happy to be merciless, says Bracken
GROS ISLET, St Lucia, April 22, 2007 (AFP) – Australian seamer Nathan Bracken said it was crucial to wrap up convincing wins over Sri Lanka and New Zealand to deliver a crucial psychological blow against potential World Cup final opponents. The defending champions demolished Sri Lanka by seven wickets and then the Black Caps by […]
‘s last match
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, April 21, 2007 (AFP) – A Kevin Pietersen-inspired England kept their promise of winning the last World Cup match for coach Duncan Fletcher when they beat the West Indies by one wicket here on Saturday. Gayle exploded with a flurry of big shots, once severely punishing seamer Liam Plunkett.He cracked two fours and […]
Torture ruled out on dead Maldivian dissident
COLOMBO, April 22, 2007 (AFP) – An independent autopsy found no signs of torture on a Maldives dissident who died shortly after being released from custody, officials here said Sunday.The body of Hussein Salah was flown to Sri Lanka on Friday for a medical examination following allegations that he had been killed while in police […]
‘s multi-ethnic, multi-religious unity yet to inspire divided nation
April 22, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lankans treat cricket as a religion, but the sport has failed to heal wounds of this deeply divided nation despite its ethnically-mixed World Cup squad displaying strong unity. “Any hope that cricket will unite (all commmunities) is a fallacy.” The success of Sri Lanka’s multi-ethnic team at the ongoing […]
Six said killed in Sri Lanka clashes
COLOMBO, April 22, 2007 (AFP) – Tamil Tiger rebels and government forces fought two gunbattles in Sri Lanka’s restive north and east leaving at least six rebels killed, the defence ministry said Sunday.Gunmen of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) clashed with troops at Vavuniya, 260 kilometres (160 miles) north of Colombo, on Saturday […]
‘s exporters face new fees
April 22, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lankan exporters have been slapped with a host of new fees that were increasing their costs, and reducing their competitiveness, an official said. In the last few months, shippers have been called to pay a growing number of new fees by shipping lines, freight forwarders and others in the […]
Sri Lanka petroleum retailer to look again at hedging after May
April 21, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s largest petroleum retailer, the state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), is setting its sights on crude oil hedging after ending up on the right side of its maiden gas-oil options position, an official said. During those periods Ceylon Petroleum had run losses around 200 million US dollars. CPC received a […]
New Zealand will bounce back, pledges Fleming
ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, April 21, 2007 (AFP) – Stephen Fleming is adamant New Zealand will bounce back from their record-breaking defeat by Australia as they head into the World Cup semi-finals.New Zealand, without sidelined bowlers Shane Bond and Jacob Oram, conceded 348 for six, with Matthew Hayden making 103, before being bowled out for 133 […]
Hayden stars as Australia thrash New Zealand
ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, April 20, 2007 (AFP) – Matthew Hayden’s third century of the tournament helped champions Australia extend their unbeaten run at the World Cup to 27 matches with a 215-run Super Eights thrashing of fellow semi-finalists New Zealand at Grenada’s National Stadium here Friday.But going for another big hit off the medium-pacer he […]
Dialog Sri Lanka preference shares get AA+ rating from Fitch
April 20, 2007 (LBO) – Dialog Telekom’s five billion rupee preference share issue had been rated AA+ (lka), a notch below the telco’s senior debt rating of AAA (lka), Fitch Ratings said Friday. The company is 87.67 percent owned by Telekom Malaysia Berhad. “The one-notch difference between the issuer and preference shares’ ratings reflects the […]