Category:
France detains 16 Tamil Tiger fund-raising suspects
PARIS, April 1, 2007 (AFP) – Sixteen suspected members of the Tamil Tigers rebel group were detained Sunday in Paris during an investigation into terrorist financing activities, sources close to the case said.Police made the arrests under the direction of anti-terrorist judge Jean-Louis Bruguiere, the sources said. The suspects are alleged to be involved in […]
Amnesty World Cup campaign not cricket, Sri Lanka fumes
April 1, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka protested Sunday against an Amnesty International campaign at the cricket World Cup drawing attention to human rights abuses on the island. The London-based rights group has been calling for Sri Lanka to ‘Play by the Rules’ in its conflict with Tamil rebels by persuading thousands of fans to […]
‘s observer status
NEW DELHI, March 31, 2007 (AFP) – South Asian officials Saturday recommended observer status for Iran at next week’s regional summit which will be dominated by trade amid warming ties between rivals India and Pakistan. China, the European Union, Japan, South Korea and the United States already have observer status with the eight-nation South Asian […]
South Asia holds summit to build trade, fight terror
NEW DELHI, April 1, 2007 (AFP) – South Asian leaders meet in New Delhi this week to push for joint action against terrorism and efforts to overcome mistrust dogging the trade ambitions of their bloc of 1.4 billion people. Foreign ministry officials began laying the groundwork on Saturday for the South Asian Association of Regional […]
Malaysian anti-corruption chief dumped amid graft allegations: report
KUALA LUMPUR, March 31, 2007 (AFP) – Malaysia’s top anti-corruption official, who is facing a police investigation into graft allegations against him, will not have his contract renewed, a report said Saturday.Malaysians believe their country has an “acute” corruption problem, international monitor Transparency International said recently, warning the issue could drive away foreign investors.Zulkipli Mat […]
Cricket: We let England off the hook, says Ireland skipper
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, March 31, 2007 (AFP) – Ireland captain Trent Johnston admitted his team squandered their early advantage and allowed England to set a challenging total which proved decisive in their World Cup Super Eights defeat.“We are not here to shame in critics.We are showing that there are good players in Ireland, and the goal […]
Foreign officials meet ahead of South Asian summit
NEW DELHI, March 31, 2007 (AFP) – South Asian foreign ministry officials began laying the groundwork on Saturday for a regional summit to be dominated by trade talk amid warming ties between rivals India and Pakistan. The meeting of foreign secretaries will review the progress of panels formed under the South Asian Association for Regional […]
Sri Lanka evaluates effectiveness of disaster warning system
March 31, 2007 (LBO) – Community-based disaster warning system technologies and their effectiveness were tested in a recent study conducted in 32 villages Sri Lanka’s coastal belt. This project was started after the devastating Asian tsunami that claimed the lives of more than 35,000 people in Sri Lanka. It was funded by the International Development […]
Shortcut
March 30, 2007 (LBO) –The Japanese will give 30-year loan to Sri Lanka to build a link highway that will connect the Colombo-Matara to the Colombo-Katunayake expressway a government minister said. The Japanese Bank for International Cooperation will give 21.917 billion yen (19.7 billion rupees) loan to build a 4-lane stretch of the connecting highway, […]
Supply Chain
March 30, 2007 (LBO) –Supermarket chain Marks & Spencer began shipping clothing made in their factories in the Indian sub-continent through the Global Parks logistics facility in Sri Lanka to its UK stores, Thursday. The multinational’s decision to use Sri Lanka as a supply chain hub demonstrates its confidence in the island despite the recent […]
No More
March 20, 2007 (LBO) –John Keells Holdings has sold its restaurant business in Sri Lanka to a regional franchise holder for an undisclosed sum, the company said Friday. JKH said Keells Restaurants (Private) Limited and Crescat Restaurants (Private) Limited which held the franchises for Pizza Hut and Delifrance in Sri Lanka were sold to Gamma […]
‘s MJF group gets ready to push the leisure button
March 30, 2007 (LBO) – The Ceylon tea specialists Merril J Fernando (MJF) group is laying the foundation to enter the leisure sector despite the current downturn in the industry, officials said. The group has become a top player in the tea trade in Sri Lanka by marketing valued added ‘Dilmah’ branded Ceylon tea directly […]