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Sri Lanka peace delegates battle to keep out reporters
COLOMBO, Oct 29, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lankan government delegates in Geneva to negotiate peace with Tamil Tiger rebels were “under a lot of stress” and wanted journalists removed from their hotel, diplomats said Sunday. Sri Lanka’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Sarala Fernando, said she asked the Swiss authorities to evict all […]
More clashes in Sri Lanka amidst peace talks
COLOMBO, Oct 29, 2006 (AFP) – At least five people were killed in clashes in north and east Sri Lanka overnight, police and defence officials said Sunday, as the government and rebel Tamil Tigers held peace talks in Geneva.Two suspected rebels were found dead after police repulsed an attack on their patrol late Saturday, officials […]
Little progress on Geneva talks to save ceasefire in Sri Lanka
GENEVA, Oct 29, 2006 (AFP) – Peace brokers struggled to save Sri Lanka’s collapsing ceasefire as critical talks between the warring parties entered the second and final day Sunday in Geneva with both sides sticking to their guns.Tiger rebels said the first day’s outcome was “zero” with no agreement on addressing the urgent needs of […]
Sri Lanka warring parties put on notice at Swiss talks
GENEVA, Oct 28, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s warring parties resumed peace talks in Geneva on Saturday and received a stern warning that their country will lose foreign aid unless killings stop in Asia’s bloodiest internal conflict. .Updated Peace broker Norway said the international community had virtually placed the Sri Lankans on notice to show […]
” in Oslo exhibition
OSLO, Oct 28, 2006 (AFP) – Giraffes mounting, aroused whales mating and dragonflies copulating — perfectly normal, tender scenes — although perhaps not for all, as in this case these animals are of the same sex.Breaking what is taboo for some, the Oslo Natural History Museum is currently showing an exhibition on homosexuality in the […]
‘ deadly strategy in Sri Lanka
GENEVA, Oct 28, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Tiger rebels, who are in Geneva for peace talks Saturday, have been outlawed by the European Union, the United States and several other countries, but the international community still wants them at the negotiating table.The United States describes Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers as “reprehensible terrorists,” and the […]
Sri Lanka warring parties open talks, seek to buy time
GENEVA, Oct 28, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s warring parties shook hands as they resumed face-to-face negotiations in Geneva on Saturday, after an eight month break and 3,000 deaths in fighting on the Indian Ocean island.Diplomats expect the meeting will simply buy time for more talks in December. Journalists witnessed representatives of the Sri Lankan […]
Firm Hand
Oct 28 (LBO) – Rating agency Fitch Lanka affirmed DFCC Vardhana Bank’s AA-(lka) national long term rating on Friday, on the strength of parent company DFCC Bank. The principal factor supporting the rating of DFCC Vardhana Bank (DVB) is the strong implied support assumed to be available from its parent, DFCC Bank, Fitch Ratings Lanka […]
Quiet Entry
October 27, 2006 (LBO) – Amana Takaful Ltd., a specialized Islamic insurance company, plans to list 12.5 million shares on the Colombo Stock Exchange by way of an introduction. Priced at 10.00 rupees each, the shares will be listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange’s secondary board. There will be no public issue of shares, CSE’s […]
India, US to hold talks to bridge WTO differences
NEW YORK, Oct 26, 2006 (AFP) – India and the United States have agreed to meet in a bid to iron out differences over achieving a global trade accord, Indian Commerce Minister Kamal Nath said Thursday. The agreement was reached at a high level New York meeting between American and Indian government and private sector […]
The day that raised London as global financial centre
LONDON, Oct 27, 2006 (AFP) – The City of London marked on Friday 20 years since the so-called “Big Bang” which broke down staid old practices with a wave of deregulation, credited now with giving London the edge as a global financial centre in Europe. The “Bang” has been a central factor propelling the ‘Square […]
”’ rugby venue
COLOMBO, Oct 27, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lankan rugby authorities Friday said they were disappointed after Colombo was scrapped as a venue for next year’s World Cup qualifiers, due to security concerns. The IRB decision had come in spite of assurances from the Sri Lankan foreign and defence ministries to all participating nations on the […]