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Sri Lanka navy sinks suspected Tiger trawler
Oct 15, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s navy sank a suspected Tamil Tiger trawler Sunday along the island’s northwest coast, killing at least four people, after the ship opened fire on patrol craft, military sources said.Naval patrols had ordered the trawler to stop before it fired on the government boats, a source said, adding that […]
‘s Budget 2007 to focus on infrastructure, generate more savings; Treasury
October 14, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapakse is due to present the 2007 budget on Nov. 14, which will focus on infrastructure and measures to generate more savings, the finance ministry said Saturday. “The importance of tax payer contributions towards country’s development efforts, suggestions to improve the tax system and taxpayer concerns […]
Microcredit gives hope to Bangladesh rural poor
DHAKA, Oct 14, 2006 (AFP) – A tiny Grameen bank loan to buy a cow was a lifeline for 32-year-old Margina who now runs a successful rice business but was once so poor she could not afford to eat.Like millions of others, Margina saw her life transformed through a 3,000 taka (42 dollar) loan from […]
Champagne now the tipple of choice for hip-hop royalty
LOS ANGELES, Oct 14, 2006 (AFP) – For centuries regarded as a sparkling symbol of decadence sipped by kings and queens, Champagne has today become the tipple of choice for hip-hop royalty.But while rap stars have kept the bubbly flowing from magnums, Methuselahs and jereboams in fashionable nightclubs from New York to Los Angeles, not […]
EU urges end to fighting in Sri Lanka
HELSINKI, Oct 14, 2006 (AFP) – The European Union on Saturday urged Sri Lanka’s leaders and the Tamil Tiger rebels to end fierce fighting which threatens peace talks due this month, after a week of raging violence there.“The presidency urges the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to ensure that humanitarian aid deliveries be […]
‘ bodies to be exhumed in Sri Lanka
Oct 14, 2006 (AFP) – The bodies of 15 aid workers massacred in Sri Lanka will be exhumed next week in a fresh bid to determine who killed them, their French employer said Saturday as sporadic fighting continued in the troubled north of the island.The aid victims were among 17 mostly Tamil workers with the […]
Sri Lankan jets drop 48 bombs on Tamil Tiger village: website
Oct 14, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lankan army jets dropped 48 bombs on a village in Tamil Tiger-controlled territory on Friday, a pro-rebel website said, amid ongoing violence in the troubled northeast.Japan, Sri Lanka’s main financial backer, was also sending special peace envoy Yasushi Akashi to the island on Sunday to meet with the government […]
Sri Lankan rupee hits a record low; exports still competitive: Central Bank
October 12, 2006 (LBO) – The Sri Lankan rupee fell to a lifetime low Friday, depreciating just over 3-percent in value against the U.S. dollar, but the Central Bank says the currency has gained slightly against other key countries. The rupee softened to 105.95 to the dollar from Thursday’s close of 105.50 as importer bought […]
Sri Lankan rupee ends all time low; share prices edge up
October 13, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lankan rupee closed to a lifetime low Friday, on heavy demand by imports to settle trade bills, while share prices rose as investors were upbeat over a possible resumption of talks between the government and the Tamil Tiger rebels.The rupee fell to 105.95 to the dollar from Thursday’s close […]
Flight Delays
SINGAPORE, Oct 13, 2006 (AFP) – Delays in delivery of the Airbus A380 super jumbo have led to “a big problem” for Dubai-based Emirates, the single biggest customer for the passenger aircraft, the airline’s president said Friday. Other regional carriers, including launch customer Singapore Airlines, have also expressed disappointment at the A380 delays, which Airbus […]
Flight Path
Oct 13, 2006 (LBO) – SriLankan Airlines is ripe for expansion and is looking for about 11 new planes to beef up airline seat capacity, says Tim Clark, Managing Director of SriLankan. SriLankan Airline’s net profits as at end March this year, rose to 797.93 million rupees over 7.66 million rupees, while group net profit […]
Sri Lanka greets fewer visitors in Sept; hopes peace, discount airfares will reverse fortunes
Oct 13, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s visitor arrivals in September fell 12 percent, but the Tourism Board is hoping discount airfares and peace talks between the government and Tamil Tiger rebels would stem the slide. Holidaymakers to this tear shaped island fell 11.6 percent to 38,485 visitors in September over the corresponding period 2005, […]