Category: Industry
Aborted Flights
July 19, 2007 (AFP) – Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways said Thursday that it was pulling out of Sri Lanka, citing a sharp drop in tourist traffic to the tropical island due to ongoing fighting between government and rebel forces. Sri Lanka’s 26-billion-dollar economy earned 130.8 million dollars from tourism between January and April, a 15 […]
‘s tooth buried in forehead
SYDNEY, July 17, 2007 (AFP) – An Australian rugby player who went to his doctor with severe headaches was amazed to find he’d been living with an opponent’s tooth embedded in his forehead for months, it was reported Tuesday.Ben Czislowski clashed heads with an opponent during a game in the Queensland Cup competition in early […]
Earthquake
July 18, 2007 (LBO) – An earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale had occurred in the Bay of Bengal 510 kilometres to the East of the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, the US Geological Survey said. The breach occurred 35 kilometer below the surface of the earth at 04:27:28 Universal Time, or 09.57 am local […]
Good Banking
July 18, 2007 (LBO) – The financial journal Euromoney has named Commercial Bank as Sri Lanka’s best bank in its 2007 survey, the bank said Wednesday. The magazine’s Asian regional awards recognise the best banks in 16 countries. It has listed Commercial Bank alongside other country winners such as ICICI Bank (India), China Merchant Bank […]
Joint Service
July 17, 2007 (LBO) – DFCC Vardhana Bank (DVB) has teamed up with Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC) to introduce insurance products to consumers in parallel to banking services. ‘Vardhana Assurance’ makes available life, motor and general insurance, covering marine, title, mortgage plans. “All life insurance policies will be underwritten by the SLIC,” Nalaka Godahewa, […]
Borrow Gold
July 17, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s gem and jewellery industry is lobbying for new financial instruments like ‘gold loans’ to get cost effective funds for those in the trade, especially small businesses. “Valuations can be dealt with,” said Ellawala. “But having it in the vault is not feasible. After all, this is your working […]
Air Pocket
July 17, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lankan Airline’s consolidated after tax profits dived 50 percent to 862.1 million in the year ended March 2007 the carrier said, as tourists shied off the war ravaged island and fuel costs climbed . . “The largest single factor that affected the airline’s bottom-line was the return to hostilities […]
Monthlies
July 16, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will adjust fuel prices monthly on a transparent formula to cut losses in petroleum utilities, an official said, which is expected to reduce exchange rate pressure and avoid the build-up of macro-economic imbalances. Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Chairman Ashantha de Mel says a cabinet sub-committee on energy had […]
Need Based
July 16, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has announced fuel subsidies to the poor on state welfare and warned of more price hikes with the onset of a hurricane season that disrupts international offshore petroleum production. The government says they are willing to pay a fuel subsidy to three-wheeler tax owners if they install metres. […]
Better Care
July 16, 2007 (LBO) –Asiri Hospitals group posted a 312.7 million rupee after tax profit for the year ending in March 31, 2007, up almost by half, despite the depreciation of the Sri Lanka rupee that increased the price of imported medical supplies and material. Another 17 percent is held by Softlogic Holdings, an electronics […]
‘s 700-wicket Murali aims for 1,000
KANDY, Sri Lanka, July 14, 2007 (AFP) – Prolific Muttiah Muralitharan has set his eyes on taking 1,000 Test wickets after becoming only the second bowler in history to reach the 700-mark on Saturday. The Sri Lankan off-spinner achieved the landmark with the last ball of the third and final Test against Bangladesh here that […]
Sri Lanka tourist arrivals plunge 30 percent in June
July 15, 2007 (AFP) – Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka plunged 30 percent in June compared to a year ago as fighting escalated in the country’s bitter ethnic war, the tourism board said Sunday. The rebels have been fighting for a separate homeland for minority Tamil and the conflict has claimed more than 60,000 lives […]