Category: Industry
” in Cup opener
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, March 14, 2007 (AFP) – If ace Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan sends down a ‘doosra’ in the opening World Cup Group B match here on Thursday, many Bermudian batsmen will struggle to read it. All the four Group B sides have arrived here and had workouts in bright sunshine on […]
Suntel Sale
March 14 (LBO) – Seven suitors are chasing Sri Lanka’s wireless operator Suntel, but its parent Telia of Sweden may even consider a stock market listing in Colombo if a sale does not go through, a top official said. TeliaSonera, the holding company of Overseas Telia which owns Suntel, is among six firms listed for […]
No Skin
March 14, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka banned on Wednesday the use of naked or semi-naked models in advertising, saying it was seeking to protect those offended by public nudity.The Ministry of Cultural Affairs announced the ban through notices in Sinhalese-language newspapers, warning advertisers against the use of unclothed males or females. The ministry statement […]
Health Wins
March 14 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s health service is now detecting tuberculosis patients faster and the infection rate of the once fatal disease is trending down, officials said.The national program hopes to decentralize treatment centers to better fight the disease where it occurs, Surakkali says. Last year 8,000 new infections had been detected which was […]
Second Life
March 14 (LBO) – After several false starts, the failed Pramuka Bank would start operations 0n June 01 as the Sri Lanka Savings Bank, the finance ministry said Wednesday. The Pramuka Bank licensed as a specialized bank was closed by the Central Bank in October 2002, with an estimated 80 percent bad loans. Of the […]
Spin kings may give World Cup twist and turn
GROS ISLET, St Lucia, March 13, 2007 (AFP) – Just about the one thing captains at the World Cup seem to be agreed on is that pitches will generally be slow and assist spin bowlers. Last week both England skipper Michael Vaughan and Australia captain Ricky Ponting talked up the tournament prospects of their frontline […]
‘s shadow follows India and Sri Lanka
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, March 13, 2007 (AFP) – Rahul Dravid and Mahela Jayawardene hope to step out of history’s shadow at the World Cup. India have not won the tournament since 1983 and this time round it is Dravid’s turn as skipper to attempt to break that long wait for a second title. The […]
Bookies fear Ashes rivals in World Cup betting bonanza
LONDON, March 13, 2007 (AFP) – One of Britain’s leading bookmakers is hoping anyone other than England or Australia wins the Cricket World Cup. William Hill has estimated that more than 100 million pounds will be gambled on the World Cup. “Considering England’s recent on-off form it might surprise people that England are our worst […]
Competitive Drive
March 13 (LBO) – Intense competition among Sri Lanka’s telcos will drive growth, with Dialog leading the pack and lifting earnings of its parent Malaysia Telecom, the investment bank Morgan Stanley said in a report. Sri Lanka is expected to top foreign contribution to Malaysia Telekom with 13 percent, followed by Bangladesh at six percent […]
Plastic Money
March 13 (LBO) – Visa International will give Sri Lanka’s 1.5 million plastic card market a boost, by issuing mini debit cards with Sampath Bank, officials said. Sampath says the card will be issued to all new customers who open accounts with the Bank and will be available to existing account holders. They could also […]
Claims Toll
March 12, 2007 (LBO) – Union Assurance net profits fell 41 percent in 2006, with high claims bill taking its toll, but gross premiums grew by 28 percent, the company’s annual accounts showed. The firm’s net profit after tax fell to 155 million rupees from 262 million of 2005. The surplus from life insurance activities […]
Striking Hot
March 12, 2007 (LBO) — Sri Lanka is pushing for greater access to the Chinese aviation market, when high level officials meet for bilateral air-services talks later this week, the foreign ministry said Monday.Sino-Lanka aviation links have been in place since 1959, though direct airlinks between both countries were established when SriLankan airlines started thrice […]