Stability Measure

Dec 29, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Seylan Bank’s board of directors has been dissolved by the monetary board of the Central Bank and its operations brought under state-run Bank of Ceylon, a senior bank official said. The Bank of Ceylon is expected to appoint a board and oversee the operations of Seylan, the official […]

Regulatory Action

Dec 29, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Seylan Bank’s board of directors has been dissolved by the monetary board of the Central Bank and its operations brought under state-run Bank of Ceylon, the regulator said. The Central Bank said it was “discontinuing the services” of the board of Seylan Bank but retaining the current chief […]

Sri Lanka boosted by Jayawardene, Sangakkara

DHAKA, December 28, 2008 (AFP) – Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara hit impressive half-centuries to consolidate Sri Lanka’s position in the opening Test against Bangladesh here on Sunday.Skipper Jayawardene scored an unbeaten 83 and left-handed Sangakkara a solid 67 as Sri Lanka reached 190-3 in their second innings at tea on the third day for […]

Barrelling Down

LONDON, December 28, 2008 (AFP) – Oil prices, which hit record highs above 147 dollars a barrel this year before plunging under 33 dollars, risk slumping more in 2009 as recession curbs the world’s appetite for energy, analysts say. “We expect oil prices in early 2009 to remain under pressure given the weakening demand outlook […]

Petrol Saga

Dec 27, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s main opposition United National Party (UNP) plans to file a contempt-of-court case against the government for its refusal to obey a Supreme Court order to reduce petrol prices, a media report said. The Daily Mirror newspaper said UNP wants to file a contempt-of-court case against the Cabinet, the […]

‘s fightback led by Samaraweera

DHAKA, December 27, 2008 (AFP) – Thilan Samaraweera pulled Sri Lanka out of trouble with a gutsy 91 on the second day of the opening Test against Bangladesh here on Saturday.The second and final Test starts in Chittagong on January 3. The tourists, struggling at 172-6 on Friday, were bowled out for a respectable 293 […]

‘s Murali puts Bangladesh in spin

DHAKA, December 27, 2008 (AFP) – Spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan put Sri Lanka in a commanding position with a five-wicket haul in the opening Test against Bangladesh here on Saturday.The off-spinner grabbed 5-48 — his 66th haul of five or more wickets in a Test innings — as Bangladesh crashed to 177-9 in their first […]

Bank Sale

Dec 27, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Ceylinco group will exit Seylan Bank, a licensed commercial bank, as part of a strategy to raise funds and repay depositors in a troubled group company, chairman Lalith Kotelawala said in a public statement. Golden Key Credit Card Company failed to repay customers who had placed funds in […]

Calming Statement

Dec 27, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s central bank says it is ready to intervene if there is a risk to a registered or licensed financial institution following reported depositor ‘stress’ at some regulated Ceylinco group companies. Earlier on Saturday Ceylinco group chairman Lalith Kotelawala, said in a public advertisement that the group was selling […]

Car Plan

BEIJING, December 27, 2008 (AFP) – China plans to offer incentives for car owners to scrap their old models in favour of new ones, in a bid to lift the auto industry as it enters a period of crisis, state media said Saturday. The measure is part of a new package being prepared in Beijing […]

Sri Lanka gives go-ahead for Pakistan cricket tour

December 26, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka has given the green light for the national cricket team to tour Pakistan next month in place of India, who cancelled their five-week series over the Mumbai attacks. The Pakistan Cricket Board said it was set to lose at least 25 million dollars as a result of the […]

Sri Lankan rupee overvaluation hurting apparel orders, jobs

Dec 26, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s apparel exporters could win back 15 percent of orders now lost due to an overvalued rupee caused by high domestic inflation, if there was a realistic exchange rate, an industry official said. The Sri Lanka rupee has fallen against the US dollar in December after the Central Bank […]

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