Category: Industry
Slow Lane
Feb 18, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka has further raised taxes on cars to discourage imports and save foreign exchange, officials said Monday, pushing first-time buyers out of the market as economic woes worsen on the island.The new tax, which adds 10-percent import duty on cars and vans, is to be rubber-stamped by parliament this […]
‘s Jayawardene says batsmen must lift
PERTH, Australia, Feb 16, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene said his team needed to play smarter cricket at international level after this week’s 63-run loss to Australia.Sri Lanka blew their chance to go top of the tri-series ladder here Friday when several batsmen threw their wickets away as they were dismissed for […]
Arabian Luxury
Feb 16, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s State Engineering Corporation (SEC) has clinched a deal to build a $125mn luxury housing project in Qatar, construction minister Rajitha Senaratne said. . SEC will send 1,600 workers to Qatar to build the 345 urban villas and also ship locally made inputs like wall and floor tiles, electrical […]
Sri Lanka dragonflies draw eco-tourists
Feb 16, 2008 (LBO) – An insect with large multifaceted eyes and two pairs of transparent wings on an extended body is luring tourists to Sri Lanka and helping a specialist eco-travel firm earn big bucks. “We had people coming into Sri Lanka just to see dragonflies,” Jetwing Eco Holiday’s chief executive Gehan de Silva […]
Transition
Feb 17, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s NDB Bank has announced that its Deputy Chief Executive Officer Eran Wickramaratne will succeed Nihal Welikala as the Chief Executive from April 1 after the latter’s retirement. Both are former officers of the Citibank NA, Colombo. Wickramaratne joined NDB in April 1999 and has been closely associated with […]
Negative Outlook
Feb 15, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s rating outlook has been lowered to ‘negative’ by Standard and Poor’s (S&P) who warned that the underlying B+ rating rating could also be downgraded if budgets worsened. The rating agency said short term foreign borrowing was rising and an “apparent” fall in national debt was largely coming from […]
‘s Reach
Feb 15, 2008 (LBO) – International Finance Corporation, the World Bank’s private sector financing arm, has given a 75 million dollar standby loan for John Keells Holdings (JKH) which can be invested abroad, the firms said in a joint statement. “This will promote cross border business and growth of infrastructure across the region,” the statement […]
Sri Lanka contain Australia despite Gilchrist heroics
PERTH, Australia, Feb 15, 2008 (AFP) – Local hero Adam Gilchrist scored a fairytale century as Australia made 236 in their tri-series one-day match against Sri Lanka at the WACA here Friday.The 36-year-old left-hander is quitting international cricket at the end of the series and it was his final innings at his home ground. Gilchrist […]
Sri Lanka beaten by Australia
PERTH, Australia, Feb 15, 2008 (AFP) – Local hero Adam Gilchrist scored a fairytale century in a man-of-the-match performance that lifted Australia to victory in their tri-series one-day game against Sri Lanka at the WACA Friday. After his 118 helped the hosts make 236 from 49.4 overs, Sri Lanka blew the chance to go top […]
Gilchrist bats for under-fire umpires
PERTH, Australia, Feb 13, 2008 (AFP) – Australia’s Adam Gilchrist went in to bat for the umpires on Wednesday, despite being at the wrong end of a dodgy decision at the weekend. “I am not going to hold a grudge against any umpire, particularly that bloke. I respect him…. I have the utmost respect for […]
Sri Lankans focus on Australian frailties
PERTH, Australia, Feb 14, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene vowed here Thursday to target Australian frailties as the tourists bid for top spot in the tri-series table. A win for Sri Lanka on Friday would see them top of the standings, relegating the world champions to bottom place. His own side’s confidence […]
India to propose ban on sledging at ICC meeting
NEW DELHI, Feb 14, 2008 (AFP) – India will propose a ban on sledging — verbally abusing opponents to put them off their game — at an upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting, a top official said here Thursday.“Cricket is not a physical, contact sport and we don’t see why there should be any abusive […]