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 […]

‘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 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Foreign Boost

Feb 14, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Sanasa Development Bank, which has roots in the micro-finance sector, will get cash from foreign partners to meet regulatory capital requirements, an official said. A unit of Singapore’s Orient Global has injected 71 million rupees in Sanasa and has received the regulatory nod to invest up to 15 […]

Sri Lanka to entice Arab tourists in deal with Al-Jazeera

Feb 13, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is targeting Middle Eastern visitors by tying up with Al-Jazeera TV to make up for dwindling numbers from traditional European markets, officials said. “There is a need to be more aggressive in promoting the country’s image among Middle East travellers,” deputy minister of tourism Faiszer Musthapha […]

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