Category: Other
Britain, France fail to win Sri Lanka truce
April 29, 2009 (AFP) – The foreign ministers of Britain and France said on Wednesday they had failed to persuade Sri Lanka to end its offensive against Tamil rebels and allow aid in for civilians trapped by the fighting.“We tried very hard — we insisted and we insisted — but it is up to our […]
Sri Lankans asked to limit foreign travel to prevent swine flu spread
April 29, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankans should limit non-essential foreign travel to protect themselves from swine flu, the island’s health ministry said, adding that travelers from high risk countries were being screened at the country’s main airport. “The ministry of health appeals to the public to limit foreign travel to essential purposes to protect […]
‘s Bharti Airtel Q4 profit jumps 21 pct
MUMBAI, April 29, 2009 (AFP) – India’s top mobile phone company Bharti Airtel reported Wednesday that fourth-quarter net profit jumped 21 percent year on year, boosted by a rise in the number of cellular phone users.For the full year, the New Delhi-based company announced a 26 percent jump in net profit to 84.69 billion rupees […]
Panic in Mexico, US as killer swine flu fears cross globe
MEXICO CITY, April 27, 2009 (AFP) – World health officials on Monday stepped up the battle against a new swine flu blamed for dozens of deaths in Mexico, after the US declared a public emergency amid signs the disease was spreading. Panic grew in Mexico as citizens heeded government warnings to avoid contact with each […]
Fast Track
April 27, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has ordered a list of assets of the failed Golden Key Credit Card Company and its directors to be filed by May 11, to be seized and sold to repay depositors, lawyers said. Golden Key, a unit of Sri Lanka’s Ceylinco group collapsed in December 2008, […]
” in S.Lanka fighting
April 26, 2009 (AFP) – UN humanitarian chief John Holmes on Sunday appealed to Sri Lanka to halt their military offensive against the Tamil Tigers in order to allow aid workers to help civilians trapped in the war zone.Holmes, the under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs, told government leaders that months of fierce fighting had taken […]
Sri Lanka tea prices perk up as rupee weakens
April 23, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan tea prices rose sharply at this week’s auctions, propelled by the weakening of the rupee against the dollar and lower quantities, brokers said. They said prices of low grow teas, which make up the bulk of the crop, gained substantially although those from the higher elevations fell because […]
Sri Lanka rubber regains bounce
April 21, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan rubber prices have bounced back as demand picks up and tapping slows down during the off-season, industry officials said. “So rubber manufacturing companies have got new orders as a result of which they have to buy the natural rubber raw materials from producers. “Also, supply is now lower […]
Record Gulf remittances bleak comfort for Pakistan
KARACHI, April 21, 2009 (AFP) – Pakistani expatriate workers wired home a record 739.4 million dollars last month, but experts warn job losses from the global credit crunch could soon slash remittances and rock the economy.Pakistanis working overseas sent 5.66 billion dollars home during the first nine months to March 31, 20 percent up on […]
India launches spy satellite
BANGALORE, April 20, 2009 (AFP) – India put an Israeli-built spy satellite into orbit Monday, aimed at boosting its defence surveillance capabilities in the aftermath of the Mumbai militant attacks. The satellite, which can see through clouds and carry out day-and-night all-weather imaging, has been a long-standing demand of the Indian military. Its acquisition was […]
Losing Proposition
April 18, 2009 (LBO)- During the three decades beginning from 1978, Sri Lanka had recorded on average an annual inflation rate of slightly over 11 percent. During the same period, its annual average economic growth rate amounted to 5 percent. These two macroeconomic numbers have prompted many to argue that inflation does not matter since, […]
US environment agency deems CO2 a health risk
WASHINGTON, April 18, 2009 (AFP) – The US Environmental Protection Agency shifted course Friday by deeming carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases a health risk, in a landmark turnaround that could impact climate change regulation. “After a thorough scientific review ordered in 2007 by the US Supreme Court, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a proposed […]