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Sri Lanka stocks end higher
Dec 26, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka stocks close higher Thursday with diversified stocks gaining, brokers said. Trans Asia Hotels closed 2.00 rupees lower at 78.00 rupees and Asian Hotels and Properties ended 10 cents lower at 64.40 rupees. The Colombo benchmark All Share Price Index closed 2.56 points higher at 5,848.49, up 0.04 percent. […]
Rescue underway for Russian ship trapped by Antarctic ice
SYDNEY, December 26, 2013 (AFP) – Three icebreaking ships were Thursday hurrying to reach a Russian vessel carrying 74 people on a scientific expedition which is trapped by ice off Antarctica, with Australian authorities coordinating the rescue mission.The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said the MV Akademik Shokalskiy sent a distress message on Wednesday to […]
Hafeez, Ajmal guide Pakistan to series-clinching win
ABU DHABI, December 25, 2013 (AFP) – Mohammad Hafeez notched his third hundred of the series while off-spinner Saeed Ajmal grabbed four wickets to help Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the fourth one-day international on Wednesday.Hafeez finished with 113 not out for his ninth one-day hundred as Pakistan knocked off their modest […]
Sri Lanka win toss, opt to bat in must win game
ABU DHABI, December 25, 2013 (AFP) – Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews won the toss and opted to bat in the fourth one-day international against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. Pakistan, who lead the series 2-1, remained unchanged from the side which won the third match in Sharjah by 113 runs on Sunday. Sri […]
Christians increasingly under threat: Catholic observers
VATICAN CITY, December 25, 2013 (AFP) – Thousands of Christians are killed every year because of their faith and the persecution is becoming more widespread, Catholic observers said as Christmas celebrations are increasingly marred by attacks in at-risk countries.Experts have pointed to three main types of anti-Christian violence — the main one being religious radicalism […]
Sri Lanka stocks close flat
Dec 24, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka stocks close flat Tuesday with hotel and plantation stocks falling, brokers said. Sampath Bank closed 10 cents lower at 170.00 rupees and Aitken Spence closed 1.00 rupee higher at 101.00 rupees. Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings closed 30 cents higher at 65.50 rupees and Asian Hotels and Properties closed […]
Rating Cut
Dec 24, 2013 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings has downgraded Sri Lanka’s Multi Finance Plc, a registered finance company by two levels to ‘B-(lka)’ on rising non performing loans. The firm was also place on negative watch at the new rating level. Fitch said the firm’s unprovided loan losses exceeded equity. Sri Lanka’s economy has been […]
Capital Raising
Dec 24, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Amana Bank has received 1. 5 billion rupees of subscription for its initial public offer and would close on December 24, registrars to the issue said. The bank offered 214.3 million shares at 7.0 rupees and a further 71.5 million shares if the first tranche was fully taken […]
Sri Lanka lets Australian hotelier back in after flag spat
COLOMBO, December 24, 2013 (AFP) – The Australian owner of one of the world’s most exclusive hotels was given temporary permission to return to his adopted Sri Lankan homeland Tuesday after being barred in a spat over the national flag. His portfolio includes the private Taprobane Island, whose guests have included pop stars Sting and […]
Sri Lanka tourist growth slows in November
Dec 24, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tourist arrivals grew 2.8 percent from a year earlier 112,213 million in November 2013, the slowest growth registered in any month in over three years. The State ordered hotels to restrict bookings from regular tourists during the Commonwealth meet and room rates were also boosted up. Given sufficient […]
Improving the quality of the Sri Lankan passport
Dec 23, 2013 (LBO) – I travel on a Sri Lanka passport. The hassle is so great that I regret not getting another passport. My life was made simpler, for a short time, by the wonderful one-year SAARC visa that allowed me visa-free access to our neighboring countries. I still have it, but now it […]
Bolivia leader — an ex-child worker — opposes child labor age
LA PAZ, December 23, 2013 (AFP) – President Evo Morales said Monday he opposed any outright ban on child labor or setting a minimum age for workers in Bolivia — as a former child worker, himself.Despite recent declines in the worldwide incidence of child labor, much more must be done to tackle the issue, the […]