Category:
Australia defends Malaysia asylum seekers plan
SYDNEY, May 8, 2011 (AFP) – Australia on Sunday defended plans to send hundreds of asylum seekers to Malaysia, saying it was an important signal to people smugglers, but refugee advocates slammed the proposal as cruel. Australia wants to transfer 800 boat people to Malaysia for processing as part of a yet-to-be-finalised one-off deal which […]
Renewables major part of 2050 world energy mix: UN
PARIS, May 7, 2011 (AFP) – Renewable power from the Sun, wind, water and biomass can and should generate a major portion of the planet’s energy supply by 2050, according to a draft United Nations report obtained by AFP. Renewables have the potential to bring power to the world’s poorest regions, boost energy security for […]
India to supply power to Bangladesh
NEW DELHI, May 7, 2011 (AFP) – India said Saturday it would start to supply some 250 megawatts of power to neighbouring Bangladesh by 2013 as it moves to cement relations between the South Asian neighbours. The step is part of a drive by the two countries for closer ties. “Work on the transmission line […]
‘s Tillakaratne seeks protection over fixing
May 6, 2011 (AFP) – Former Sri Lanka cricket captain Hashan Tillakaratne on Friday demanded police protection before he shares information on alleged match-fixing with authorities. “As an eyewitness to match-fixing, I will reveal the names of those involved if my security is guaranteed,” Tillakaratne told reporters after the Criminal Investigations Department grilled him for […]
Sri Lanka stocks becalmed
May 06, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed flat Friday despite the previous day’s rebound after four days of falls with brokers saying recent credit limits imposed by regulators was keeping the market stagnant. The main All Share Price Index closed at 7,319.15, up 0.03 percent (1.98 points) while the more liquid Milanka index […]
Piracy Warning
BEIJING, May 6, 2011 (AFP) – A Panama-registered cargo ship seized by pirates in the Arabian Sea has been rescued along with the 24 Chinese sailors aboard, the transport ministry in Beijing said Friday. US and Turkish teams freed the vessel, Full City, late Thursday, several hours after it had been hijacked about 800 kilometres […]
Raising Funds
May 06, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Hatton National Bank said it plans to raise at least 15.07 billion rupees through a rights issue and private placement to strengthen its capital and balance sheet and to support growth. It intends to raise 10.5 billion rupees from the rights issue of one share for every six […]
Sri Lanka tea prices fall
May 06, 2011 (LBO) – Sri Lankan tea prices fell for the second week at the Colombo auctions with brokers warning that surging crops and a drop in quality could reduce prices further and bring down earnings of producers. “Overall a lower market,” Forbes & Walker Tea Brokers said in a report. “Auction offerings were […]
Broadband Battle
May 06, 2011 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka unit of UAE-based Etisalat has commissioned a high-speed 3. 75G wireless network enabling mobile broadband customers very fast Internet access, video calls and games, and mobile television. Etisalat chief executive Dumindra Ratnayaka said potential to grow was wide with the island’s Internet penetration being only about 8. […]
Hundreds join anti-government protest in Maldives
May 6, 2011 (AFP) – Hundreds of anti-government protesters took to the streets of The Maldives for a sixth consecutive day Friday to demonstrate against soaring prices and demand that President Mohammed Nasheed resign. Eyewitnesses said more than 500 people gathered in Republican Square in the capital Male after Friday prayers to protest against economic […]
India govt panel cuts growth forecast to 8.5%
NEW DELHI, May 6, 2011 (AFP) – The top economic adviser to India’s prime minister has cut his estimate for economic growth in the current fiscal year by half a percentage point to 8. 5 percent, citing inflationary pressures. The Indian government has targeted 9.0 percent growth for the year to March 31, 2012, but […]
” rating confirmed
May 06, 2011 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings Lanka has affirmed HNB Assurance’s (HNBA) National Long-Term rating and its National Insurer Financial Strength (IFS) rating at ‘A(lka)’ with stable outlooks. The ratings reflect HNBA’s adequate risk-based capital position, conservative investment strategy and stable profitability progression, a statement said. The ratings also factor in Fitch’s expectations of […]