Islamic Finance

July 24, 2010 (LBO) – A start-up Sri Lankan bank that has just raised 3.2 billion rupees in capital through a private placement wants to lure Middle Eastern funds and lend for infrastructure projects, an official said. Amana Bank is part of Sri Lanka’s Amana Islamic finance group that already has insurance and merchant banking […]

Indian state seeks one billion dollars to counter Maoists

NEW DELHI, July 24, 2010 (AFP) – An Indian state seen as a bastion of an increasingly deadly Maoist revolt said Saturday it was seeking one billion dollars to counter the left-wing insurgency with a development surge. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh told federal and state planners that the funds would be spent to rapidly […]

India carmaker Maruti posts surprise quarterly profit fall

NEW DELHI, July 24, 2010 (AFP) – India’s biggest carmaker Maruti Suzuki reported Saturday quarterly net profit fell by a surprise 20 percent as the company was pummelled by a surge in raw material costs. Maruti, majority-owned by Japan’s Suzuki Motor Corp, said net profit during the fiscal first quarter slid to 4. 65 billion […]

‘s Malinga out of second India Test

July 24, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka suffered a major blow on Saturday when a knee injury ruled sling-arm fast bowler Lasith Malinga out of the second Test against India. His absence means the hosts will be deprived of both architects of their 10-wicket win in the first Test at Galle — Malinga and the […]

Sri Lankan stocks close up 0.96-pct

July 23, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks recovered Friday on price gains on selected blue chip and midcap stocks on low volume trading, while Hotel Reefcomber shares continued to fall after the Amaya Leisure sell-out, brokers said. The All Share Price Index closed at 4,895. 51, up 0.96 percents while the more liquid Milanka […]

Liner Worries

July 23, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shipping agents said they are concerned over delays at Colombo port although they expect the situation to improve with new equipment and transport arrangements for moving containers. “Colombo port’s total cargo volumes have seen a growth of 23.6 percent to-date compared with last year,” Ranchigoda told the CASA […]

Seed Capital

July 23, 2010 (LBO) – Amana Bank Limited, a start up Sri Lankan firm which had provisional approval from the regulator to become a bank, said it had raised 3.2 billion in capital through a private placement. A tombstone placed in The Daily Mirror newspaper said the firm had raised 3,159 million rupees by selling […]

Maldives welcome foreign mediation

July 23, 2010 (LBO) – The Indian Ocean island of Maldives said it welcomed help from international community to resolve an internal political deadlock stemming from a battle between the president and parliament. “We are extremely grateful to our friends and partners in the international communities (sic), who are trying to help us resolve the […]

SriLankan Airlines to keep ground handling, catering monopoly: official

July 23, 2010 (LBO) – SriLankan Airlines is to maintain its monopoly on ground handling and catering at the island’s international airport which are its main money spinners, a senior official said. Wickremasinghe said the airline’s finances were improving after it suffered an almost 10-billion-rupee loss in the 2009 financial year. He spoke at the […]

Sri Lanka told time running out for new trade deal with India

July 23, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka could lose more opportunities to access India’s huge market owing to delays in striking a new economic partnership deal with her neighbour, the Indian envoy in Colombo has warned. An existing free trade deal between the two countries has led to a sharp increase in trade that could […]

Sri Lanka face up to life without Muralitharan

July 23, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka entered a new cricketing era on Friday, facing an uncertain future without the legendary Muttiah Muralitharan, the world’s leading wicket-taker. Muralitharan, 38, quit Test cricket on Thursday after reaching the unprecedented 800-wicket landmark, having played a major role in a 10-wicket victory over India in Galle. The off-spinner […]

Sri Lanka to make better use of idle state assets

July 23, 2010 (LBO ) – Sri Lanka will set up a state company to develop joint ventures and lease assets of other failed state companies with a capital of 100 million rupees, without ‘privatizing’ them, a government minister said. The State Resources Management Corporation will make better use of state assets which are uneconomical, […]

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