Category:
Euro hits 14-month high vs dollar
TOKYO, October 26, 2009 (AFP) – The euro hit a 14-month high against the dollar in Asian trade Monday on signs that China may increase its holdings of the European currency, dealers said. The euro rose to 1.5061 dollars in Tokyo midday trade, its highest level since August 11, 2008 and up from 1.5027 in […]
Sri Lankan stocks fall 1.0-pct
Oct 26, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks closed down 1.0 percent Monday as buyers stayed in the sidelines, awaiting September quarter earnings season which has just begun, brokers said. The All Share Price Index closed down 1.07 percent (32.60 points) to end at 3,024.02, while the Milanka Index of more liquid stocks lost 1.01 […]
Better Showing
Oct 26, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s listed Seylan Bank group has reported profits of 397.7 million rupees, up 292 percent from a year earlier, while its loan book continued to shrink and some provisions were reversed. Group interest income fell 10.9 percent to 5.9 billion rupees, while interest expense fell 17.1 percent to 5.2 […]
Mystery
VANCOUVER, October 24, 2009 (AFP) – Canada is to release one of 76 Tamils arrested last week in a ship off its Pacific coast, local media reported Saturday.The decision came after a custody hearing, lawyer Narinder Kang told the Globe and Mail newspaper. The released man was ordered to report regularly to border authorities, Kang […]
Pakistan says offensive death toll rises to 227
ISLAMABAD, October 26, 2009 (AFP) – Pakistan’s military said Monday that the death toll in a major military assault on the Taliban rose to 227, reporting heavy losses in the battle to control a village en route to a Taliban bastion.Nineteen militants were killed during the last 24 hours, a military statement said, bringing the […]
Sri Lanka Oman air dispute: SriLankan can overfly desert state
Oct 26, 2009 (LBO) – SriLankan Airlines will continue to overfly Oman, an official said, following reports that the island’s aircraft may be denied permission to use Omani airspace over a dispute in implementing an existing bilateral air services deal.A media report from Oman, quoted an official as saying that the airline was not able […]
Sri Lanka June power generation, diesel sales up in June
Oct 26, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s power generation was up 0.2 percent in June, from a year earlier, changing a tend of falling output in previous months, the latest official data showed.In the 6-months to June diesel sales were up 4.4 percent from a year earlier 883,000 metric tonnes, petrol up 3.4 percent to […]
Sri Lanka to probe US war crimes allegations
October 26, 2009 (AFP) – The Sri Lankan government on Monday said it would investigate war crimes allegations made against its troops in a US State Department report.Among the claims detailed in the report was the accusation that Tiger leaders reached a surrender agreement with government forces but were then executed.Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe […]
Indian car maker Maruti sees quarterly profit jump 93 pct
NEW DELHI, October 24, 2009 (AFP) – India’s largest car maker Maruti Suzuki reported Saturday that its quarterly net profit had soared 93 percent year-on-year, amid signs pointing to a reviving domestic economy. Maruti, majority owned by Japan’s Suzuki Motor Corp, reported net profit of 5.7 billion rupees (123 million dollars) in the second financial […]
India says will start 3G auction in January
NEW DELHI, October 24, 2009 (AFP) – India said Saturday a long-delayed auction of radio bandwidth for third generation (3G) telecommunications services will start in January and will be open to foreign companies.The Central Bureau of Investigation alleged in a statement “a criminal conspiracy between certain officials” of the ministry and “private persons/companies and others […]
Volatile Labour
Oct 25, 2009 (LBO) – Workers at Sri Lanka’s state-owned oil refiner said they plan to resume normal work Monday, ending a four-day work-to-rule action that created fuel shortages.Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) labour unions launched the action Thursday to back demands for a pay hike. Their action disrupted fuel supplies, resulting in long queues outside […]
Sri Lanka doctors, accountants lead brain drain
Oct 25, 2009 (LBO) – Doctors and accountants top the outflow of skilled professionals from Sri Lanka, seeking better opportunities in developed countries, a study on migration has said.But government forces defeated the Tamil Tiger separatists in May, ending the 30-year conflict, and raising hopes of an economic revival. The government has said it is […]