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LOS ANGELES, May 31, 2008 (AFP) – Oscar-winning US actress Holly Hunter got star treatment Friday, as her name was embedded and her film career honored on Hollywood’s “Walk of Fame.” The 50-year-old actress, her two-year-old twin sons, director Steven Spielberg and actor Ed Harris were all on hand for the unveiling of the 2,363rd […]
” by soldiers
May 31, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan media groups have expressed grave concern over what they said was an ‘unofficial’ visit to the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) by soldiers. The SLPI and media rights group Free Media Movement (FMM) said the visit appeared linked to recent threats and assault on journalists, coming soon after […]
Canada-based Sri Lanka Tiger suspect gets student award
OTTAWA, May 30, 2008 (AFP) – A Canadian suspected of using his studies as a cover for terrorist activities was awarded a 5,000 dollar prize for his entrepreneurial talent by a Canadian university, The Globe and Mail reported Friday.Suresh Sriskandarajah, 26, was arrested in August 2006 in Ontario at the request of US authorities who […]
Sri Lanka needs better peace proposals: minister
May 31, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka needs peace proposals acceptable to the main political parties and the Tamil speaking community to put pressure on the Tamil Tigers to resume peace talks, a senior government minister has said. The proposals would also assure Tamils that their aspirations and grievances will be addressed by any future […]
Sri Lanka politicians to meddle in fuel use
May 31, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s ruling politicians are to come up with plans next week to reduce energy use, with the petroleum bill being identified as the biggest threat to the country, senior ministers said. Trade minister Bandula Gunewardene said the country last year spent 2.4 billion dollars on oil imports compared to […]
Sri Lanka relaxes entry rules for foreign bond buyers
May 30, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has removed foreign funds investing in government bonds from the scrutiny of the country’s securities watchdog, the island’s central bank said.Foreign hedge funds bought into Sri Lanka government securities heavily in the first part of 2007. But turmoil in global credit markets had made conditions in international markets […]
Housing Woes
May 30, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Housing Development and Finance Corporation’s (HDFC’s) profits fel 90 percent in the March quarter amid rising interest expenses and a fall in other income, the group’s interim results showed. The group after tax profit dropped to 11.38 million rupees in the quarter ended March 2008, from a previous […]
Fined
May 30, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka securities watchdog said Nawaloka director Jayantha Dharmadasa has been fined over a price manipulation case involving the shares of a hospital firm. The Securities and Exchange Commission said in a notice that Dharmadasa had been fined 3.3 million rupees following a request to ‘compound’ a case a under […]
Sri Lanka captures rebel base: military
Sri Lankan troops have captured a Tamil Tiger base in the island’s north after three days of heavy fighting which left seven guerrillas and one government soldier dead, the defence ministry said Friday.It said ground troops captured “Munagam Base,” situated six kilometers (four miles) north of the frontlines in the Weli Oya region, on Thursday. […]
‘s Mihin Air seeks cash, merger
May 30, 2008 (LBO) Sri Lanka’s grounded state-run budget airline has sought an 800,000 dollar cash infusion from the Treasury and may be merged with the national carrier, as part of a restructure plan, officials said.Merger The restructuring plan prepared by state-owned Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka, had also suggested the smaller airline merge with […]
Money printing fuels property bubble in Iran
May 30, 2008 (AFP) – As Iran’s economy is buffeted by inflation, the country’s homeowners are fast becoming richer in a real estate bubble that is driving affordable housing beyond the reach of ordinary citizens.Prices have doubled within a few months in satellite town of Parand and Hashtgerd, 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Tehran, while […]
Japanese man finds woman living in his closet
May 30, Japan (AFP) – A Japanese man puzzled by food mysteriously disappearing from his refrigerator got a shock when he found out a woman had been living in his home for months without permission, police said Friday.The 57-year-old man living alone — or so he thought — in the western city of Fukuoka installed […]