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‘ tag, says Smith
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, April 18, 2007 (AFP) – South Africa captain Graeme Smith believes his team have finally buried their chokers’ tag after storming into the World Cup semi-finals. The Proteas raced to a nine-wicket victory over England here on Tuesday to join defending champions Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka in the semi-finals. Australia lead […]
Cup Semi-finalists are on board
RIDGETOWN, Barbados, April 16, 2007 (AFP) – Results and standings in the Super Eights of the 2007 World Cup on Tuesday: At Bridgetown, Barbados South Africa bt England by 9 wkts Super Eights standings (played, won, lost, tied, no-result, run-rate, points): Australia 6 6 0 0 0 +2.03 12.0 – qualified for semi-finals New Zealand […]
Sri Lanka editor faces death threat
COLOMBO, April 18, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lankan authorities have issued a death threat against a newspaper editor for reporting on military excesses and human rights abuses, journalists and a media rights group said Wednesday. The editor of Colombo’s Daily Mirror, Champika Liyanaarachchi, said defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse, the younger brother of President Mahinda Rajapakse, […]
Sri Lanka threatens to expel diplomats
April 18, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka warned Wednesday it may expel foreign diplomats who meddle in the island’s internal affairs and said at least one unnamed envoy was being investigated. The threat comes amid growing international criticism of Sri Lanka’s human rights record and Colombo’s resistance to suggestions that United Nations monitors should be […]
Sri Lanka editor faces death threat: rights group
April 18, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lankan authorities have issued a thinly veiled death threat against a newspaper editor for reporting on military excesses and human rights abuses, a media rights group said Wednesday.Although there is no formal censorship imposed, Sri Lankan authorities prevent journalists from travelling to areas held by rebels, who are waging […]
Price Pressure
April 18, 2007 (LBO) – The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) which lost 1.5 billion rupees in 2006 is seeking a price hike to ward off an 800 million rupee loss by April, but the government is only permitting half the increase sought by the utility. Funds were also needed lay a new pipeline from Muthurajawela […]
New Sri Lanka investment chief assures faster approvals, encourages local investors
April 18, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s new investment promotion chief said Wednesday he wants to speed up approvals but also be more selective in targeting investors and eliminate attitudes that favour foreigners. Much land earmarked for prospective investors in investment zones, or expansion of existing projects, had not been used while the BOI told […]
Sri Lanka treasury yields rocket as central bank continues tight stance
April 17, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s 3-month treasury yield shot up at an auction by more than 43 basis points to 15.44 percent Tuesday with overnight rates already at 30 percent levels. Sri Lanka’s central bank has been staying away from printing money in primary auctions and allowing rates to adjust upwards to draw […]
Sri Lanka tourism downturn delays Rs500mn Serendib re-branding
April 17, 2007 (LBO) – A downturn in tourism triggered by escalating violence has forced Serendib Hotels to put off plans to re-brand three hotels with a foreign leisure group, its holding company Hemas said. The mass market is still coming and our Dolphin hotel is doing well. Hotel Serendib, Bentota, controlled by the public-listed […]
Wal-Mart reclaims top spot on Fortune 500 list
NEW YORK, April 16, 2007 (AFP) – US retailer Wal-Mart Stores has dethroned oil giant ExxonMobil from the top position in the Fortune 500 list of America’s biggest companies, the magazine announced Monday. The magazine said Wal-Mart saw an 11.2 percent increase in its 2006 revenues to 351.1 billion dollars, eclipsing the 347.3 billion raked […]
US firms to make biodiesel from beef, poultry by-products
WASHINGTON, April 16, 2007 (AFP) – A new biofuel project will mean what’s for dinner may also be what goes in the fuel tank with ConocoPhillips and Tyson Foods joining forces to make diesel fuel from animal byproducts. The project announced Monday will produce “the next generation of renewable diesel fuel,” to help supplement petroleum-based […]
Pakistan to sack 80 cricket officials
ISLAMABAD, April 17, 2007 (AFP) – The Pakistan Cricket Board said Tuesday it will sack 80 employees, including some senior management officials, in the wake of the national team’s World Cup fiasco.Pakistan were ousted from the tournament after a humiliating defeat by minnows Ireland on March 17.Coach Bob Woolmer was found murdered in his hotel […]