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Sri Lanka chases tea lovers, golfers to rebuild tourist image
April 12, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tourism promoters are trying to focus on niche markets, luring golfers and tea drinkers to visit the island after its image as a tourist destination was marred by renewed guerrilla violence. The tourism chief, Renton De Alwis, believes that focusing on repeat visitors who are aware of the […]
‘s girlfriend deepens; no resignation yet
WASHINGTON, April 12, 2007 (AFP) – World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz Thursday apologized for making a “mistake” over hefty pay rises given to his girlfriend at the development lender, but refused to say if he might quit. “I made a mistake, for which I am sorry,” Wolfowitz told a press conference as an uproar intensified […]
India test fires ballistic missile capable of reaching China
BHUBANESWAR, India, April 12, 2007 (AFP) – India on Thursday test-fired a nuclear-capable medium-range ballistic missile which can reach the Chinese cities of Beijing and Shanghai, defence sources said. The launch of the Agni-III missile took place from Wheeler Island, 180 kilometres (110 miles) northeast of Bhubaneswar, the capital of eastern Orissa state. It was […]
‘s pay rise: report
HONG KONG, April 12, 2007 (AFP) – World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz personally ordered the hefty pay rise given to his girlfriend at the bank, the Financial Times website reported on Thursday. It cited two people who had seen a memo from Wolfowitz to the head of human resources spelling out the terms of the […]
Sangakkara puts his faith in Sri Lankan way
ST GEORGE’S, April 12, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka vice-captain Kumar Sangakkara said it was vital his side kept faith with the style of cricket that won them the 1996 World Cup if they were to lift the trophy for a second time. Sanath Jayasuriya, still a key member of the side and Romesh Kaluwitharana, […]
England hopes alive after win over Bangladesh
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, April 11, 2007 (AFP) – England thwarted another strong challenge from Bangladesh’s spinners to register a much-needed four-wicket win in a World Cup Super Eights match here on Wednesday. Mushfiqur Rahim (seven) also failed to live up to the expectations as Bangladesh were struggling at 65-6 before Hasan and Mortaza gave the total […]
Sri Lanka troops take key highway from Tigers
COLOMBO, April 12, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lankan forces have captured a strategic highway in the island’s restive eastern province which was under Tamil Tiger control for 15 years, the defence ministry said Thursday.Troops took control Wednesday of the A-5 road linking the town of Chenkaladi and Badulla in the central part of the island, […]
Seven villagers shot dead in Sri Lanka
COLOMBO, April 12, 2007 (AFP) – Suspected Tamil Tiger rebels Thursday shot dead seven villagers of the majority Sinhalese community in northern Sri Lanka on the eve of the traditional New Year, police said.Gunmen from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) raided the village of Avarantalawa in the district of Vavuniya where heavy fighting […]
Sri Lanka uses anti-terror laws to crush media: rights group
April 12, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka is using tough anti-terror laws to suppress democratic dissent and journalists who expose human rights abuses, the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) charged Thursday. New measures introduced in December were being deployed against those who question the government’s handling of the separatist war with the rebel Liberation […]
” against Tigers
by Stefan Smith BATTICALOA, Sri Lanka, April 12, 2007 (AFP) – Tensions are running high in Sri Lanka’s east as government troops fight what they insist is the “climax” of a battle to clear vast jungle areas of Tamil Tiger rebels. Still trying to recover from the 2004 Asian tsunami, the eastern coastal town of […]
‘s Tamil Tigers using satellite illegally: Intelsat
WASHINGTON, April 11, 2007 (AFP) – Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka have been illegally using a satellite of US giant Intelsat to beam their radio and television broadcasts overseas, the company said Wednesday.The issue was also taken up by Sri Lanka at a meeting of the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization in Paris last month, […]
Sri Lanka call rates hit 50% amidst festival drawdown
March 11, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s inter-bank call rates hit 50 percent Wednesday even as the monetary authority pumped billion of rupees into the banking system to make-up for a seasonal cash draw down from the system.Sri Lanka’s money supply usually zooms in April during the island’s Sinhala and Tamil New Year as government […]