Category:
Indian FM in Sri Lanka amid unrest
Jan 9, 2007 (AFP) – Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee arrived in Sri Lanka Tuesday to invite President Mahinda Rajapakse to attend a South Asian summit in New Delhi in April, officials said. Mukherjee opened talks with his Sri Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera here ahead of talks with Rajapakse and Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake before […]
Sri Lanka president mulls cabinet reshuffle; discounts election
Jan 9, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s president Tuesday said a cabinet reshuffle was being considered but discounted local media reports that he would call a snap parliamentary election. President Mahinda Rajapakse said he saw no reason for a general election “at this stage,” according to a statement released by his office. “There were no […]
Civilians killed in Sri Lanka hospital shelling: Tiger rebels
Jan 9, 2007 (AFP) – At least four civilians were killed and 16 hurt by Sri Lankan army shelling inside rebel-held territory, the Tamil Tigers said Tuesday, as sporadic violence was reported in the island’s troubled northeast. The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said on its website that one more civilian was killed […]
‘s Official
January 9, 2007 (LBO) – Lanka IOC, a unit of Fortune 500 Indian Oil Corp. has laid the foundation stone on its upcoming lubricant blending plant over weekend, after the Sri Lankan government settle settled 5.16 billion rupees in unpaid subsidy bills last Friday, officials said. Lanka IOC is 75 percent-owned by Indian Oil Corp., […]
State-run Bank of Ceylon to raise US$ 100 mn syndicated loan
January 8, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s state-run Bank of Ceylon plans to tap the international capital markets early this year to raise 100 million dollars via a three-year syndication loan, a senior official said. The deal, arranged with sole bookrunner HSBC, was earlier scheduled for late last year.Bank of Ceylon was forced to pull […]
Few Tweaks
January 8, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank plans to revise the way commercial banks’ compute the single borrower limit, as part of its drive to strengthen the banking system. “We are looking at revising the Single Borrower Limit in line with improved risk management by banks,” Governor Nivard Cabraal said. Presently, a single […]
United Action
Jan 08, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Telecom trade unions including non executive technical staff are threatening to go on strike next week, if the telecom giant fails to sort out salary anomalies, promotions and restrict short-term contracts. The union official says the company had not yet granted 17.5 percent, 20.0 percent or 25.0 percent […]
White Lies
NETANYA, Israel, Jan 8, 2007 (AFP) – Have you ever wondered if someone you are chatting to is telling the truth?New lie detector software from high-tech powerhouse Israel says it can show you — across the Internet. “We tested it with the (former US president Bill) Clinton speech about his relationship with his intern Monica […]
UN fears for Sri Lankan civilians as attacks escalate
Jan 8, 2007 (AFP) – The United Nations Monday condemned weekend bomb attacks on bus passengers in Sri Lanka and and called on the combatants in the island’s ethnic conflict to ensure civilian safety in battle zones. “The United Nations calls for the protection of all civilians throughout the island,” the statement said. The bus […]
Sri Lanka beefs up security after bus bombings
Jan 8, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka Monday stepped up security on public transport across the country after two weekend bomb attacks killed 21 passengers and wounded about 120, police said. Passengers were forced to line up for security checks before boarding buses and trains that bring in about 70 percent of the one million […]
Little Choice
January 05, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s clothing exporters are protesting against shipping lines’ decision to increase fees for handling goods out of the island by as much as 35 percent. Starting January 1, the Terminal Handling Charge or THC for a 20 foot container goes up from 115 dollars to 155 dollars, while 40 […]
Cheap Deals
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5, 2007 (AFP) – AirAsia X, a new long-haul, low-cost carrier, will take off in July with flights to Britain for as little as 9.99 ringgit (2.84 dollars), Malaysian aviation tycoon Tony Fernandes said Friday. AirAsia X will service other destinations in Europe as well as China and India, said Fernandes, the […]