Last Update: 2:35 am ET

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka face up to life without Muralitharan

COLOMBO (AFP) – Sri Lanka entered a new cricketing era on Friday, facing an uncertain future without legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, the world’s leading wicket-taker.
Muralitharan, 38, quit Test cricket on Thursday after reaching the unprecedented 800-wicket landmark, having played a major role in a 10-wicket victory over India in Galle.
The off-spinner [...]

Read More » No commentJuly 24, 2010

Sri Lanka on track for record tea crop

COLOMBO (AFP) – Sri Lanka, one of the world’s biggest black tea exporters, produced nearly 30 percent more tea in the first half of the year and is on track for a record crop, an official said Friday.
Tea is Sri Lanka’s biggest cash crop and is sold in overseas markets as “Pure [...]

Read More » No commentJuly 23, 2010

Sri Lanka to sell billion-dollar bond: government

COLOMBO (AFP) – Sri Lanka plans to sell a billion dollar sovereign bond this year to offset expensive short-term foreign loans, the government said Thursday.
Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the cabinet approved the move this week, but did not announce a formal date or the tenure of the proposed bond issue.
“We [...]

Read More » No commentJuly 23, 2010

Muralitharan takes 800th Test wicket

GALLE, Sri Lanka (AFP) – Retiring world bowling record holder Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka reached the 800-wicket mark with his last delivery in Test cricket on Thursday.
The off-spinner, 38, had last man Pragyan Ojha caught at slip by Mahela Jayawardene to terminate India’s second innings after lunch on the final [...]

Read More » No commentJuly 22, 2010

Most vulnerable nations pledge climate action

COLOMBO (AFP) – Six countries seen as most threatened by rising sea levels have vowed to cut their carbon emissions as a gesture of their commitment to fight global warming, the Maldivian government said Monday.
The countries, mostly low-lying nations, met over the weekend in the Maldives ahead of a UN climate [...]

Read More » No commentJuly 19, 2010

No play before lunch in India-Sri Lanka Test

GALLE, Sri Lanka (AFP) – Heavy rain washed out the morning session of the second day’s play in the first cricket Test between India and Sri Lanka on Monday.
The start had already been delayed by a wet outfield at the Galle International Stadium when a thunderstorm soon after ensured there would [...]

Read More » No commentJuly 19, 2010

Make cricket fan-friendly, says Sri Lanka captain

COLOMBO (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s captain Kumar Sangakkara has urged world cricket chiefs to win back fans to Test and one-day games with a balanced international calendar that gives equal opportunities to all teams.
Sangakkara said global viewership of the sport had dwindled over the past year, despite a packed schedule of [...]

Read More » No commentJuly 13, 2010

Sri Lanka Cabinet minister ends 3-day protest fast

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – A Sri Lankan Cabinet minister on Saturday ended a three-day fast aimed at forcing the United Nations to abandon an investigation into war crimes allegedly committed during the final months of the country’s civil war.
Housing Minister Wimal Weerawansa accepted some coconut water offered to him by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to end [...]

Read More » No commentJuly 13, 2010

S.Lanka says UN ‘acted in haste’ with envoy recall

COLOMBO (AFP) – Sri Lanka said Friday that UN chief Ban Ki-moon had “acted in haste” by recalling his top envoy on the island in response to angry protests over a UN war crimes panel.
Foreign Minister Gamini Lakshman Peiris said the government had told Ban’s chief representative Neil Buhne that the days [...]

Read More » No commentJuly 13, 2010

EU to cut S.Lanka’s trade benefits over human rights

BRUSSELS (AFP) – The European Union decided Monday to withdraw trade concessions in August granted to Sri Lanka after the government failed to make a written commitment to improve its human rights record.
Sri Lanka will “temporarily” lose its preferential access to the EU market from August 15 after it missed a [...]

Read More » No commentJuly 6, 2010