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Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s war-hit Tamils vote for local councils

JAFFNA, Sri Lanka (AP) — Voters in Sri Lanka’s northern Tamil heartland trickled to polling stations Saturday to elect local councils following the country’s long civil war amid reports of intimidation and vote-buying.
The local elections have assumed unprecedented national significance, with some ethnic Tamil political party leaders saying a [...]

Read More » No commentJuly 24, 2011

Problems mount for Sri Lankan cricket

Only three months ago, Sri Lanka were battling it out with India in the World Cup final but they have since gone from controversy to scandal to full-blown crisis in an astounding fall from grace.
After losing the Mumbai showpiece, Sri Lanka have unravelled in spectacular fashion, hit by resignations, match-fixing [...]

Read More » No commentJuly 8, 2011

Sri Lanka to scale down T20 league

Sri Lanka’s cash-strapped cricket governing body is likely to scale down its inaugural Twenty20 league and go ahead without foreign players, a source close to the process said Tuesday.
The Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) was scheduled to kick off on July 19 with players from Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and the [...]

Read More » No commentJuly 5, 2011

Sri Lanka frees 136 fishermen under India pressure

COLOMBO (AFP) – Sri Lankan authorities, under diplomatic pressure from neighbouring India, released 136 Indian fishermen Friday without pressing poaching charges, officials said.
“The fishermen were given over to the Indian coastguard at the maritime border,” navy spokesman Kosala Warnakulasuriya said of the detainees, who were arrested in two batches earlier this week.
The sudden move by [...]

Read More » No commentFebruary 20, 2011

Aussie couple give cricket fans food for thought

COLOMBO (AFP) – Relive Bodyline’s ruthless history over a cold beer at Bradman’s bar, before tucking into a Dickie Bird Burger.
A restaurant on the outskirts of Colombo, set-up inside an old bungalow by a couple of cricket-loving Aussie surfers, is proving to be a home-from-home for World Cup fans.
The Cricket Club Cafe is packed with [...]

Read More » No commentFebruary 18, 2011

Sri Lanka wary of World Cup minnows

COLOMBO (AFP) – Ace Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan said his team should not lower their guard against smaller teams in their quest to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.
Sri Lanka are in Group A with defending champions Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya, with the top four sides qualifying for the quarter-finals.
“Australia, New [...]

Read More » No commentFebruary 9, 2011

Malinga, Murali restrict Windies

COLOMBO (AFP) – Lasith Malinga and Muttiah Muralitharan shared five wickets to help Sri Lanka restrict the West Indies to 203 in the second one-day international on Thursday.
Paceman Malinga finished with 3-30 and off-spinner Muralitharan with 2-42 as the hosts prevented the tourists from building a big innings at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground in [...]

Read More » No commentFebruary 3, 2011

Shayne Heffernan on Asian Economics

Shayne Heffernan on Asian Economics. Shayne Heffernan is widely considered Asia’s Leading Expert on Trading. Shayne Heffernan is Based in Asia at www.heffcap.com
Governments are now stockpiling food staples
Governments across the developing World are stockpiling food staples in an attempt to contain panic buying, inflation and social unrest.
But the hoarding is driving agricultural commodity prices higher. [...]

Read More » No commentJanuary 28, 2011

Sri Lanka military to share war tips at forum

COLOMBO (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s army Wednesday announced plans to share with other countries its success in crushing ethnic Tamil Tiger rebels and ending the island’s 37-year-old separatist war.
Army chief Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya said they were inviting heads of military and defence establishments in 54 countries to a three-day forum [...]

Read More » No commentJanuary 26, 2011

Sri Lanka shifts venues for Windies ODIs

COLOMBO (AFP) – Sri Lanka has switched venues for next week’s one-day series against the West Indies to Colombo, an official said Wednesday, as both teams prepare for next month’s World Cup.
The games will be played during the day at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo, Sri Lanka Cricket media manager [...]

Read More » No commentJanuary 26, 2011