Share Blogs

Sri Lankan shares ended 2009 with a stellar 125 percent rally, the market’s best performance in more than a decade and far ahead of other strong performers such as Indonesia , India and China . The recovery in stock markets after last year’s crisis-driven plunges saw India and Indonesia post their biggest annual gains in a decade, driven in part by foreign money seeking Asia ’s relatively stronger balance-sheets, higher yields and growth potential. The MSCI index of Asia Pacific stocks traded outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS has risen nearly 70 percent in 2009, its best performance since 1993 and far outpacing expected gains of just over 20 percent in U.S. and European equities. Following are Asian stock markets’ moves over full year 2009. Data as of 0730 GMT, Thursday. MARKET Index level % gain Sri Lanka ( Colombo All-share) .CSE 3385.55 125.3 Indonesia (JSX) .JKSE 2534.36 87

The Hettipola courts this morning (December 29) has ordered that United National Party (UNP) Parliamentarian Dayasiri Jayasekera be released on bail. A complaint had been lodged at the Hettipola Police claiming that Dayasiri Jayasekera had been involved in an incident of assault. Accordingly Mr. Jayasekera had surrendered to the Hettipola courts this morning, where he was released on bail, said Police spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police I.M. Karunaratne.

Media Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa today addressing a press conference said that he did not see any partiality in the broadcasting of the nomination handing over today morning at the Election Secretariat today by the State media. He said this when he was questioned as to why the Rtd. General Sarath Fonseka was not shown giving in his nomination. Minister also added that he felt that all the candidates were given equal coverage by the State broadcast. If there was any partiality the relevant authorities will be advised on the matter, he said.

SLFP MP Arjuna Ranathunga has expressed his support for Rtd. General Sarath Fonseka at the upcoming Presidential elections. Ranathunga is currently addressing a press conference with Sarath Fonseka. He also added that he will remain a member of the SLFP and support Fonseka at the election to ensure that he will come into power. Ranathunga also added that while Fonseka will rid the country of corruption, he hopes to rid Sri Lankan sports of corruption. Sports is one of the most corrupted aspects of Sri Lanka today, Ranathuga said.

Tigo (Pvt.) Limited, has stepped forward to take the initiative to provide opportunities for our children to ‘access today’s world through education’. Tigo has set the pace to take knowledge where it is needed most. With a vision of enabling our children to access knowledge, Tigo has selected some of the most deserving and deprived schools where they will set up a Tigo Knowledge Centre a well versed reading library. Most of the reading materials available are relevant to the student’s everyday academic lessons, thereby aiding them with the proper required knowledge to be well versed in theses respective areas. With a mission aligned with Tigo’s ‘3 A strategy’, this CSR project is one which focuses on Availability (access to knowledge readily available), Affordability (targeting children from low income earning families) and Accessibility (bringing knowledge to where the needs are.) In the first of a nine phase project, Tigo initiated its inaugural Knowledge Center in the Ihala Th