Forestry emerges as a preferred choice of long-term investment

Many investors are actively reducing their exposure to equities and are seeking alternative assets to boost returns without dramatically altering their overall risk profile. Hence, commercial forestry is rapidly becoming a preferred choice of sustainable investment.

SLRA conducts retail development programme

The Sri Lanka Retailers’ Association (SLRA) will launch the first ever retail development programme in partnership with Sensei Lanka. 

CMA Students’ Conference to be held on May 4

The CMA Students’ Guild will host its Annual Conference on the theme ‘Transition from an Accountant to a Finance Business Partner’ on May 04th  at Sasakawa Auditorium Colombo 03.

Sri Lanka – Russia Business Council discusses progress of recent business visit

Sri Lanka – Russia Business Council of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce organized a get-together recently to discuss the progress made during the recent visit, the Council members made to Russia, as a part of the Presidential Delegation to Russia.

September to herald ‘Facets’ int’l gem and jewellery exhibition

Organized by the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association (SLGJA), this year’s edition of the country’s leading international gem and jewellery show ‘Facets’ is set to take the global community by storm. 

Belgium’s Libert Paints appoints Modern Trading as exclusive agents in Sri Lanka

Libert Paints, Belgium, a leading manufacturer of professional paints and coatings, established since 1894, offering high-quality solutions from a wide range of protective and industrial coatings, hygiene solutions and floor and building paints, joined hands with Modern Trading (Pvt.) Ltd, to introduce its quality paint products in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

UTE provides clean air solutions for food industry

United Tractor & Equipment (Pvt.) Limited (UTE), recognised as a provider of precision-engineered solutions, hosted a customer awareness session titled ‘Oil-free for a cleaner world’ recently to create awareness of the benefits of using oil-free, environmentally safe, industrial air through the efficient FS Curtis oil-free air compressor range.

Browns Agriculture honoured with Massey Ferguson Long-standing Relationship Award

The Browns Agriculture Division won a prestigious award from its principal partner Massey Ferguson, for being the oldest distributor – 65 years in Southeast Asia.

Vote on SL’s GSP Plus application today

The government appears to be making a last-ditch effort to appease the European Union (EU) Parliament with regard to the essential human rights reforms, as a crucial vote on Sri Lanka’s readmission to the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Plus preferential trade status takes place today.

Ceylinco Insurance announces another fat dividend

Ceylinco Insurance PLC has announced a dividend of Rs.27.50 per share to its shareholders for the year 2016, which constitutes a 275 percent dividend of the original share price. 

Tea exporters highlight industry woes

While renewing its call for the liberalization of the country’s tea industry, the Tea Exporters’ Association (TEA) yesterday highlighted a number of issues plaguing the industry, urging the authorities for swift assistance to arrest the downfall of the 150-year-old industry. 

Seylan Bank net up 22% to Rs.818mn in 1Q

Seylan Bank PLC recorded a net profit of Rs.818.5 million or Rs.2.37 a share for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 (1Q17), up 22 percent from a year ago, the interim financial accounts released to the Colombo Stock Exchange showed yesterday. 

SL to double issuance of development bonds

The cabinet this week approved the plans to double the issuance of Sri Lanka Development Bonds to US $ 3 billion.

Rupee edges up on foreign bank dollar sales

REUTERS: The Sri Lankan rupee strengthened yesterday as a foreign bank sold the dollar, while investors awaited the International Monetary Fund’s approval for the disbursement of a loan as well as a proposed sovereign bond sale, dealers said.

Overseas Realty March profits up on forex and fair value gains

Overseas Realty (Ceylon) PLC (OSEA), the local unit of the Singapore-based real-estate group, Shing Kwan Group, saw its March quarter (1Q17) net profit rising by 21 percent to Rs.881 million or 72 cents a share from a year ago, supported by a hefty foreign exchange and fair value gains made on the group’s investment property, the interim results showed. 

SLTPB participates in Arabian Travel Market

The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) took part in the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) for the 14th consecutive year recently, in an attempt to attract more tourists from the Middle East region to Sri Lanka, an SLTPB press release stated.

Global Alliance presents SL fresh opportunity to cut red tape in cross-border trading

The Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation (GATF) yesterday presented Sri Lanka with a fresh opening to uplift its processes on trading across borders but implied a turnaround must be witnessed in the near future if it is to capitalize on the “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”.

Dickwella Estate achieves all-time record price

At the Colombo tea auction held on April 24 and 25, 2017, an invoice of Dickwella Estate BP was sold at Rs.720 per kilogramme, setting a new record.

Brandix ranked Sri Lanka’s most valuable export brand for 3rd successive year

Brandix has been ranked Sri Lanka’s most valuable export brand for the third consecutive year in the just-released 2017 Brand Finance rankings of the country’s leading brands.

Abans sofa sets: Ergonomic and non-toxic approach to stylish home

Our homes make up an essential component of our daily lives, providing not only shelter, but a living space where we can spend precious time with family and enjoy relaxing periods of solitude. 

Trump policies to deprive Sri Lanka of USAID funding?

The Trump administration is proposing to sever the funding line to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) office in Sri Lanka in 2018 under federal budget cuts aiming to fulfill promises of cutting US donations for humanitarian projects and putting ‘America First’.

Asia Capital, Japan’s Belluna break ground for US $ 51mn hotel in Colombo

Sri Lanka’s Asia Capital PLC and Japan’s Belluna Co. Ltd. yesterday broke the ground for a US $ 51 million 4-star business hotel in Colpetty, Marine Drive. 

Laugfs boss Wegapitiya buys 6% stake in Pan Asia Bank from Nimal Perera

In a rather surprising move, Laugfs Holdings Chairman W.K.H. Wegapitiya, yesterday bought little over 27 million shares or approximately 6 percent stake in the mid-sized bank, Pan Asia Banking Corporation PLC, in a deal worth over Rs.500 million.

Rupee edges down on importer dollar demand

REUTERS: The Sri Lankan rupee closed slightly weaker yesterday on light importer dollar demand, but the currency is expected to trade in a narrow range until the market sees direction from an IMF loan tranche disbursement and sovereign bond sale, dealers said.

Focus on pepper to reach spice export earnings target: SAPTA

Sri Lanka having identified the spice sector as an avenue to expand its export earnings, the Spice and Allied Products and Traders’ Association (SAPTA) has urged the Primary Industries Ministry to increase focus on pepper, instead of cinnamon in fulfilling that goal.

First Colombo session on historic WTO agreement opens today

Sri Lanka’s first-ever country session for its exporters on the historic World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) will commence in Colombo today.

Ceylon Chamber to publish Northern Province SMEs registry

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in its initiative to assist small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Northern Province is making arrangements to publish a registry of SMEs operating  in the region. 

Hayleys Plantations shines with 20 awards at Forbes and Walker Tea Awards

 Sri Lanka’s leading tea producers from the Hayleys Group, Kelani Valley Plantations (KVPL) and Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC (TTEL), recorded victories at the recently concluded Forbes and Walker Tea Awards 2016.

ACL Cables continues rise amongst ‘Top 50’ most valuable brands

Sri Lanka’s premier cable, ACL Cables PLC was ranked 41 amongst the ‘Top 50’ valuable brands for 2017, a continued ascent from last year’s ranking.  

Gestetner customers win grand prizes at final ‘Pick 2 Win’ draw

Customers who made purchases from Gestetner outlets across Sri Lanka last year were enrolled in a draw through which over 100 prizes were awarded.