Experts call to standardize Sri Lanka’s labour force skills

It was stressed at a recently concluded forum in Colombo that Sri Lanka should standardize and upgrade the skills of its labour force, as the country at present mostly relies on quantity rather than 

S. Korea considers issuing 50-yr treasury bonds

REUTERS: South Korea is considering issuing 50-year treasury bonds, the finance ministry said yesterday, a move that would be unprecedented as the country’s bond maturities now run up to 30 

Shares edge down on profit-taking

REUTERS: Sri Lankan shares closed slightly lower yesterday after posting a more than 11-week 

China launches world first quantum satellite

AFP: China launched the world’s first quantum satellite yesterday, state media reported, in an effort 

Sri Lanka’s manufacturing falls in June; services up

Sri Lanka’s manufacturing activities, measured by the Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI)  fell to neutral levels in July after a pickup in June, the data released by the Central Bank 

Rupee steady as importer dollar demand offsets exporter sales

REUTERS: The Sri Lankan rupee ended steady yesterday as dollar sales by exporters were offset by importer demand for the U.S. currency, dealers said.

Serendib Educational Foundation holds Annual Interviews and Awards Day

Serendib Educational Foundation, one of the few scholarship funds that has an endowment fund 

Egypt eyes tough reforms in last-ditch bid to save economy

AFP - Egypt hopes a $12-billion financing deal with the IMF will usher in an economic turnaround but real progress hinges on a tough reform package avoided for decades to stave off unrest.

Ceylon Chamber’s Chamber Cricket Championship 2016 on September 3

The annual six-a-side ‘Chamber Cricket Championship 2016’ organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) will be held on September 3, 2016 at the CCC grounds in Colombo.

German investor sentiment rises as Brexit shock eases: ZEW institute

AFP - Investor confidence in Germany rebounded slightly in August, as the shock over Britain’s vote to leave the European Union began to wear off, a leading survey showed yesterday.  

Virtusa crowned as Gamer.LK’s Dialog Gaming Mercantile eSports champs

Gamer.LK took a first historical step to bring the thrill of competitive gaming to your work place with the Dialog Gaming Mercantile eSports Championship. 

CTC introduces novel green initiative to local operations

Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC (CTC) continues to be at the forefront of energy conservation and green initiatives with cutting-edge technologies and concepts that reduce their overall carbon 

Munchee Unity Sports Festival in Badulla promotes national unity

Munchee, the flagship brand of Ceylon Biscuits Limited, recently supported the ‘Munchee Samaga Sahadarathwaye Kreeda Ulela’ (Unity Sports Festival) in Badulla. 

CONSTITUTIONAL COLD WAR & THE STALINGRAD OF THE SOVEREIGN UNITARY STATE

“We all remember the horrors of the past, the violence of three decades and the anti-democratic 

Commercial Credit supports Sri Lanka Super 7’s 2016 as Gold sponsor

Commercial Credit and Finance PLC has come on board as the Gold sponsor for the current Sri Lanka Super 7’s 2016.

SLT June quarter profit hampered by higher costs, forex losses and depreciation

The Sri Lanka Telecom PLC group’s (SLT) net profit plunged 39 percent for the quarter ended June 30, 2016 (2Q16) to Rs.1.1 billion due to higher operating costs, foreign exchange losses and depreciation charge made against the investments in new technologies, the interim accounts filed with the Colombo Stock Exchange showed. The earnings per share deteriorated to 61 cents from one rupee a share during the 12 months.

Chamber head highlights HR dilemma in construction

The government, along with the chambers of construction and other allied associations should facilitate a campaign to attract the country’s youth to the construction industry by giving them a better understanding and a picture of the advances made in the construction industry, as the numbers joining the construction industry have drastically reduced due to many reasons, according to the head of the country’s leading construction chamb

Higher costs, tourism slowdown dent Aitken Spence June profits

Diversified blue chip Aitken Spence PLC saw its net profit for the quarter ended June 30, 2016 (1Q17) declining as much as 41 percent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs.249 million amid lower returns from tourism operations and higher costs, the interim financial accounts released to the Colombo bourse showed.

AIA Insurance Lanka June net down 33%; but premium up

AIA Insurance Lanka PLC (AIA), the local unit of Asia-based AIA Group Limited, saw its June quarter (2Q16) net profit falling by 33 percent from a year ago to Rs.33 million or Rs.1.07 a share due to the steep increase in operating and administrative expenses, but the gross written premium (GWP) recorded a  growth, the interim results showed.  Operating and administrative expenses rose by 28 percent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs.1.15 billion

Shares hits more than 11-wk high

REUTESR: Sri Lankan shares ended at more than 11-week high yesterday as investors bought beverage and banking shares amid foreign buying into the island nation’s risk assets boosted sentiment. The benchmark Colombo stock index ended up 0.93 percent, or 60.46 points, at 6,582.60, its highest close since May 25.

Beira Brush crowned ‘Highest Value-Added Exporter’

A wholly-owned subsidiary of BPPL, Beira Brush won the prestigious Presidential Export Award for the Highest Value-Added Exporter in the chemical and plastic product sectors in 2014 and 2015. The award ceremony was organised by the Export Development Board (EDB) and held at the BMICH recently. 

Frostaire celebrates 36 years of excellence in cooling

Celebrating 36 years of success in the industry on August 18, the air conditioning power house Frostaire continues to provide Sri Lanka with affordable, all air conditioning solutions and many other facilities to its Sri Lankan clientele.

Amãna Takaful Life recognizes MDRT winners

Eight of the top achievers of Amãna Takaful (ATL) Life were recentlyqualified to take part in the annual Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) conference held in Vancouver, Canada along with the global best of the best in relation to insurance and financial services.

Australian IT/BPM biz mission to Sri Lanka concludes

More than 35 business leaders from Sri Lanka and Australia attended a high-level networking reception linked to the inaugural IT/BPM business mission in Colombo last week.

Kelani Cables bags Asia’s Best Employer Brand Award for second consecutive year

Kelani Cables PLC, Sri Lanka’s number one brand in secure electrical and communication cables, won the Asia’s Best Employer Brand award for the second consecutive year. 

Leading CarbonNeutral leather garment manufacturer recertifies for second year

Lanka Leather Fashion (Pvt.) Ltd (LLF), Sri Lanka’s only and one of Asia’s leading manufacturers of high-end leather garments, retained its CarbonNeutral status through recertification for a second consecutive year and in the process reinstated its position as the trailblazer of sustainability within its industry.

BOI hosts diplomats from 20 countries

The Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka recently hosted a delegation consisting of 26 foreign diplomats from 20 countries who are currently undergoing training at the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI).

SL’s top private bank profits up despite “shrinking margins”

Sri Lanka’s largest private lender by assets, Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC (ComBank), posted a 

Leisure operator wants private sector to take lead

Sri Lanka’s largest leisure sector operator urged its peers in the private sector to take the lead in setting up a world-class training institute to address the talent dearth in the tourism industry, as the 

Govt to re-lay strategic oil pipeline from Colombo Port to Kolonnawa

The government is all set to call for fresh international tenders in order to re-lay the strategic oil pipeline from Colombo Port to the Kolonnawa storage facility, Petroleum and Petroleum Gas Minister