Cotton Collection opens plus size store in Flower Road

?Cotton Collection, Sri Lanka’s premier fashion chain, recently opened a new plus size store focusing on plus-sized clothing to fill an important void in the local fashion and retail industry. 

One thousand Milo cycles paint the streets green at Cycle Parade

Milo, the nourishing energy beverage brand in Sri Lanka, painted the streets of Colombo in its vibrant shades of green with a mega Milo Cycle Parade, bringing the ‘Mom, Me and My Milo’ campaign to a grand finalé. 

Top economist says causes for SL’s dismal exports performance “domestic”

Sri Lanka’s export performance continues to remain grim largely due to internal issues and not because of problems with preferential trade agreements the country has entered in to, a top economist in the country said. 

Prof. Sally urges need for right economic team

?Highly respected economist Prof. Razeen Sally recently said it was imperative to have the right economic team that shares Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s vision in reforming and building the Sri Lanka’s economy. 

NCPI’s November inflation at 4.8%

?Sri Lanka’s inflation for the month of November as measured by the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) stood at 4.8 percent accelerating from 3 percent in October, the Census and Statistics Department said. 

Eastern Province to set up own tourism development authority

?As Eastern Province has failed to receive due recognition and focus as a tourism hotspot, the Eastern Provincial Council Chief Ministry announced it was gearing up to establish its very own tourism development authority.

Billionaire James Packer resigns as Crown director

?BBC: Australian casino operator and billionaire James Packer has announced his resignation as director of Crown Resorts Limited. The move follows his resignation as chairman in August and has added fuel to speculation he wants to buy out Crown and take it private.

Tea outlook for 2016 volatile: brokerage

?Projecting a possible market outlook for Ceylon tea in 2016 would have a strong element of “crystal ball gazing” due to turmoil in Sri Lanka’s key export markets and their drastic currency depreciations, commodities brokers Forbes and Walker said.

Lalith De Silva appointed Presidential Media Director

Media veteran A.B. Lalith De Silva was appointed as Presidential Media Director (International Affairs) recently.

CPC’s eco cycle to implement energy, water and waste mgt system: Report

According the recently released Supplementary Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) report, Colombo Port City (CPC), upon completion of reclamation works, 

German govt. promotes university-business linkage system in Sri Lanka

The German government has assisted the Sri Lankan Government in many facets in developing the SME sector in Sri Lanka and one such intervention is the University Business Linkage (UBL) Programme executed under the patronage of the University...

NEDA and ILO launch web portal, online one-stop-shop for young entrepreneurs

?The doors for the Lankan youthto move towards a much needed entrepreneurial culture opened yesterday when the national SME giant launched a pioneering initiative aimed at the youth of the country in partnership with International Labour Organization (ILO). 

BOI attracts FDI deals worth US $ 1.6bn in year 2015

As a result of the introduction of new procedures aimed at improving facilitation, the Board of Investments (BOI) has succeeded in attracting a number of important projects in key sectors of investment to the tune of US $ 1.6 billion in value, the country’s apex investment promotion body said. 

Velona Cuddles clinches 2015 SLIM Most Innovative Brand Award

?Velona Cuddles has been named the ‘Most Innovative Brand of the Year’ at the 2015 SLIM Brand Excellence Awards for its functionally advanced product and unconventional market penetration and development strategies to face fierce international and local competition.

Sri Lanka’s only Christmas magazine ‘Noel’ out for the season

?Pioneering advertising agency Holmes Pollard & Stott (HP&S) celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. The agency that conceptualized and published Sri Lanka’s first Christmas magazine ‘Noel’ recently released the 14th edition of the popular publication.

Orofini opens newest jewellery store in Colombo

?Orofini Jewellery, the fine jewellery chain, opened its third flagship store in Sri Lanka at No: 465, Galle Road, Colombo 3 last week.

Somapala & Company marks 65-year journey

?With its humble beginnings in Matara going as far back as 1950, Somapala & Company commenced a journey in the importation and distribution of motor spare parts from the UK ...

D. Samson & Sons opens 210th showroom in Kiribathgoda

?Beginning from November 28, 2015, No: 76/A, Kandy Road, Kiribathgoda has become the location of D. Samson & Sons (Pvt.) Ltd’s brand-new showroom. This is the 210th showroom in the DSI retail network. 

Skill drain continues to threaten struggling Eastern province

Eastern Province Chief Minister recently stressed the need to create employment opportunities through the setting up of industries to prevent an increasing outflow of skilled and unskilled workers from the province. 

Novel move to attract online-savvy to entrepreneurship

?The first ever national initiative to push Sri Lanka’s Facebook generation to the spirit of entrepreneurship will be unveiled tomorrow in Colombo. 

Naturplus compostable and biodegradable lunch sheets at Dominoz Pizza

?Plastic Pakaging Pte Ltd  that manufactures bin liners from 3 microns , food wrapping sheets ,Compostable and Biodegradable Bags for exports to the UK and Maldives, during the last 28 years, has now launched Compostable food wrapping sheets to Dominoz Pizza.  

Turkey issues e-Visas for Sri Lankans

?Sri Lankan citizens are now entitled to apply for Turkish visas through the Electronic Visa (e-Visa) Application System. A Sri Lankan citizen may obtain an e-Visa fulfilling the following requirements:

Port of Colombo handles 5mn containers first time in history

?For the first time in history, the Port of Colombo has achieved 5 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), a press statement from the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) said. 

Eran offers to sell Mihin to MR for one rupee

As loss making state owned enterprises (SOEs) are identified as a major hindrance in moving the economy forward, Deputy Minister Public Enterprise Development Eran Wickramaratne recently said that if required by members of previous regime...

IMF bailout unavoidable next year: Prof. Sally

?Given the tight liquidity in capital markets due to the rise in global interest rates, a bail-out package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is unavoidable for Sri Lanka next year, according to Professor Razeen Sally, an economist with international repute.  

Sri Lanka amends 2016 budget amid public protest

REUTERS: Sri Lanka’s new government has amended 2016 budget proposals, a move that could widen the fiscal deficit, after trade unions and farmers protested over long-term fiscal tightening measures.

Asia markets hit as oil sinks and Fed effect wears off

AFP - Asian stock markets fell back yesterday after a two-day rally boosted by the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hike, as the rout in oil prices returned to centre stage, with commodity-linked shares again taking a hit.

Emerging East eyes investors

In an effort to achieve greater economic prosperity, the emerging Eastern Province is gathering steam to showcase its potential and untapped opportunities to investors early next year.

SriLankan presents ‘Christmas on Wings’ for 32nd time

SriLankan Airlines once again presents its Yuletide extravaganza of music, dance, drama and prayer, ‘Christmas on Wings’, featuring the talented members of the staff of the national carrier.

GSP+ likely to balance out TPP effects: Rishad

Sri Lanka’s apparel sector is assured that potential effects, if any, from the biggest global trade agreement in two decades are likely to be balanced out by the return of GSP Plus’