Medicare 2024 kicks off in Colombo

The 13th edition of ‘Medicare 2024’ kicked off yesterday at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Center. Medicare 2024 will be held over three days till the 3rd March, featuring 4 main expos i.e. National Healthcare Expo, Ayurveda & Herbal Expo, Medical Tourism Expo and Healthy Living Expo and featured a number of medical seminars and B2B interaction platforms. The Expo featured over 130 stalls from local and international organisation

Suwa Diviya to host ‘She Thrives’ online health forum on march 9

Suwa Diviya is to host ‘She Thrives’, an online health forum in honor of International Women’s Day. Scheduled for March 9th from 9. 30 a.m. to 11 a.m., this virtual event is expected to be a transformative experience for Sri Lankan women seeking to take charge of their well-being. Suwa Diviya is a dedicated non-profit organization committed to raising awareness about diabetes, focusing on preventing and managing diabetes. “She Thrives” is not y

Adora Cosmetic Centre celebrates 5 years

Adora Cosmetic Centre, a cosmetic centre operating with the clinical backing of Hemas Hospitals, marks its 5th anniversary this year. Dr. Malith B. Atapattu – Director Medical Services and Quality Hemas Hospitals and Laboratory Chain said, “Our commitment to transformative results has enabled us to emerge as the one-stop-shop for cosmetic transformations, backed by the clinical know-how of Hemas Hospitals. Our teams of plastic surgeons, dermatol

Vogue launches “Charme D’elicat” Valentine’s Day collection

Vogue Jewellers’ new Valentine’s Day collection, “Charme D’elicat”, was officially unveiled on February 10th. A number of key social influencers were present at the launch event, with Vogue Jewellers specifically collaborating with 18 lifestyle and fashion influencers to spread the shimmer of love during the Valentine’s Day season. The guests at the event were treated to a variety of Valentine’s Day activities including a paint station, love le

PB ‘Vaasi Kotiyai 2023’ Grand Draw picks super winners

The Grand Draw of ‘People’s Remittance Vaasi Kotiyai-2023’ was held recently to choose the winners of the Rs. 10 million, Rs. 3 million and Rs. 2 million prizes at the People’s Bank, Overseas Customer Services premises. The weekly winners for the period from 10th December to 31st December 2023 and the millionaires for November and December were also selected at the event. People’s Bank launched ‘Vaasi Kotiyai 2023’ draw to encourage and appreciat

Coke Beat Party promotes eco-friendly practices among customers

Coca-Cola Sri Lanka recently held its first ‘Coke Kottu Beat Party’ for 2024 at the Elpitiya Public Ground, with a turnout of around 35,000 attendees. Alongside the music and cuisine, Coca-Cola Sri Lanka seized the opportunity at its first Coke Kottu Beat Party of the year to showcase its commitment to environmental stewardship through the ‘Give Back Life’ stall. The ‘Give Back Life’ stall at the Coke Kottu Beat Party served as a hub for educat

January trade deficit widens to US $ 514mn

Sri Lanka’s merchandise trade deficit in January widened to US $ 514 million, from US $ 445 million in the corresponding month of the previous year, due to a higher increase in imports.

Fair demand at irregular rates at tea auction this week

The offerings at the Colombo Tea Auction were fairly similar to last and totalled 4.6 million kilogrammes, which met with fair demand, often at irregular rates. The Ex-Estate offerings too were fairly similar and totalled 0.73 million kilogrammes. The overall quality of the teas from the Western slopes were irregularly improved, whilst the teas from most other regions were fairly similar to last. The prices for the better teas were irregular, pe

India economy beats expectations with 8.4% growth

BBC: India has retained its title of the world’s fastest growing major economy as it expanded 8.4 percent in the last three months of 2023, from a year earlier. The data comes as the country is set to hold a general election this year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, that it shows “the strength of Indian economy and its potential”. India is forecast to overtake Japan and Germany as the world’s

US says falling trade with China could be positive

BBC: The steep drop in trade with China could be a positive development, the United States’ top trade official has told the BBC. Katherine Tai said it “isn’t necessarily negative. It could be a positive indication of diversification on both sides”. The amount of goods the world’s two biggest economies sold to each other fell 17 percent last year. It comes amid deepening divisions in the global economy. Those differences were exposed again with th

ComBank named as Best SME Bank in SL at Global Finance Awards 2024

Commercial Bank of Ceylon has been declared as the Best SME Bank in Sri Lanka at Global Finance Awards 2024. Already recognised by the Finance Ministry as the biggest lender to the country’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs), Commercial Bank received the prestigious Global Finance award in this sphere for the second consecutive year. Announcing the winners of World’s Best SME Bank Awards 2024 across all regions, Global Finance said it used a pr

Etihad increases flight frequency to Colombo from May

Etihad Airways, one of the flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates, will increase the frequency of flight operations to Colombo, effective from May 1, Airport and Aviation Services Chairman Eng. Athula Galketiya said. According to him, the increase in frequency will be a significant contribution to boosting the tourism industry in Sri Lanka and travel to the Middle East and other key destinations across the world. Etihad Airways, which has 10 w

Secondary market continues dull stance

The secondary market yield curve remained broadly unchanged during the day continuing the sluggish movement from the previous session. The investors further continued to adapt into a cautious stance, displaying very limited activity followed by low volumes.

Expolanka plans delisting from CSE to focus on global growth

Diversified conglomerate Expolanka Holdings PLC yesterday announced its decision to delist from the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), a move which it said would help increase focus its expanding its operations internationally.

Sri Lanka’s trade deficit expands in January

Sri Lanka’s merchandise trade deficit in January widened to US$ 514 million from US$ 445 million in the corresponding month the previous year due to a higher increase in imports.

Expolanka to delist from CSE

Expolanka Holdings PLC announced today its decision to delist from the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE).

New authority underway to evaluate parate execution

The government plans to establish an intermediate regulatory authority with powers to determine the auctioning of assets of defaulted borrowers under parate execution, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said. “We believe that there should be an intermediate regulatory authority. Therefore an amendment related to this is expected in parliament,” Rajapakshe said. Currently, the Board of

Consumer price increase slows down in February

Consumer prices in Colombo rose at a slower pace in February compared to the previous month, indicating a slight dampening in the cost of living. Data from the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) revealed that the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI) recorded a year-on-year inflation rate of 5.9 percent in February, down from 6.4 percent in January. This decline follows two consecutive months of expansion in December 2023 and January 2024. T

Sri Lanka expects “smooth” second IMF review

The government on Wednesday expressed confidence in the upcoming International Monetary Fund (IMF) review going “smooth”.

Condominium developers raise concerns over proposed protectionist measures in Sri Lanka’s tile industry

The Condominium Developers Association of Sri Lanka (CDASL) expressed its concerns over the proposed protectionist measures in Sri Lanka’s tile industry. The full text of its statement is as follows: The Condo

WCIC’s Empowering Women Leadership Forum in March

Celebrating empowerment and leadership, the Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce Sri Lanka (WCIC) is gearing to present its much-anticipated Women Leadership Forum 2024, on March 14, 2024. Themed ‘#InspireInclusion - Count Her In’, it is to be held at Grand Ballroom, Galadari Hotel, Colombo, as a fully immersive one-day wor

President appoints Jayamin to BOC board

Bank of Ceylon (BOC) announced the appointment of Jayamin Pelpola to its board as a Non-Executive Director, with immediat

Diebold is Best Banking Technology Solutions Provider Europe

Diebold Nixdorf, represented in Sri Lanka and the Maldives by Data Management Systems Ltd, was named as Best Banking Tech

Jaffna gets Mercantile Investments’ 50th branch

Mercantile Investments, a leading financial institution, announced the grand opening of its 50th branch in the Jaffna city. The event was marked by the presence of esteemed guests, including Managing Director Gerard Ondaatjie and Chief Operating Offic

SLTDA provides extension for license renewal

Tourism sector stakeholders are given an extension renewing their licenses with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).

Fairfax-linked HWIC Asia Fund ups stake in JKH

Fairfax-linked HWIC Asia Fund increased its stake in John Keells Holdings to 19.4 percent from 13 percent with the conversion of 110 million unlisted convertible debentures into shares. The Colombo Stock

SL edition of CEMS-Global USA’s textile series kicks off 

The textile and garment industry of the country will once again converge for the Sri Lankan edition of CEMS-Global USA’s Textile Series of Exhibitions, which kicked off yesterday at Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre (SLECC).

Bank of Ceylon reports Rs. 40.3 bn PBT in FY23

Bank of Ceylon (BOC) said it reported a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of Rs. 40.3 billion for the year ended 31 December 2023. While the PAT was driven by a significant 15 percent increase in interest income, a sharp rise in interest expenses resulted due to

Body Shop to shut 75 stores and cut hundreds of jobs

BBC: The Body Shop will close 75 shops in the UK over the coming weeks and cut 489 jobs, according to the firm overseeing its

Justice Aluwihare appointed to Seylan Bank board

Seylan Bank announced the appointment of Justice Buwaneka Aluwihare PC as an Independent Non- Executive Director to its Board with effect from 26 February 2024. Upon being ca