President invites Sri Lanka’s private sector to lead green tech revolution

President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday extended an invitation to Sri Lanka’s private sector for its active involvement in the country’s...

FitsAir celebrates one year of international scheduled passenger services

FitsAir, the trailblazing privately owned airline in Sri Lanka known for its affordability and punctuality, recently celebrated its one-year...

India and Sri Lanka sign 3 new bilateral pacts to enhance cooperation

India and Sri Lanka signed three new bilateral agreements aimed at enhancing cooperation between the two countries when India’s Minister...

Tourist arrivals cross 25,000 mark in October first week

The tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka in the first week of October crossed the 25,000 mark, the provisional data from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) showed.

SL rolls out new Rs.1.2bn Aeronautical Information Management System

Sri Lanka recently saw the rollout of an Aeronautical Information Management (AIM) System, which represents a significant advancement...

SLES 2023 themed ‘Sustain Reform, Accelerate Growth’ to be held on Nov. 28, 29

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce Sri Lanka Economic Summit (SLES) 2023, on November 28 and 29, at Shangri-La....

Indices close in red for the 5th consecutive day

Indices closed in red as a result of price losses in counters such as Sampath Bank, Hatton National Bank and DFCC Bank with the turnover...

Prioritising child-friendly policies: Addressing Sri Lanka’s child malnutrition crisis

Even before the onset of COVID-19, malnutrition stood as a significant driver of multi-dimensional poverty among children in Sri Lanka. Startling...

HNB collaborates with Marina Square Uptown Colombo for exclusive deals

Revolutionizing the urban luxury living experience, HNB PLC, announced a pioneering partnership with Harbour Village (Pvt) Ltd. to redefine....

Asian Hardware approaches SLT Digital Services for E-commerce solution

In a significant development that marks a new milestone in Sri Lanka’s e-commerce space, ‘Asian Hardware (Pte) Ltd’ has chosen to collaborate....

Pan Asia Bank partners with Juniper Real Estate

Committed to empower its customers with unprecedented once-in-a-lifetime offers, Pan Asia Bank is partnering with Juniper Real Estate...

Sri Lanka, EXIM Bank of China reach pact on debt disposal

REUTERS: The Export-Import Bank of China reached a preliminary agreement with Sri Lanka last month on the disposal of China-related debts, China’s Foreign Ministry announced yesterday, as the island sought debt relief from its biggest bilateral lender. The update came during a regular news conference in Beijing, in response to a state media query on what assistance Beijing had offered Colombo, which is trying to rework its foreign debt after susp

Seylan Bank puts three Asia Capital hotels on auction block

Asia Capital PLC yesterday said Seylan Bank has published auction notices on three of its hotel properties due to failure to settle their loans with the bank in a timely manner. The three properties are Beach Resorts Kosgoda (Pvt) Ltd., Wadduwa Resorts (Pvt) Ltd., and Galle Beach CC Trust (Pvt) Ltd, which is an associate company of Asia Capital. Asia Capital said the value of the three properties exceeds the loan outstanding of Rs.1, 621.5 mill

CEB’s cash flow falls short despite tariff boost, says Fitch Ratings

Fitch Ratings said yesterday the cash flow operations of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) would not be sufficient to cover its interest obligations this year, despite a 150 percent tariff increase.

CICT crowned as Best Container Terminal of its capacity in Asia for 7th consecutive year

Colombo International Container Terminals (CICT) has been declared as the Best Container Terminal in Asia in 2023, in the under four million TEUs category, winning the coveted title for the seventh consecutive year. CICT’s impressive triumph on the global stage was announced by Asia Cargo News, at the 2023 Asian Freight, Logistics and Supply Chain (AFLAS) awards gala, at JW Marriott Singapore South Beach Hotel. CICT CEO Jack Huang accepted the aw

CSE integrates with TradingView to facilitate advanced charting via MyCSE

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) yesterday announced the integration of TradingView Technical Charts, which facilitates advanced charting via the MyCSE portal, to enhance investor experience, with effect from October 6, 2023. TradingView is the leading global provider of advanced charting and analytical tools. The facility is available in two forms as in real-time data and delayed data, latter for which investors could access via the free package

Duminda elected as TAASL President for 2023/2024

The 48th Annual General Meeting of the Travel Agents Association of Sri Lanka (TAASL) was held on October 5, 2023, at Holiday Inn Bangkok Silom, Bangkok, Thailand. Travel Outlook (Pvt.) Ltd Managing Director Duminda Kuruwitaarachchi was elected as the President of the TAASL for the year 2023 /2024. Ninety-five participants attend this event. Kuruwitaarachchi’s 26 years of experience in the travel industry is a clear indicator of his deep knowled

Dialog launches islandwide e-Kunu programme for responsible e-waste management

Dialog Axiata PLC launched the e-Kunu programme, one of its product responsibility initiatives, aiming to transform e-waste management in Sri Lanka, by responsibly collecting and recycling electronic waste from Dialog Customer Experience Centres islandwide. Building on the success of Dialog’s National ‘mWaste’ project, which began in 2008 and later became part of the National E-waste programme in 2014, e-Kunu goes beyond mobile waste to encompass

UoK’s Master of Professional Finance Programme earns CFA Institute recognition

The University of Kelaniya (UoK) recently announced its inclusion in the esteemed CFA Institute University Affiliation Programme, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to shaping the future of finance professionals. This recognition by the CFA Institute, a globally recognised symbol of excellence in finance, is the third in a series, following the acknowledgment of two other degree programmes at the UoK. The Master of Professional Fi

UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Minister in town

UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Minister for the Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday. The three-day visit to Colombo and Jaffna marks the celebration of 75 years of diplomatic relations between the UK and Sri Lanka and is the minister’s first visit to Sri Lanka in her role. Trevelyan will emphasise the UK’s long-term commitment to the region at the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Ministerial meeting hos

IFAC President, CA Sri Lanka officials meet top government minister and officials

International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) President Asmâa Resmouki, who was in Sri Lanka on an invitation extended to her by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka), held high-level discussions with a top government minister and officials last week. During her stay in Colombo, Resmouki, who heads the global organisation for the accounting profession, held discussions with Finance State Minister Shehan Semasinghe

SLT-Mobitel bolsters ESG commitment with enhanced whistleblowing procedure

SLT-Mobitel has introduced an enhanced whistleblowing procedure to further strengthen the organisation’s Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Policies. A key component of the upgraded procedure is the impartial Whistleblowing Unit, which comprises a panel completely independent from SLT-Mobitel to conduct preliminary investigations into reported incidents. The improved SLT-Mobitel Group whistleblowing procedure enables company employees, an

Malaysian Foreign Minister visits BOI

Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir, Minister of Foreign Affairs Malaysia– Head of the Malaysian Delegation met with the Chairman of The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) Dinesh Weerakkody, and officials of both the BOI, Colombo Port City Economic Commission and private sector representatives to discuss the current economic climate and investment opportunities in both Colombo Port City and on shore. The Foreign Minister was accompanied by Dato’ Syed Moha

Deloitte expands as PwC Maldives, Sri Lanka network firms exit

Accounting giant Deloitte is acquiring some of rival PricewaterhouseCoopers’ (PwC) Maldives and Sri Lanka network firms, strengthening the company’s presence in the South Asia region, according to a Deloitte memo seen by Reuters. After the deal, one of the largest such combination deals in the region, Deloitte will have 28 partners and 800 people, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said. PwC’s Sri Lanka and Maldives firms will join Del

Advocata says SOEs Trojan horses of corruption, not national assets

Colombo-based free market think tank Advocata Institute yesterday asserted that despite being marketed as national assets, Sri Lanka’s State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) are in fact, vehicles for corruption, akin to a Trojan horse. Rehana Thowfeek, a Research Associate at the Advocata Institute, highlighted that the primary objective of SOEs is to deliver affordable and fair services. However, in practice, these entities are structured to favour poli

EDB facilitates local pharma sector to enter East Asian market

Considering the importance of strengthening the pharmaceutical industry and increasing the sector’s contribution to the economy, the Export Development Board (EDB), with the help of the Sri Lanka Embassy in Thailand and Sri Lanka Embassy in Vietnam, organised a first-ever Sri Lanka pharmaceutical presence at the sixth Phar-Med Cambodia 2023, held from September 20-22, 2023, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Cambodia is a country that is spending more on h

B. Braun learning arm receives RCS England’s global accreditation

The Aesculap Academy education portfolio has been awarded global accreditation by the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England) for three years until March 2026. The global accreditation is an award of excellence from the RCS England that recognises the outstanding surgery-related education provided by the Aesculap Academy around the world. The RCS England provides world-class education, assessment and development for any surgical traini

Vision Care Hearing Solutions launches Audiology Department at Negombo branch

Vision Care Hearing Solutions, a leading provider of hearing care solutions in Sri Lanka and part of Vision Care, the largest vision and eyewear solutions provider in the country, has unveiled a new Audiology Department at its Negombo branch, further expanding its services at the Negombo branch. This launch took place to celebrate the eighth anniversary of Vision Care’s Negombo branch. Conveniently located at No: 08, Chilaw-Colombo Main Road, Ne

Diabetes can be beaten with good food and lifestyle

Type 2 diabetes is more of a lifestyle problem than genetic. A sedentary lifestyle and bad food choices can increase its risk. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends 30 minutes of brisk walking at least five times a week. Stay away from calorie-dense food, sugary drinks and food with high saturated fat contents like red meat. A conscious effort to follow good food habits along with a proper exercise routine can go a long way in keeping d

Apartment prices in Wattala area further bolster: RIUNIT

Sri Lanka’s real estate expert, the Research Intelligence Unit (RIUNIT), says that Wattala in the Colombo suburb region is one of the developing markets for apartments.