SL’s gender-based employment segregation: Does it increase women’s vulnerability amidst COVID-19?

Although COVID-19 may be gender-blind, it has created a crisis that has disproportionately affected women across the globe. The economic impact of the pandemic is mostly channelled through the labour market.

Ceylon Chamber Academy organises webinar on COVID-19 and way forward

In a view to educate the public, the Chamber Academy, the knowledge arm of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, will be organising a timely discussion on the topic of COVID-19 and the way forward.

Advocata’s Aneetha Warusavitarana awarded Commonwealth Scholarship

Aneetha Warusavitarana, Research Manager from Colombo-based independent policy think tank Avocata Institute, secured a place at the University of Cambridge for an MPhil in Public Policy.

NDB offers world class multi-purpose card with unmatched offers

Credit cards are often considered to be a best friend when cash is tight and needs are high.

CAL introduces Video KYC technology to enable paperless onboarding for unit trust and equity investments

Capital Alliance Limited (CAL) has introduced Video KYC (Know Your Customer) via their CAL Customer Portal to facilitate paperless, digital signature backed onboarding for investment products, offering a winning combination of greater convenience and safety for individual customers.

ComBank’s ‘Flash’ named Digital Banking Initiative of the Year’

‘Flash’ – the Digital Bank account powered by Commercial Bank of Ceylon, has been presented the award for the ‘Digital Banking Initiative of the Year’ in Sri Lanka at the 2021 Asian Banking and Finance (ABF) Awards under the ‘Retail Banking Awards – Supporting Projects’ category.

Sanasa Life Insurance wins two World Economics Awards

Sanasa Life Insurance, a leading Micro Insurance Company in Sri Lanka was awarded ‘Life Insurance Covid 19 Response Initiative Sri Lanka 2021’ and ‘Most Sustainable Micro Insurance Company’ upon taking into consideration the special projects launched by the company during the pandemic.

HNB strengthens commitment to microfinance sector, eyes growth of agri portfolio

Sri Lanka’s leading private sector bank, HNB PLC, further strengthened its commitment to the microfinance sector, with a series of enhancements to its offerings, with a key focus on the agricultural sector recognizing its vast-untapped potential as a driver of growth in the country.

Orient Finance continues growth momentum in first quarter

Posting a steady performance, Orient Finance PLC recorded a profit before tax of Rs. 59 million for the first quarter of the financial year 2021-22, indicating a growth of 217 percent in comparison to the corresponding period of the previous financial year.

SDB bank records 53% profit increase in the first half despite pandemic

SDB bank is renowned for its dedication to be a leading partner of national development.

Govt. says no to addition of any new coal-fired power plants

The government has ruled out any coal-based capacity additions or new coal-fired power plants as it reaffirms on the target set for the country’s power sector to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050 while meeting 70 percent of the country’s power generation through renewable energy sources by 2030.

Dutch tour operators here on familiarisation tour

A group of eight tour operators from the Netherlands arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday on a familiarisation tour organised jointly by Connaisance de Ceylon and Andrews Travel.

Higher taxes could soon make coconut arrack privilege of only the wealthy: Harry J

Higher taxes and levies slapped on legal alcoholic beverages will soon drive the less affluent population away from the ethnic coconut arrack and will make such products the privilege of the affluent few, should the status quo continues, as the shift is already in play in great proportions from how the sales behaved in recent times, according to the country’s largest spirits maker.

Shortage of wheat flour likely as suppliers look to increase prices

The confectionary and bakery item manufacturers are cautioning that the country is likely to witness a shortage of wheat flour, with the suppliers holding back their supplies with the intention of increasing the prices, while the authorities resisting a price hike.

Lockdown rules apply to tourists exiting bio-bubble, says SLTDA

Although the Health Services Director General on Friday (September 3) announced a decision made to allow fully vaccinated tourists to move about the country freely outside the bio-bubble, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) said the travel restrictions imposed by the government islandwide are still applicable to incoming travellers.

SC Securities makes case for further monetary tightening to keep prices in check

Further increase in interest rates would be needed to arrest the exponential rise in the country’s consumer prices, which rose to a 12-month high in July, said SC Securities, igniting the debate over the future course of the monetary policy in Sri Lanka.

SriLankan to resume scheduled flights to Paris from November 1

National carrier SriLankan Airlines yesterday announced the resumption of scheduled flights to Paris The airline will operate scheduled flights between Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport and France’s Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, from November 1, 2021.

NBFI sector asset quality gains reversed in June quarter

The asset quality of the non-bank finance company sector (NBFI), which made gains in the quarter ended in March 2021, deteriorated in the following June quarter, falling in lockstep with the banking sector asset quality.

Laugfs Maritime Services celebrates seven years in operation

Laugfs Maritime Services, Sri Lanka’s foremost ship owning and management company is geared to pursue growth goals through becoming a debt-free company by September 2021, and continuing to excel in providing Liquefied Petroleum Gas transportation and logistics services in the region.

WCC Group ventures to Maldives, Australia and New Zealand

Wire Communication Consultancy (WCC) Group announced its accelerated growth momentum with the expansion of its strategic Public Relations, Communications and Corporate Reputation Management services to Maldives, Australia and New Zealand, setting up operations in the Asia-Pacific region.

GroupM Sri Lanka welcomes Arshad Ahamed as Director Strategy

Arshad Ahamed has joined GroupM as Director Strategy with over 13 years of experience in the industry both locally and internationally.

Emirates unveils special fares for Sri Lankans resuming travel

Sri Lankans who have been waiting impatiently to resume international travel are being offered an opportunity by Emirates to lock in special fares for the rest of the financial year by booking early.

Jay Jay Mills Lanka to expand operations with US$ 4mn investment

In line with the government’s policy of developing regional industrialization, the Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka recently entered into a supplementary agreement with Jay Jay Mills Lanka to lay foundation to an initial investment of US $4 million to establish operations in the Kappalthurai Industrial Zone in Trincomalee.

Emirates offers special fares for Sri Lankans

Emirates, the largest airline of the UAE, announced today it will offer special fares for Sri Lankans who are looking to resume international travel.

No way anyone can say there is a change in lifestyle: Cabraal

There is no way that anyone can say that there has been any change in the lifestyle of people in their normal day-to-day activities, said State Minister of Finance, Capital Markets and State Enterprise Reforms Ajith Nivard Cabraal recently referring to the concerns raised with regard to the forex and essential items shortage in the country.

End of road for economic liberalism in Sri Lanka?

The recent passing away of Mangala Samaraweera, a former minister and senior neo-liberal politician, is expected to have an impact on possible future political scenarios in Sri Lanka. He played a pivotal role in electing three former presidents in the country and was probably the most senior (active) politician who espoused neo-liberal ideologies.

Quantifying COVID clean-up of air quality in Colombo

Among the many tragic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been some positive offshoots as well. One of them is the improvement of Colombo’s air quality as a result of restricted movement to prevent the spread of the disease.

VMware appoints new Country Manager for Sri Lanka and Maldives

VMware, Inc. a leading innovator in enterprise software, announced the appointment of Yusuf Shiraz as the new Country Manager for Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Lenovo launches ThinkPad X1 Fold, first foldable PC in Sri Lanka

Lenovo, the global technology leader, announced the launch of the ThinkPad X1 Fold in Sri Lanka.

Singer wins Best Distributor in South Asia from Dell Technologies

Singer Sri Lanka PLC, the country’s premier consumer durables retailer, won the Best Regional Distributor of the Year and Best Distributor of the Year – Sri Lanka Awards, at Dell Technologies South Asia CSB Partner Connect event for the year 2021.