Ceylon Chamber successfully holds National SME Forum in Tamil

In an effort to support all players in the SME eco-system, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce recently held a National SME Forum in collaboration with public, private and Non-Governmental sector organizations engaged in SME Sector development.

Study Group sets new UK Quarantine Fund to strengthen employability of SL students

As part of its comprehensive and holistic employability offering, international education provider Study Group has introduced a new Quarantine Support Fund to help students study and work in the UK from September.

Sri Lanka’s Macroeconomic Policy Setting: Cohesion or Confusion?

The hike in policy interest rates by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) in August 2021 marks a shift from stimulus to exit strategies in the pandemic era. Such recalibrations globally are focused on how to tackle the historically large debt-to-GDP ratios that the COVID-19 pandemic leaves in its wake.

Avoiding IMF - Is Central Bank Governor All That Black?

Deshamanya Professor W.D. Lakshman would have stepped into the Central Bank (CBSL) building for the first time in the early 1970s to get a foreign exchange permit to import a car after returning from Oxford.

Budget deficit expands in 1H despite higher tax revenue

Sri Lanka’s fiscal deficit expanded slightly despite higher revenues during the first six months of 2021 compared to the same period last year, made possible by the higher tax revenues collected during the first three months of the year from a burst in economic activities, before things began to sour thereafter due to virus related restrictions on the economy.

CSE’s market capitalization closes in Rs.4 trn mark after record-breaking week

Despite a Central Bank policy rate cut and an ailing economy largely due to the fast-spreading COVID-19 pandemic, the Colombo Stock Exchange’s (CSE) market capitalization nearly touched the Rs.4 trillion mark last week amid markedly increased local investor activity, though foreigners continued to exit the market as net sellers.

SLT says it has nothing to do with NMRA cyber mystery

National telecommunications services provider, SLT-Mobitel has set the record straight on recent media reports claiming that the company managed the Lanka Government Cloud and provided services to the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA).

Private credit expansion continues through July; but future trajectory remains uncertain

Credit to the private sector had continued to expand with vigour in July with little change from a month ago, underscoring Central Bank’s decision a fortnight ago to raise interest rates from record low levels, as it projected confidence over the continued momentum in credit flows to the private sector despite the rate increase.

Confectioners and bakers get government nod to import white sugar under licence

Local confectioners and bakers received the Finance Ministry nod on Friday to import the required quantities of white sugar for the continuation of their industries, amid a massive spike in sugar prices in the local market due to the short supply of the commodity.

US Fed hints it will start easing stimulus

The US central bank could begin withdrawing stimulus this year as the economy rebounds, the Federal Reserve’s chairman, Jerome Powell has said.

NSB records strong first half despite COVID-19 related challenges

Recording its highest ever profit for a period of six months with a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of Rs.13.9 billion and a Profit After Tax (PAT) of Rs.11 billion, National Savings Bank (NSB) shows strength and financial resilience in performance amid the heightened uncertainty due to Covid-19 pandemic which has triggered a wide range of shocks on the banking sector and the economy as a whole.

LOLC takes its highly successful micro-lending model to Central Asia and further deep into Africa

LOLC with its robust MSME-based business model is expanding its global footprint with three parallel investments being made in Tajikistan in Central Asia as well as Malawi and Tanzania in East Africa.

Talal joins World Economic Forum Expert Network

The World Economic Forum has appointed Talal Rafi to its Expert Network and recognizes him as a global expert on entrepreneurship and gender equality.

SriLankan elaborates on health and safety regulatory measures in light of IATA’s findings on air travel safety

SriLankan Airlines, the National Carrier of Sri Lanka and a member of the oneworld alliance, elaborates on the efficacy of the health and safety measures that are put in place throughout its passenger journey with the intention of ensuring maximum safety and wellbeing for its valued passengers and crew alike.

ACCA and NCCSL sign MoU to equip local biz and entrepreneurs

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) announced the collaboration and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to equip local businesses and entrepreneurs in all regions of the country with the requisite financial skills to run their businesses as well as pave the way for students across Sri Lanka to gain opportunities for global careers in finance.

SLAF to hold webinar on organic and inorganic agri-inputs

Sri Lanka Agripreneurs’ Forum (SLAF) is the premier agribusiness association inSri Lankan representing growers, farmer organizations, agri value-addition enterprises, agri professionals & academics, agri scientists, local and global marketers of agri produce, providers of agri inputs, and local agri investors thereby serves as the pivotal body for all of the agribusiness communities in Sri Lanka.

To leave or to stay? Years of bad economic policy is killing aspirations of Sri Lanka’s youth

Overseas migration for work or study seems a popular option for Sri Lanka’s youth.

Multi-sectoral collaboration is vital for SL to achieve universal health coverage

The Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) together with the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) and Centre for Policy Impact in Global Health (CPIGH) of the Duke University, USA, organised a virtual policy dialogue on ‘Planning for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) amidst the 4Ds of Health Transitions’, on August 25, 2021.

HNBA Group celebrates 20 years of operation

Reaching another significant milestone in its journey, HNB Assurance PLC Group celebrated its 20th year anniversary recently.

ComBank launches Call & Convert instalment plans

Commercial Bank of Ceylon has announced a new ‘Call and Convert’ facility that enables its credit card holders paying for education, health or insurance-related products and services and for online purchases to convert transactions of Rs.10,000 and above into easy payment plans.

Nations Trust Bank enables growth of SMEs

Nations Trust Bank (NTB) has sought to position itself as a partner to the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, supporting SMEs for long-term prosperity, in the role of a responsible financial intermediary.

Fairfirst introduces Carefirst COVID-related information hub

Driven by fairness and fuelled by sensible optimism, Fairfirst’s commitment and passion to power the optimism of amazing Sri Lankans towards beating the challenges of a pandemic, is at the heart of its latest initiative, Carefirst.

AIA tailor-makes pension cover for Projar Lanka senior management and employees

AIA Insurance has designed a tailor-made pension scheme specially offered to the senior management and employees of Projar Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd, intended at ensuring their financial protection prior to and during retirement.

Ideal Finance opens Welimada branch; targets more than doubling network

Ideal Finance Limited (IFL) has opened its 13th branch in Welimada, as part of the company’s massive expansion drive to more than double its branch network, by adding 15 new locations within the current financial year (FY 2021/22).

Seylan Bank unveils Visa Business Banking debit card

Seylan Bank, the Bank with a Heart, recently unveiled the first-ever Seylan-Visa Business Banking debit card for its SME customers to convert cash transactions to POS.

SLT says it has nothing to do with NMRA cyber mystery

National telecommunications services provider, SLT-Mobitel has set the record straight on recent media reports claiming that the company managed the Lanka Government Cloud and provided services to the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA).

Expolanka acquires US logistics firm for US $ 9.7mn

Expolanka Holdings PLC yesterday said it fully acquired IDEA Logistics LLC, a US-based logistics company, for US $ 9.7 million, aiming to expand its operation into Central America.

ASPI crosses 9,000-point mark in intra-day trading; market turnover tops Rs.16bn

The Colombo Stock Exchange’s (CSE) benchmark All Share Price Index (ASPI) yesterday crossed the 9,000-point mark during the intra-day trading for the first time in history, though the index closed below the 9,000-point mark.

S&P revises down SL’s outlook to negative; ‘CCC+/C’ rating affirmed

S&P Global Ratings yesterday revised its outlook on Sri Lanka’s long-term ratings to negative, from stable, while affirming its ‘CCC+’ long-term sovereign credit ratings and ‘C’ short-term ratings on Sri Lanka.

University Canada West and CSE pursue collaborative efforts

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and University Canada West (UCW) jointly announce the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to formalise collaborative efforts directed at mutual development.