Sri Lanka mulls FTA with Indonesia

President Maithripala Sirisena and visiting Indonesian President Joko Widodo have drawn their attention towards signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to promote bilateral trade between the two countries, President Sirisena’s media division said.

SLAITO hands over Impactful report which proposes equitable solution to manage over-visitation at Ya

The Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) at recent meeting with the Hon Minister of Tourism

Govt. has no intention to bring bond rogues to book: Cabraal

Former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal said yesterday the government was taking extreme measures to control the damage caused by the Central Bank (CB) bond scam instead of taking action to bring the culprits to book.

Credence Genomics and India’s Apollo Hospitals invest in biotechnology platform

With an initial investment of US $ 3 million from both sides (on equipment and infrastructure), Sri Lanka’s Credence Genomics and India’s Apollo Hospitals Group initiated a platform that would bring the areas of healthcare, biotechnology and research together in the medical sector.

Jaffna International Trade Fair opens today

Jaffna International Trade Fair (JITF 2018), the largest Consumer Exhibition and Trade Fair in the fast-growing northern region of Sri Lanka, opens today (26th) and will go on till the 28th for the 8th consecutive year. 

FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Unveiled by His Excellency the President and Hon. Prime Minister

The FIFA World Cup™ Trophy was officially handed over to H.E. Maithripala Sirisena - President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka 

New Knorr Biryani Mix adds Lip-Smacking Flavour at the Grand Finale

Starting the year on an aromatic note, the grand finale of the Biryani Challenge organized by Knorr, in partnership with Keells Super

Govt. to set up agency to monitor RPCs

The Plantation Industries Ministry will set up an agency to monitor the 20 regional plantation companies (RPCs) on their tea production operations and financial affairs. “We have to get the processes right. Especially in the RPCs, we have to get some monitoring system in place,” Plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake said yesterday during a media briefing.

Softlogic announces plans to raise Rs.7bn via private placement, rights

Diversified conglomerate Softlogic Holdings PLC with interests in retail, ICT, healthcare and financial services, automobile and leisure, yesterday announced plans to raise little over Rs.7 billion via a private placement and a rights issue to restructure the company balance sheet and improve its key capital ratios.

Absence of price formula, rising crude prices hamper Lanka IOC Dec. performance

The local unit of Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Lanka IOC PLC, reported a net loss of Rs.340.1 million or 64 cents a share for the October-December quarter (3Q18) from a comparable period net profit of Rs.257.5 million or 48 cents a share. 

SL-S’pore FTA not without traditional faults stemming from weak negotiations: economist

The Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement suffers from the traditional faults of Sri Lanka negotiating weaker free trade agreements (FTAs) and the country should look towards unilateral reforms and liberalizations instead of FTAs to get the required boost in exports, Institute of Policy Studies Chairman Professor Razeen Sally opined.

Shares recover; Ceylon Tobacco up on foreign buying

REUTERS: Sri Lankan shares rose yesterday after two straight sessions of decline, helped by gains in Ceylon Tobacco Co on foreign investor buying.

Rupee recovers from record low on bank, exporter dollar sales

REUTERS: The Sri Lankan rupee ended firmer yesterday, recovering from a record low hit in the previous session, as banks and exporters sold dollars, dealers said.

AIA Health Protector, providing best health protection in SL

No one plans to get sick or hurt, but most people would need medical care at some point, and if that time comes, its best to be well prepared.

What it means for trade and investment flows

The freshly-signed Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA) marks a new milestone in the relations between the two island economies. The agreement, signed on January 23, 2018, after almost 18 months of negotiations, is a modern, comprehensive and high-quality agreement. 

RDB partners International Executive Service Corps to encourage young entrepreneurs

International Executive Service Corps which operates on USAID funds work very closely with the young entrepreneurs while assisting them to improve their entrepreneurial abilities and provide training to the loan officers of the financial institutions which provide finance to such young entrepreneurs.

UTE hosted Caterpillar Far East Dealer Association Conference successfully concludes

United Tractor and Equipment (Pvt.) Ltd (UTE), as the sole authorised dealer in Sri Lanka for Caterpillar heavy machinery and equipment, achieved another milestone in its proud history when it hosted the annual Caterpillar Far East Dealers Association Conference (CFEDA) recently welcoming over 50 overseas representatives.

Game changing Urban.lk to revolutionise e-shopping industry

Urban.lk supplies the trendiest and the newest items all around the world, and is driven by the ambition of ‘Revolutionising the Sri Lankan shopping experience’ while guaranteeing the safety and the peace of mind customers deserve when shopping online.

Imperial Spices receives NBE Gold and Silver awards

Imperial Spices, a leading exporter of spices was presented with the much coveted Gold awards for Excellence in Business and Financial Results and Export Sector (Large Category) and a Silver award in Large category at the National Business Excellence Awards Ceremony 2017 organised by the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka.

McLarens Containers awarded ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System Certification

McLarens Containers (Pvt.) Ltd, its associate second facility, Multimodal Container Terminal Ltd, and the Repair and Fabrication Company, McLarens Container Refurbishers Ltd, were officially awarded ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System Certification by DNV GL Country Manager Rakitha de Silva at a ceremony held on October 20th 2017.

Emirates and Dilmah celebrate 25 years of exclusive brewing

As Sri Lanka celebrated the 150th anniversary of Ceylon Tea in 2017, Emirates marked its 25 year partnership with Dilmah, the country’s premier tea brand.

CMA to conduct ‘Company Secretarial Practice’ workshop

The Institute of Certified Management Accountants of Sri Lanka (CMA) will conduct a workshop on ‘Company Secretarial Practice’ on January 25 and 26, 2018, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at Renuka City Hotel, Colombo 3.

FairFirst Insurance partners NCE as strategic insurance partner

The National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE), which is the only private sector Chamber which exclusively serves Sri Lankan exporters offers a range of services particularly to member exporters of export oriented enterprises, as well as the exporter community in general.

Will Sri Lanka be able to balance between China and India?

“It is for the people of Asia to run the affairs of Asia, solve the problems of Asia and uphold the security of Asia,” Chinese President Xi remarked at the 2014 Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia. 

Education Ministry signs MoU with SEC

The Education Ministry signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) yesterday to formalise the provision of trilingual financial education among school teachers and students in Sri Lanka. 

NDB Home Loan approval in just three days

Building, renovating or buying one’s dream home or  land is overwhelming especially when it comes to the current market rate.

Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka to hold 23rd Convocation tomorrow

The 23rd Convocation of the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka (IBSL) is to take place tomorrow, January 26th 2018, from 3:00p.m. onwards at BMICH.

Softlogic Life rewards loyal customer Rs.1 mn to shop at Odel

Bringing joy for Softlogic Life customers who made simple choices to colour their 2017, Sri Lanka’s fastest growing life insurer Softlogic Life successfully concluded a unique customer promotion recently.

DFCC Bank’s association with Fairway Galle Literary Festival creates a buzz

As the official banking partner for the Fairway Galle Literary Festival scheduled from 24th to 28th January 2018,

Changing the Landscape of HR in the Insurance Industry

A few decades ago, the ‘Personnel’ department, as it was once known, was somewhere employees would go to seek