Sri Lanka Tourism awards cyber security contract to Sri Lanka CERT|CC

Sri Lanka CERT, the national computer emergency readiness team, has been entrusted with the task of providing a wide range of cyber security services for the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), the apex body of Sri Lanka Tourism.

Emirates and flydubai to offer travellers even more connections in 2018

Emirates and flydubai will offer travellers even more connectivity and flight options in 2018, with new codeshare flights planned to Krakow in Poland from April 8 and Catania in Italy from June 13.

Findmyfare kicks off new year with exciting deals

Sri Lanka’s largest online travel company Findmyfare kicked off the new year with a fantastic new promotion for Nations Trust Bank (NTB) American Express (Amex) cards customers, wherein they will enjoy an exclusive saving of 12 percent on bookings to any destination available on www.findmyfare.com.

Tensions run high at tourism office as SLTPB Chairman asked to leave

The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau (SLTPB) Chairman Udaya Nanayakkara was recently requested to resign by Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs Minister John Amaratunga. 

Mobitel Cash Bonanza 2018 to offer Mercedes Benz cars

Commencing the new year with exciting news for its customers, Mobitel has renewed its popular ‘Cash Bonanza’ programme for the year 2018. Mobitel Cash Bonanza is relaunched in the new year with more valuable prizes. 

Adidas End-of-Season Sale offers 50% discount

Adidas has launched a stupendous End-of-Season Sale, which offers a 50 percent discount on all Adidas-branded items in store until January 30, 2018.  Brand-conscious shoppers can make the most of this exciting offer to kick-start 2018 by putting their most stylish foot forward in the first month of the new year. 

Maggi noodles’ quality standards recognised by SLSI

Nestle Lanka’s popular ‘Maggi’ noodles range was awarded the SLS certification by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) at an award ceremony held this week. Maggie’s entire noodle range, including Maggi Chicken, Curry, Daiya, Tikiri and Double Pack noodles as well as Maggi Devilled Chilli Chicken and Spicy Blast noodles, is now SLS certified.

Galuku Hydrophonic receives Wayamba Vijayabhimani Excellence Award

Galuku Group of Companies Chairman Jagath Manjula Yapa was awarded as the most excellent businessman in the category of innovative value-addition products at the Wayamba Vijayabhimani Entrepreneur Excellence Awards. 

Leema Creations wins Silver at Entrepreneur of the Year Awards

Leema Creations (Pvt.) Ltd, the leading total interior service provider and furniture manufacturer, won the Silver award for the Large Category segment at Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2017, organised annually by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

ComBank and Insee Cement launch Sri Lanka’s first dealer loyalty debit card

Commercial Bank of Ceylon, Sri Lanka’s market leader in credit and debit card cumulative point-of-sale usage, has broken new ground in hybrid card functionality with the launch of the country’s first dealer loyalty debit card in partnership with Sri Lanka’s foremost cement manufacturer Insee Cement, formerly known as Holcim Lanka.

Lanka Hospitals celebrates 15 years of dedication towards saving lives

Lanka Hospitals PLC marked its 15th anniversary in a gala celebration at Eagle’s Lake Side recently.

Novo Nordisk offers US$3.1 bn for Belgian biotech group Ablynx

REUTERS: Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk said recently it had made a 2.6 billion Euros (US$3.12 billion) bid for Belgian biotech group Ablynx, the latest offer by a big pharmaceutical company for a Belgian biotech firm.

GSK CEO says looking at Pfizer consumer business, but not a priority

REUTERS: GlaxoSmithKline’s new Chief Executive said this week that the British drugmaker would have a look at Pfizer Inc’s  consumer products business, but would not overpay for the asset.

Hemas Southern Hospital Galle retains honour at Dakshina Suwa Wiru Abhishekaya 2017

Hemas Southern Hospital Galle continues to shine as the best private hospital in the Southern Province, after it emerged victorious yet again at the ‘Dakshina Suwa Wiru Abhishekaya 2017’ award ceremony by clinching the coveted ‘Best Private Hospital in the Southern Province’, organised by the Provincial Director of Health Services Southern Province.

Laugfs Gas gets assurance over H’tota port gas pipeline construction continuity

Laugfs Gas PLC yesterday expressed confidence in the construction of the pipeline connecting its flagship LP gas terminal to the jetty in Hambantota Port continuing, following intervention from the Board of Investment and the Development Strategies and International Trade Ministry.

Rupee ends weaker on importer dollar demand

REUTERS: The Sri Lankan rupee closed weaker yesterday as dollar demand from importers and banks surpassed mild conversions by exporters, dealers said. The spot rupee ended at 153.80/85, compared with Wednesday’s close of 153.70/80.

Access Engineering sees over 10% rise in FY 2017/18 profit

REUTERS: Access Engineering Company PLC, a listed Sri Lankan firm that has partnered with Chinese companies on construction projects, expects its net profit to grow by more than 10 percent in the 2017/18 financial year, its chairman said on Wednesday.

Indian regulator bars PwC from auditing listed firms for 2 years

REUTERS: India’s capital market regulator late this week barred Price Waterhouse from auditing listed companies in the country for two years, after a probe into a nearly decade-old accounting fraud case in a software services company that became India’s biggest corporate scandal.

Government’s loan scheme to support entrepreneurs to be launched in March

Finance and Mass Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera said that one of the main proposals made in the budget to create entrepreneurs under the ‘Enterprising Sri Lanka’ programme would be launched in March. 

Trump to make surprise appearance at Davos

AFP: Donald Trump will take his populist message directly to the world’s political and business elite later this month, becoming the first US president to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos in nearly 20 years.

CEAT Kelani to invest Rs.3bn in local tyre industry over next two years

CEAT Kelani Holdings yesterday announced an infusion of Rs.3 billion in new investments for the enhancement of manufacturing capacity, new product development and growth of exports, in a significant vote of confidence in the prospects for the India–Sri Lanka joint venture tyre manufacturing operation.

DFCC Bank official banking partner at Fairway Galle Literary Festival 2018

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

Adidas End-of-Season Sale offers discounts of 50%

Adidas has launched a stupendous End-of-Season Sale which offers a 50% discount on all Adidas branded

Chocolate Blackout at Hilton Colombo!

It’s hard not to fall in love with chocolates. With its luxurious form, luscious flavor, and the way it all melts in the mouth

Prestigious Mercedes Benz cars and millions of cash with ‘Mobitel Cash Bonanza 2018’

Commencing the New Year with exciting news for its customers, Mobitel has renewed its popular ‘Cash Bonanza’

Govt. to call for new oil, gas exploration bids

The third licensing round to offer offshore blocks for oil and gas exploration and development in northern Sri Lanka will take place over the next three months, according to state-run Petroleum Resource Development Secretariat (PRDS).

Top sovereign wealth funds in town to explore investment opportunities

Development Strategies and International Trade Ministry yesterday opened a two-day roundtable investment forum in Colombo with several top sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) in Asia and the Middle East.

Sri Lanka hopes to meet 60% of pharma demand locally by 2020

The government’s latest efforts in import substitution through the establishment of a pharmaceutical manufacturing zone will see 60 percent of the demand for pharmaceutical tablets and pills being met by locally made drugs by 2020, in furtherance of the vision of the late Pharmacologist Professor Senaka Bibile.

Shares end down on profit-taking

REUTERS: Sri Lankan shares ended weaker yesterday as investors sold blue chips such as Ceylon Tobacco Co, but foreign investors’ appetite for risky assets limited the downslide.

Sri Lanka’s private sector credit seen easing

Sri Lanka’s once stubborn private sector credit has finally started to ease, a sign that the monetary policy tightening measures put in place finally are having a considerable effect on the country’s credit and money flows.