SLCB conducts MICE promos in China, S’pore, India

The Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB) is aggressively promoting meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions (MICE) tourism to Sri Lanka with its back-to-back MICE promotions and trade fair participation in China, Singapore and India.

SLITHM ties up with Toastmasters International

In a move that would further raise its profile, the SLITHM has teamed up with Toastmasters International to enable its students to develop speech craft and presentation skills. 

SLITHM looks to raise hospitality training to world-class standards

The tourism authorities are working towards uplifting Sri Lanka’s hospitality training to world-class standards through collaborations with foreign institutions.

Booming informal accommodation sector: Bane or boon of Sri Lanka’s tourism?

The end of the civil conflict in 2009 resulted in significant developments in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. The immediate aftermath saw a short-term, unprecedented twofold growth of tourist arrivals from 438,475 in 2008 to 1,005,605 in 2012, surpassing the milestone of a ‘one million tourist destination’.

ComBank engages in knowledge sharing with Kilinochchi farmers

The on-going initiative of Commercial Bank of Ceylon to develop entrepreneurship in the Micro and SME sectors has benefitted the farmers of Kilinochchi by empowering them with information on best practices that make paddy cultivation profitable. 

INAP 19th symposium concludes on high note

The 19th symposium on International Network of Affiliated Ports (INAP) under the theme, ‘Maritime Co-operation and Economic Prosperity through INAP’ was successfully completed at the Kingsbury Hotel Colombo.

Why liberalise an already liberalised industry?

Numerous pro liberalization articles were of the view that liberalization of the shipping sector would help Sri Lanka become a maritime hub.

Advantis Projects provides solution for power plant relocation to Sudan

Advantis Projects, the project logistics arm of Hayleys Advantis Group, recently relocated the 24MW Lakdhanavai power plant from Sapugaskanda to Nyala, Sudan, a region that has been without electricity for four months.

Walkers hands over ‘Fat Lady’ to Sanken Overseas Maldives

Walkers Colombo Shipyard (Pvt.) Ltd, a subsidiary of MTD Walkers PLC, has successfully completed the construction of ‘Fat Lady’, a landing craft designed and constructed for Sanken Overseas Maldives (Pvt.) Ltd.

NTB holds Sri Lanka’s first Fintech Hackathon

The Kaffeine Lab, Nations Trust Bank’s (NTB) innovation centre on Gregory’s Road, came alive recently as the bank hosted the first Fintech Hackathon in the country. 

SampathCards begins season with host of offers

SampathCards is enabling the cardholders begin the holiday season with a host of amazing offers that help them indulge themselves in the best that the season has to offer. 

Union Assurance sees new business growth in 3Q; Fairfirst performance encouraging

Union Assurance PLC recorded growth in new business during the July-September (3Q17) quarter over its preceding three months as the life insurer posted strong gains in premium incomes for the period. 

DSI clinches Gold at Quality Circles Convention

Two subsidiaries of the DSI Group - D Samson Industries and Samson Bikes qualified to stage 2 Quality Circles at this International event after winning Gold Awards at the National QC Convention 2017. 

HNB joins USAID-funded ‘YouLead’ project

Hatton National Bank Plc entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with International Executive Service Corps (IESC), which will implement the US Agency for International Development’s (US AID) funded youth entrepreneurship and advancement programme called ‘YouLead’. 

School purchases Ashok Leyland Lynx to mark anniversary

Vishaka Vidyalaya Bandarawela purchased the latest Ashok Leyland Lynx Strong bus recently to commemorate their 75th anniversary.  

Finagle Lanka recognizes outstanding dealers

Finagle Lanka Pvt. Ltd., a leading provider of innovative bakery products that have become a household name among satisfied customers island-wide, honoured top dealers during its annual dealer convention held recently. 

LVL Energy Fund seeks Rs.1.2bn in new listing

Sri Lanka’s LVL Energy Fund Limited, a company that invests in renewable and thermal power projects across Sri Lanka and beyond, last week announced they were seeking a listing on the Colombo Stock Exchange.

SL to reform archaic labour laws to allow flexible working; hire-and-fire policy for startups

Bringing in sweeping reforms to the country’s archaic labour laws, the government is gearing to create a legal environment where more women could join the country’s labour force and allow employers introduce flexible working hours. 

AIA Group’s Lankan unit sees 12% premiums growth in 3Q

Despite a flat September quarter in terms of new businesses compared to the previous quarter, AIA Insurance Lanka PLC’s overall performance signaled that the life insurer is gradually establishing its position in the Sri Lankan insurance market, which has extremely low appetite for long-term insurance products. 

Sri Lanka among countries with largest gender gap in labour force: WB

A recently released World Bank report on female labour in Sri Lanka said, Sri Lanka has the 14th largest gender gap in labour force participation globally and the situation is getting worse by the day.  The report titled ‘Getting to Work: Unlocking Women’s Potential in Sri Lanka’s Labour Force’ also 

Govt. will send experts to Russia to study chrysotile fiber: minister

Science, Technology and Research Minister Susil Premajayantha last week said the government will send a team of experts to Russia to study and gather information about chrysotile fiber (the main ingredient of popular roofing solution, asbestos) and its effect on human health. 

Unilever and MullenLowe Most Awarded Partnership at Effies

Unilever Sri Lanka and MullenLowe Sri Lanka continued to prevail as the most awarded partnership in the history of the Effies in Sri Lanka.The duo won Effie glory for their creative effectivenes

SampathCards Invites Cardholders to Begin the Season with Sensational Offers

SampathCards is enabling cardholders begin the holiday season with a host of amazing offers that help them indulge themselves in the best that the season has to offer.

Advantis Projects Provides End-To-End Solution for 24MW Power Plant Relocation to Sudan

Advantis Projects, the project logistics arm of Hayleys Advantis Group, recently relocated the 24MWLakdhanavai power plant from Sapugaskanda to Nyala, Sudan,

SLIM NASCO 2017 rewards top sales professionals in the nation

The National Sales Congress (NASCO) 2017 organized by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) drew to a successful conclusion recently at Eagle’s Lakeside

H’tota industrial zone will have same ownership structure as of port: Malik

The proposed Chinese industrial zone that will feed in business to the Hambantota port will have a similar ownership structure to that of the port and the discussions on the agreement are expected to finish by the end of this year, according to Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama.

Fitch assigns final ratings to LB Finance’s senior, subordinated debt

Fitch Ratings has assigned LB Finance PLC’s (LB; A- (lka)/Stable) proposed senior unsecured and subordinated debentures final National Long-Term Ratings of ‘A-(lka)’ and ‘BBB+(lka)’ respectively.  The assignment of the final ratings follow the receipt of documents conforming to information already 

Radiant Beaux launches stone carving collection

Launched for those with a discerning eye for artistic beauty and innovation, the lifestyle store, Radiant Beaux recently launched its collection of dazzling stone carvings in Colombo.

UltraTech Cement partners with BBDO for ‘Live Chatathon with Harsha and Anita Bhogle’

UltraTech Cement Lanka (Pvt.) Limited, part of the Aditya Birla group, recently partnered eminent sport media personality Harsha Bhogle and his wife Anita, for a ‘Live Chatathon’ interactive session for the benefit of its staff, suppliers and business partners, at Hotel Taj Samudra, hosted by BBDO. 

UK pushes for trade talks to solve N. Ireland border issue

AFP: British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson yesterday called on Brussels to move on to post-Brexit trade talks to solve the Irish border issue, despite a warning from the EU that London still had work to do.