Thousands flock to Le Havre for tall ships parade

AFP: Tens of thousands of people lined the quays of the French port of Le Havre yesterday to see some of the world’s oldest and most majestic sailing ships glide past on the city’s 500th anniversary.

Melstacorp and related parties up stake in Aitken Spence

Business tycoon Harry Jayawardena managed to tighten his grip on Aitken Spence PLC this week without triggering a mandatory offer.

HSBC Lankan unit records Rs.3.6bn profit for 1H

The Honkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited Sri Lanka branch (HSBC Sri Lanka) posted a net profit of Rs.3.58 billion for the six months ended in June 30, 2017 (1H17), increasing from Rs.3.27 billion during the same period last year, the interim financial accounts of the bank showed. 

Lankan banks’ funding profiles squeeze as deposits slow, loan growth accelerates

The rapid growth seen in bank loans during the period from June 2014 to June 2017 have pressurized both the funding and liquidity profiles of Sri Lankan banks as the deposits failed to keep up with the loan growth, according to Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s). 

CIFL depositors approve Swiss plan for troubled finance firm

The Central Investment & Finance PLC’s (CIFL) Depositors Association recently agreed to a repayment plan for their deposits at the troubled finance company submitted by the Swiss firm Chancental Works GMBH with the intervention of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

Apartment boom running out of puff amid CB reservations?

The Central Bank appears to have succeeded in its efforts at curbing the ‘irrational exuberance’ of property developers, with a slowdown being now witnessed in apartment construction amid fears of a possible property bubble.

Google Launchpad Accelerator opens to Sri Lankan startups

Google opened its Launchpad Accelerator to Sri Lanka on 31 August with the aim of providing an opportunity to local developers to formulate solutions to local challenges.

Powerful data analytics for real-time decisions: Hirdaramani IT Arm, H One Launches RES.Q | QMS for

Sri Lanka’s leading enterprise solution provider H One launched RES.Q | QMS, a quality management solution tailor made to minimise defects in apparel manufacturing. H One’s solution draws on the rich 

H One launches quality management solution for apparel industry

Sri Lanka’s leading enterprise solution provider H One launched RES.Q | QMS, a quality management solution tailor made to minimise defects in apparel manufacturing.

Milo cycle parade helps 1,000 kids and families get active

Over 1,000 children and their families celebrated the grand finale of the popular ‘Mom, Me and My Milo’ campaign, painting the streets of Colombo green in a mega Milo Cycle Parade.

President visit Facets Sri Lanka gem and jewellery exhibition

Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association organized the 27th consecutive year International Gem and Jewellery Show Facets Sri Lanka 2017 at  the BMICH.

Pelwatte Dairy powers Ananda College’s 130th anniversary celebrations

It was a celebration of 130 years of educating boy’s for Ananda College Colombo and Sri Lanka’s 100 percent local dairy manufacturer Pelwatte Dairy was there to support the walk and fun fair that was held at Green Path, Colombo.

Star Holdings launches another ‘Sri Lanka’s first’ to product portfolio

Star Holdings – a 100 percent Sri Lankan Fabric Care Company has added another ‘Sri Lanka’s first’ to its product portfolio which already includes innovative products like Star Dishwash Round and Starlight Detergent Powder.

Host of features with all new Dialog TV ViU HUB

For the first time in Sri Lanka, Dialog Television introduces a state of the art all in one media and satellite decoder with Wi-Fi connectivity - The Dialog TV ViU HUB. 

Australia and Sri Lanka have great potential in promoting higher education: Minister

Australia and Sri Lanka have a great potential to collaborate on vocational training and higher education, especially in marine sciences, Australian Vocational Education and Skills Assistant Minister Karen Andrews said while visiting Colombo International Nautical and Engineering College (CINEC) during her trip to Sri Lanka.

National Chamber Business Forum on ‘Customs Procedures’ runs to a full house

Senior officials from Sri Lanka Customs addressed the business community on the latest procedures at Customs, where participants were able to discuss and sort out many issues faced by them. The seminar proved to be a highly successful one.  

Export Development Board holds seminar on ‘Digital Doors to Trade’

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) organized a half-day seminar on “Digital Doors to Trade” for Sri Lankan exporters to create an awareness on Business to Business (B2B) and Business to Consumer (B2C) digital trade platforms. 

CBL holds ‘Annual Distributor Convention and Star Awards Ceremony 2016/17’

Ceylon Biscuits Limited (CBL) held its ‘Annual Distributor Convention and Star Awards Ceremony 2016/17’ recently at the Eagles’ Lakeside Banquet and Convention Hall, Attidiya. Conceptualized to 

Threat of price war clouds horizon for Maersk shipping business

REUTERS: A.P. Moller-Maersk has been fortified by the US $ 7.5 billion sale of its oil and gas business to France’s Total, but the company’s main sea freight business faces the threat of a new price war in a consolidating industry.

UK’s LRQA awards Colombo Dockyard ISO 9001:2015 certifications

The Technical Review Committee of Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA), UK, has approved the issue of ISO 9001:2015 certificates to Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDPLC) making it one of the very first shipyards in the region to receive a certification to ISO 9001:2015 from LRQA. 

PF-NMF India MoU to enhance Indian Ocean maritime cooperation

The Centre for Indo-Lanka Initiatives at the Pathfinder Foundation (PF) and National Maritime Foundation (NMF) based in New Delhi, India, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance bilateral cooperation between the two think-tank organisations engaged in academic research.  

Multi-country marine HR conference focuses on sustainable ship management

Asia Marine Colombo, a joint venture (JV) between Mercantile Marine Management Limited and reputed ship management company, Reederei NSB, based in Buxtehude Germany, reiterated its commitment to growing knowledge and competencies in specialized marine HR solutions by holding an NSB Marine Officers’ Conference in Colombo recently.

Sri Lanka maritime aspirations in troubled waters

Lack of antitrust laws has made the free economy of Sri Lanka to become a closed one, which is controlled by a few individuals who monopolize the country’s business activity 

Landmark Developers enters Sri Lankan real estate scene

Officially introducing itself into the ever-expanding real estate industry of Sri Lanka, Landmark Developers Holding (Pvt.) Ltd, a new property development company, held its launch at ‘The Stables’ of Park Street Mews, recently.

Colombo Property Show 2017 at Berjaya Colombo

The inaugural ‘Colombo Property Show’ will take place on the 9th and 10th of September 2017 at the Berjaya Colombo Hotel. 

One Galle Face hosts ‘Open Day’ for homeowners

Shangri-La, Asia Pacific’s leading luxury hotel, resort and residential group, with its very first mixed development project, One Galle Face hosted an ‘Open Day’ for its existing buyers recently. 

ICC Mount Clifford Range - 688 apartments sold out

Sri Lanka’s pioneering infrastructure and multi sector general contractor International Construction Consortium (ICC) has announced that it has successfully sold out the total 688 modern, walk-up apartments of the Mount Clifford Range project in just two months since its launch.

MR Seal launches revolutionary waterproofing solution for construction industry

The new MR Seal all-purpose penetrating sealer is a state-of-the-art, penetrating waterproofing solution available in the market that acts as a preventative measure against deterioration in tile grout, bricks, concrete, blocks, pavers, stones, rugs, carpets, leather, wood and timber, while preserving the original condition and increasing the lifespan.  

SL’s abundance in natural resources ideal to boost future renewables sector: German envoy

Green Energy Champion Sri Lanka (GEC) 2017 is taking place for the second consecutive year and after the success of last year’s input, there is optimism that has been placed towards the ideal of achieving even more interest and awareness from the public in this regard.

Drugs take forefront as narcotics emerge a cheaper option

The Sri Lanka Police presented its Annual Performance Report 2016 to parliament last week and it painted a dismal picture of the current state of affairs. The Sri Lanka Police reports that in 2016, it apprehended 388,722 kilogrammes of narcotics, a growth of 3,000 percent over the figure of 13,548 kilogrammes during the previous year.