SAKS Analytics leads the way for Sri Lankan corporates to understand & engage in Commercial Analytic

The scale and diversity of Sri Lanka’s economy makes it an ideal candidate for the deployment of advanced data analytics according to world renowned, Pakistani-born, data scientist and recently

Huawei Consumer Business Group announces 2017 H1 business results

Huawei Consumer Business Group recently announced its 2017 first half year financial results: sales revenue for the first six months of 2017 increased by 36.2 percent year-on-year to 105.4billion Yuan.

New SEC Act will form a sound foundation for capital market regulation: SEC chief

Following is the annual review of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Thilak Karunaratne in the SEC’s latest annual report.

Disrupt Asia 2017 concludes helping SL establish new startup ecosystem paradigms

Sri Lanka’s Premier Startup Conference and Showcase, Disrupt Asia 2017 (DA17) concluded on a successful note recently helping the country establish new startup ecosystem paradigms.

Bank of Ceylon celebrates 78 years of unparalleled service to the nation

With the confidence and trust that has been build over the years in the Sri Lankan banking and financial services sector, the country’s No.1 brand steps into its successful 78th year of service as “Banker’s to the nation” on August 1st. 

Hayleys Puritas Sath Diyawara delivers clean water to two more villages

Puritas Sath Diyawara endeavour has extended its clean drinking water project with two more Reverse Osmosis plants.

EIAs are bedrock of environmental management, says expert

Verité Research hosted EIA expert Joshua C. Gellers, who presented his early research findings on the quality of Environmental Impact Assessments in Sri Lanka. 

Create Lab SL gives children possibilities through coding and robotics

Envisioning a future where creativity, coding and computational thinking will be important life skills, Create Lab, an education facilitator headquartered in Singapore provides the essential tools and facilities to assist children to develop digital skills and an inventive mindset, that will empower them to thrive in the 21st century. 

Exporters expect govt.’s assistance in reaping GSP Plus benefits

Regaining GSP Plus will most certainly come with its fair share of challenges, and the government must now should set its sights on helping the export sector of the county to reap benefits, Exporter’s Association of Sri Lanka (EASL) stressed recently. 

Vehicles on Lankan roads reached 6.8mn in 2016: study

Sri Lanka reached a 6.8 million motor vehicle population in 2016, an 8 percent increase from 6.3 million registered in 2015, according to the latest edition of an annual report on the country’s vehicle market, compiled by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC). 

Sanasa Insurance uplifts lives of needy with unique ‘Sanasa Movement’

Created by the society, with the society, and for the society, ‘Sanasa movement’ is truly the largest and one-of-its-kind in the country with an ever-increasing membership. 

Vision Care to buy Colombo City Holding’s Union Place land for Rs.1bn

Colombo City Holdings PLC, a property management company, yesterday said it entered into a sales agreement to divest part of the land it owns in Union Place, Colombo 2, which is commonly referred to as the Colombo Pharmacy land, for Rs.1 billion, to Vision Care Optical Services (Private) Limited. 

H’tota port sale only temporary fix as external woes persist: Moody’s

Despite the Hambantota port deal would provide a temporary respite to the country’s ailing external sector by way of boosting its foreign exchange reserves, such proceeds by no means would be adequate to alleviate the medium-term challenges that are far more acute, given Sri Lanka’s higher debt obligations, according to Moody’s Investors Service.  

Sakura International expands business from new location

Sakura International, as a reputed organization, is known for its ability to supply comprehensive solutions in any commercial equipment that would be needed for a hotel from its entrance towards the backend which would include bakery, catering & cold rooms, kitchen or other storage facilities.

SampathCards offer savings on Damro furniture

Continuing to provide irresistible deals, SampathCards, the responsible choice, announced that it has partnered with Damro to make furniture and appliances more affordable for its cardholders, yet again. 

SAP demonstrates power of digital transformation to Lankan businesses

SAP SE organized ‘Digital Transformation Forum’ and ‘Design Thinking Workshop’ for Sri Lanka’s leading corporates in Colombo  respectively showcasing the power of SAP solutions including SAP S/4HANA and introducing the philosophy of  Design Thinking.

Ford brings clean drinking water to Kattumurivu village

Ford Motor Company, together with its local distribution partner, Future Automobiles (Pvt) Limited, a subsidiary of Softlogic Holdings PLC, collaborated with World Vision Lanka (WVL) to provide safe drinking water to 223 families in the Kattumurivu Village, Vaharai.

President appoints Channa Wijesekara as TVEC member

President Maithripala Sirisena has appointed Channa Wijesekara as a Member of the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC) on 14 July for a period of four years at the request of Skills Development and Vocational Training Minister Chandima Weerakkody. 

Janashakthi recognized for commitment to society at Fintelekt Insurance Awards

Janashakthi Insurance PLC was recognized for its work as a responsible corporate citizen at the Fintelekt Insurance Awards 2017 held in Mumbai, India, recently.

Insurance law to be amended to free foreign and state insurers from listing

A new legislation gazetted by the Finance Ministry is attempting to amend the Regulation of Insurance Industry Act No. 43 of 2000 to allow insurance subsidiaries of foreign firms and state-owned insurance companies to be exempted from listing on the local stock market.

Fitch cuts Lion Brewery’s rating amid lower beer sales, higher taxes

Fitch Ratings yesterday downgraded the credit rating of Sri Lanka’s largest brewer, Lion Brewery (Ceylon) PLC, amid lower beer sales as a result of the higher taxes imposed by the authorities over the last 18 months.

Hemas Slingshot Startup Battle winners announced at ‘Disrupt Asia’

Hemas Slingshot, the startup incubator and seed accelerator programme of Hemas Holdings PLC, announced the winners of the Hemas Slingshot Startup Battle at the culmination of Disrupt Asia 2017 earlier this month. 

Should BOI be shut down?

Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse very boldly stated at the Sri Lanka Economic Summit on Wednesday that the Board of Investment (BOI) should be shut down. The BOI is Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s brainchild and an offshoot of the Greater Colombo Economic Commission 

Alert SriLankan cabin crew members avert major incident onboard UL 166

Alert cabin crew members aboard SriLankan Airlines’ flight UL 166 managed to avert a major incident that is believed to have been caused by the ignition of a lithium battery pack or mobile phones in a passenger’s hand luggage. The incident reported on July 30, when the flight was en route to Colombo from Kochi.

SEC and CSE conduct capital market forums in Negombo

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) and the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) commenced a series of Investor Forums titled ‘Kotas welenda pola: nagarayen nagarayate’  with a view to showcasing the benefits of investing in the capital market to the general public. 

Thailand’s Rojana to set up industrial zone in Kalutara next year: Sujeewa

The work on the proposed industrial zone in Kalutara by the Thai-based company, Rojana, on a 1000-acre land, which will have about 200 factories, is likely to start by next year in October, International Trade State Minister Sujeewa Senasinghe said. 

Dazed and duped by drugs – Sri Lanka keeps missing out on real opportunities

A recent discussion on combating substance abuse and its prevalence raised several interesting issues – matters that must require public interest, discussion and debate to generate sensible action. 

Lankaputhra Development Bank provides loan facilities for orchid cultivation

Lankaputhra Development Bank has come forward to provide loan facilities to entrepreneurs who are already engaged in the orchid industry and who intend to grow orchid.  

Three perfect curries with one mighty Sera

In today’s fast-paced world, preparing meals after a hard day’s work can be tiring, costly and a full-on hassle. We all struggle with balancing our many tasks and responsibilities all whilst trying to manage 

Pan Asia Bank bottom line narrows 12% during June quarter

The mid-sized bank, Pan Asia Banking Corporation PLC, has reported a decline in its profits for the April-June quarter amid higher cost of funds and poor asset quality in a higher  interest rate environment.