Emirates offers special fares on travel from Colombo to Singapore, Melbourne

Emirates has made travel from Colombo to Singapore and Melbourne significantly more affordable with Companion Fares announced this week.

Etihad increases frequency to Egypt and Nigeria

Etihad Airways is adding year-round flights between its Abu Dhabi hub and both Cairo and Lagos later this year to cater to growing demand to and from the United Arab Emirates.

Sigiriya Handicrafts Village to become night-time performing arts centre

Sigiriya Shilpa Handicrafts Village is to get a much-needed boost through a proposed public-private partnership that will transform the village into a lively performing arts centre.

Kandy Receives A Boost In Quality Medical Laboratory Service

With astounding success and highest quality of their medical laboratory services in Colombo and suburbs, Lanka Hospitals Diagnostics (LHD)recently launched their newest lab testing

EFL aiming to become first global logistics brand of sub-continent

Expolanka Holdings PLC is aiming to boost its Expo Freight (EFL) operations to become the first global logistics brand originating from the Indian subcontinent, and over the past year bought out the minority stakes in its subsidiaries in the US and China to achieve this goal.

Sri Lanka named Asia’s leading destination

Sri Lanka Tourism clinched two prestigious awards at the World Travel Awards Ceremony held in the Maldives last week. 

JAAF slams proposed revenue bill

An apparel industry spokesperson this week slammed the new Inland Revenue Bill, which will put 90 percent of Sri Lanka’s exporters under the higher 28 percent income tax bracket, continuing to call for support for an industry that has matured.

Shares post near 1-week closing low

Reuters: Sri Lankan shares posted their lowest close in nearly one week in low trading yesterday as local investors booked profits while foreign players bought into risky assets, limiting the decline. The Colombo stock index ended 0.11 percent weaker at 6,738.42, declining for the third straight session.

UrbanTrendz Offers a Mix of Quality Brands and Affordability

UrbanTrendz which opened its doors to Colombo’s shoppers recently is the newest, hippest Multi-brand Retail Store in Sri Lanka for such a super assortment of exclusive fashion brands as United 

Rupee ends steady; importer dollar demand weighs on market

Reuters: The Sri Lankan rupee ended steady yesterday as greenback sales by banks and exporters offset importer demand for dollars, dealers said.

Sri Lanka’s household indebtedness on the rise

The record low interest rates that prevailed until recently may have helped many to overcome their financial difficulties and enjoy better living standards in the short-term, but this has fuelled Sri Lanka’s household debt to reach record highs, data showed. 

Revival of brass industry

A man polishes a traditional brass lamp at a workshop in Colombo. Such items are now very much in demand due to the increasing number of tourists visiting Sri Lanka  (Reuters photo)

Singer ranked among ‘Top 25 great places to work’

Singer (Sri Lanka) was recognized as one of the best places to work in Sri Lanka for the fourth consecutive year at the special awards ceremony held at Cinnamon Grand Colombo, organized by Great Place to Work Institute recently.  

Nolimit among ‘Top 25 best companies to work’ again

The leading fashion retail chain in Sri Lanka, Nolimit was listed in the top 25 best companies to work for in Sri Lanka for the second consecutive year, by the Great Place to Work Institute at the recently held gala awards ceremony. 

Apollo Tyres go the distance in Sri Lanka

Apollo Tyres, India’s biggest  exporter of tyres , with an annual turnover close to  US $ 2 billion, having factories across India and in Europe, will enhance its presence in the Sri Lankan market by launching the Apollo 2 wheeler tyre this weekend.

CRTA to hold 98th AGM today

The 98th Annual General Meeting of the Colombo Rubber Traders’ Association (CRTA) will be held today at Renuka City Hotel, Colombo. 

Naturub Group celebrates 40th anniversary

Naturub Group of Companies (Pvt) Ltd, a leading manufacturer and exporter of apparel accessories and trims in South Asia celebrated their 40th anniversary recently. 

RIL Property gears up for expansion

RIL Property PLC, a developer, manager and owner of Grade A office spaces in Colombo, 

Pelwatte Dairy introduces ice cream with a difference

I scream… You scream… We all scream for ice-cream… Now doesn’t that bring back a lot of memories from a childhood gone by? But why does it have to stop with childhood? Ice-Cream is something anyone can enjoy regardless of age and at practically any time of day.

NDB, strengthening women through ‘Araliya’

A woman too at times resembles ‘Araliya’ a flower that’s simple, humble yet resilient and beautiful. Looking back at the success we have achieved in life, there has always been that woman (Ara-  liya ) 

Swim Week Colombo showcases integrated platform with green consciousness Swim

Swim Week Colombo, presented by Olu tropical water, which concluded its 3rd edition with a new position of Green Conscious and Earth Sensitive set the tone for the future direction of the fashion

Taco Bell opens its doors in Sri Lanka

Hold your breath, Sri Lanka! Taco Bell, the world’s largest Mexican-inspired quick service restaurant chain, will unleash an electrifying experience when it opens its doors in Sri Lanka

Distinguished ‘Asia Responsible Entrepreneurship Award’ by Enterprise Asia awarded to Kanrich Finan

The impactful CSR project ‘Kanrich Thaksalawa’ of one of the fastest-growing financial institutions in the country, Kanrich Finance has been recognized on a global platform from amidst competitors

Knorr Celebrates Greek Food with Digital Dining Experience

Laughter and fun abounded as curious visitors scanned the edible QR codes on their spanakopita and pastitsio, tucking into their Greek dishes as dusk descended over the city. For visitors at the Dutch 

Once again the Bank of Ceylon ranked among Top 1000 Banks in the World with NO.1 Country Rank.

Sri Lanka’s No.1 bank, the Bank of Ceylon has yet again reaffirmed its position among the Top 1000 Banks in the world with the country rank No.1 according to the “The Banker” U.K. Magazine July 2017 

Barra-licious: Galle Face Hotel executes signature seafood dishes with Round Island Barramundi

The Galle Face Hotel’s seafood restaurant ‘Sea Spray’ is debuting a delicious new menu that features Round Island’s premium quality barramundi as a signature dish. This sustainable and commercially 

Odel to invest US $ 106mn in mixed development project

Sri Lanka’s leading lifestyle retailer Odel PLC yesterday revealed plans to invest US $ 105.7 million in a mixed development project at Ward Place, Colombo 7.

Moody’s forecasts 20% annual growth in new loans for HNB post-rights issue

Moody’s Investors Service this week said Hatton National Bank PLC (HNB) would grow its loan book by as much as 20 percent per annum during the two years to March 2019 as the bank would complete its rights issue that would inject as much as Rs.15.0 billion in fresh equity by the end of this month. 

Rupee ends firmer; cenbank dollar buying curbs rise

REUTERS: The Sri Lankan rupee ended slightly firmer yesterday due to greenback sales by banks and exporters, while the Central Bank’s dollar buying prevented an appreciation in the local currency, dealers said.

China sends troops to open first overseas military base in Djibouti

REUTERS: Ships carrying personnel for China’s first overseas military base, in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa, have set sail to begin setting up the facility, as China’s rapidly modernising military extends its global reach.