ComBank declares Rs.3 per share dividend

Sri Lanka’s largest private bank, Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC, in terms of assets last week announced a Rs.3 per share second interim dividend for the financial year 2016.

Salient role of stock market in economic growth

A stock market is one of the most vigorous sectors that plays an important role in contributing to the wealth of the economy. 

Customer today, a gift not to be wasted; customer tomorrow, a treasure to be found

If you have gone through carefully the previous instalments, you would by now understand that business renewal is a judgment call—not a spreadsheet exercise. Your business model is the description of who your customers are, what they want from you, what you offer them and how you import/produce and charge for your products and services. 

IIT holds Big Data Analytics Tech Forum for corporate professionals

With the aim of providing insight in to the current trends in big data, Informatics Institute of Technology (IIT) recently held the Big Data Analytics Tech Forum at BMICH for the successful second time. 

E-commerce specialist Simplex expands reach across Sri Lanka

Simplex Delivery, the local pioneer in next-day, to-your-doorstep e-commerce deliveries, has expanded its network to cover the whole of Sri Lanka from January 25, 2017. 

SLT Zero One Awards judging process begins

Following the closing date for the acceptance of applications for the SLT Zero One Awards on the 15th January 2016, Sri Lanka Telecom has announced the beginning of the judging process which will select the winners of Sri Lanka’s first ever awards platform dedicated to the recognition and appreciation of excellence in the field of digital media.

Top three research firms name SAP SuccessFactors a leader in Cloud HR

SAP SE announced that SAP SuccessFactors has been recognized as a leader in human capital management (HCM)research published in 2016 by Forrester, Gartner and IDC. SAP SuccessFactors believes its position as a leader in the eight reports is based on its commitment to continuous innovation across the entire suite of cloud-based HCM solutions, providing HRteams with workforce technology that sparks people’s passions and empowers organizations

HP ranked No.1 for PC and notebook shipments in Sri Lanka

HP Inc. has been ranked No. 1 for PC and notebook shipments in Sri Lanka for Q3 2016, according to the data recently released by the IDC Asia/Pacific in their quarterly PC Market Executive Summary. 

SriLankan rewards ‘Go Gan’ contest winner

Amaya Wijesinghe, the winner of the SriLankan Airlines’ social media contest ‘Go Gan with UL’, received her fabulous prize of two return air tickets to SriLankan’s latest destination, Gan in the Maldives and a three-night holiday package at Canareef Resort Maldives. 

American Airlines, Qantas may revive joint venture plan under Trump

REUTERS: American Airlines Group Inc and Australia’s Qantas Airways Ltd may reapply to the US Transportation Department for permission to coordinate prices and flight schedules now the Trump administration is in charge, Qantas Chief Executive Alan Joyce said.

EFL receives Gold honours at National Business Excellence Awards

Following a landmark year of initiatives and milestones, Expolanka Freight (Pvt) Ltd received the honour for excellence in the Logistics and Transport sector at the National Business Excellence Awards 2016. 

Certain flight crew barred from US entry after Trump order: IATA memo

REUTERS: A new ban on US travel for nationals of seven Middle Eastern countries caught the airline industry unprepared, with flight crew from those states also barred from entering, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Saturday.

Etihad announces worldwide January sale for travellers from Sri Lanka

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, is offering travellers from Sri Lanka fantastic savings in its January sale.

Top professional Col. Kevin Byrne takes helm of CILT

The New Year will see a new era for The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) as Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Kevin Byrne takes over from out-going President Paul Brooks.

FinMin tells private sector to sue errant govt. agencies

Private sector companies should sue government agencies which are not fulfilling contractual obligations, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake urged last week, continuing his assault on the country’s public sector and officials. 

New ‘green’ fertilizer trialled on Lankan rice farms could contribute to food revolution: scientists

Thomson Reuters Foundation: A new synthetic fertiliser could help farmers to save money, boost food production and reduce planet-warming emissions, scientists have found after trialling it on rice farms in Sri Lanka. 

Watawala Plantations 3Q profit soars amid strong palm oil, tea gains

Diversified plantation company, Watawala Plantations PLC (WATA), saw its performance improving during the December quarter (3Q17) due to strong gains from the palm oil segment and improving tea prices, the interim financial accounts filed with the Colombo Stock Exchange showed.  

Sri Lanka’s 2016 FDI dives 54% as policy inconsistency weighs

REUTERS: Sri Lanka’s foreign direct investment (FDI) slumped 54 percent to reach an ‘extremely low by any standard’ level last year, the government said as inconsistent tax and economic policies weighed on offshore investments.

John Keells Hotels December profits up

John Keells Hotels PLC recorded improved financial performance for the December quarter as its Sri Lankan city hotels and Maldivian resorts showed improved occupancy, the parent company John Keells Holdings said in an earnings release. 

Cold Stores 3Q net profits up 26% as segments see strong sales

John Keells group subsidiary, Ceylon Cold Stores PLC (CCS), which has interests in consumer goods manufacturing and retailing saw both its top line and bottom-line making significant gains during the December quarter supported by stronger consumption demand, which continued unabated throughout 2016/17.

Bairaha Farms December profit up 43% over healthy sales

Sri Lanka’s pioneer chicken processing firm, Bairaha Farms PLC, posted a net profit of Rs.14.82 cents a share or Rs.237.1 million for the December quarter (3Q17), which generally sees higher sales due to festive demand.  

Changing landscapes…

An artist’s reminiscence of Colombo seafront, on display at the recently held Kala Pola 2017, before the ongoing Port City project and the Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT) altered the Sri Lankan capital’s landscape

Domino’s opens outlet in Boralesgamuwa

Expanding its presence in Sri Lanka, Domino’s opened its 23rd restaurant in Boralesgamuwa on 21st December, amidst much fanfare and celebration. 

Singer launches Moulinex MasterChef Gourmet Plus kitchen appliance

Singer Sri Lanka PLC, the leading retailer of household and electrical appliances in the country, launched the MasterChef Gourmet Plus kitchen machine, latest high-tech version to complement the kitchen machine range under renowned French brand Moulinex. 

Nature’s Beauty Creations appoints Bimal Silva as Group CEO

Nature’s Beauty Creations Ltd. (NBC) has appointed Bimal Silva as theDirector/Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) as a milestone endeavour in their steady vision of creating a global brand of herbal cosmetics from Sri Lanka by 2020. 

Green Energy Champion Project ends on high note

President Maithripala Sirisena and German Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Jörn Rohde officially handed over the facilities awarded for the winner of the Green Energy Champion competition, including a solar PV system, which now powers the Ananda College hostel, at a ceremonious event tagged ‘Harithananada’. 

3WC to launch first int’l Black Belt in Retail Programme in Sri Lanka

3WConsulting (3WC), Sri Lanka’s leading enterprise renewal and management consultants, together with the Global Retail Association (GRA) has announced the launch of the international Retail Mastery Programme, which will introduce the country’s first International Black Belt in the Retail Series. 

German Embassy Colombo funds Vote for a Woman project

On January 17, 2017, Ambassador Jörn Rode participated in the opening ceremony of the awareness campaign, Vote for a Woman, a project of the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), which is funded by the Federal Republic of Germany. 

JCI Sri Lanka appoints new Director Marketing

Junior Chamber International (JCI) Sri Lanka appoints Christopher Wijeyakulasuriya as Director Marketing to the National Board. 

CCC to hold seminar on capital structure management

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) will hold a seminar under the title of ‘Capital Structure Management for Better Financing’ in  a bid to help the finance sector professionals maintain a healthy capital structure in their firms.