SriLankan unveils Speculo 2017 painting, visual art competition

SriLankan Airlines, the national carrier, inviting the country’s talented youth to artistically elaborate their perspective on the airline, unveils its ultimate creativity inspiring endeavour, Speculo 2017. This painting and visual art competition brings together artists across the country, ranging from school children, university students and amateur and professional artists.

WBTMC to conduct Speechcraft Programme #7

The Word Blasters Toastmasters Club (WBTMC) presents a Toastmasters experience of a lifetime with the seventh Speechcraft Programme conducted by the club, which would take place at the Royal College Union Skills Centre (RCUSC) on Saturday, January 28, 2017.

Suren Cooke Agencies introduces Sure Green Eradicator to fight bed bugs

Suren Cooke Agencies, a pioneer in the pest management industry and renowned for utilizing the latest and most innovative pest control solutions, has introduced the Sure Green Eradicator, based on steam superheated at 180C to eliminate bed bugs, instantly.  

Etihad Airways hosts Indian fashion couturier Manish Malhotra in Abu Dhabi

Etihad Airways, in association with Lakmé Fashion Week, recently hosted master couturier Manish Malhotra in Abu Dhabi as part of the airline’s latest initiative as the preferred carrier of the global fashion industry.

Get house in order before worrying about FTAs, says top economist

Sri Lanka should first worry about the barriers to trade inside the country before entering into far reaching trade pacts with other countries as bureaucracy and administrative and information inefficiencies among other things have put a cap on the progress of the country’s exports, opines a top economist. 

Shortlisted bidder for SriLankan charges bids being rigged

PeaceAir Pvt Ltd, one of the three shortlisted candidates of the bids for the management of SriLankan Airlines (SriLankan) yesterday held a press conference to express its frustration over the bid evaluation process, which they charged was not transparent.

LB Finance 3Q net profit crosses Rs.1bn

LB Finance PLC (LBF), a Dhammika Perera-controlled licensed finance company, recorded higher profits exceeding Rs.1 billion for the quarter ended December 31, 2016 (3Q17), supported by higher loans and leases extended during the period, which in turn improved the company’s margins.

AIA Insurance announces Rs.48 per share interim dividend

AIA Insurance Lanka PLC yesterday announced an interim dividend of Rs.48 per share payable by February 08, 2017 for the financial year 2016.

Grain Elevators to acquire poultry processing plant from related party for Rs.272mn

Sri Lanka’s leading poultry manufacturer, Ceylon Grain Elevators PLC (GRAN), has entered into an agreement to acquire land and a poultry processing plant from related party Ceylon Agro-Industries Limited for Rs. 272 million.

Rupee falls on importer dollar demand

REUTERS: The Sri Lankan rupee traded weaker yesterday due to dollar demand from importers while moral suasion by the Central Bank prevented a further fall in the currency, dealers said.

Finance Ministry says China’s Alibaba eyeing investments in SL

Sri Lanka’s Finance Ministry yesterday said world famous Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba has shown keen interest in investing in Sri Lanka and to build an e-commerce platform to promote online business ventures.

EDEX Expo 2017 – “Empowering Sri Lankan Youth to be globally competitive”

Sri Lanka’s largest education exhibition and Job Fair – EDEX Expo will be held on 20-22 January 2017 at BMICH Colombo, and on 27-28 January 2017 at Kandy City Centre

Blue Mountain breaks ground for Colombo’s first ever 7-star luxury apartment – Achilleion

Blue Mountain Apartments, part of the Blue Mountain Group, held the ground-breaking ceremony of its most iconic development project and one of the biggest such projects

Professor Indraratna: Guru of gurus

In memory of Professor A.D.V De. S. Indraratna, this is a republication of the article initially published in Mirror Business in 2011under the ‘Sri Lanka’s Prominent Economists’ series

What does Forbes Under 30 entrepreneurs tell us?

When Forbes recently announced its list of Under 30 movers and shakers, the list was more than a statement of young entrepreneurship. It was a confirmation of how entrepreneurship captures the young early on; it also highlighted the power of technology in helping most of these talented young men and women to leap into billion-dollar categories with seemingly little effort.

Lanka Hospitals to hold workshop on breast cancer

According to World Health Organization (WHO), Breast cancer is the top cancer in women worldwide and is increasing particularly in developing countries like Sri Lanka where the majority of cases are diagnosed in late stages. Cervical cancer has been identified as the second most common cancer among females in Sri Lanka. However, with early detection and treatment cancers can be cured and managed. 

Sancharaka Udawa tourism trade fair to be held in May

The Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) announced the annual Sancharaka Udawa tourism product trade fair, which will bring to the forefront many unidentified small and medium service providers by creating a platform to showcase their services as well as build links with the tourism industry. 

Nine tips on digital transformation of business to drive customer success

We live in an age where we see digital native unicorns, a name fondly used for start-ups valued for more than US $ 1 billion. They’ve turned the world of business upside down by focusing on customer experiences with great user interfaces (UIs) that sit in front of the masses backed by a great systematically driven supply chain. 

The year of the ‘pivot’?

For the global economy and markets, the start of 2017 couldn’t have been more different from a year ago. Business confidence as well as growth and inflation expectations are once again on the rise in the US and other major economies.

PM-JBIC CEO hold bilateral talks in Davos

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe held bilateral discussions with Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) CEO/Executive Managing Director Tadashi Maeda during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.  Pic by Pradeep Pathirana

DFCC Bank to offer greater convenience to Pettah biz community

DFCC Bank recently opened a fully-fledged branch in Pettah, located at No: 143, Main Street, Colombo 11.

Top tourism professional to promote Sri Lanka in Europe

A veteran hospitality and tourism industry professional has been appointed as honorary consultant to the Ministry of Tourism Development with special focus on Germany and the European Continent.  Minister of Tourism Development John Amaratunga officially presented the letter of appointment to Nihal Samarasinha at a special event in Colombo recently.

Emirates to launch daily flights to Croatia

Emirates has announced that it will further expand its European network with the introduction of a daily flight from Dubai to Zagreb (ZAG), the capital of Croatia from June 1. 

IBSL issues guidelines on conducting insurance claim investigations

The Insurance Board of Sri Lanka (IBSL) has issued ‘Guidelines on conducting investigations on insurance claims’. 

Colombo Dockyard delivers 80-passenger vessel to Northern Province

Colombo Dockyard successfully delivered the 80-passenger vessel built for the Northern Provincial Council on 10th January in Delft.

ICRA Lanka assigns Capital Alliance A-

Sri Lanka’s leading investment banking firm and the preferred partner in financial markets, Capital Alliance Limited (CAL), has been assigned the issuer rating of [SL]A- with stable outlook by ICRA Lanka Limited, a subsidiary of ICRA Limited (a group company of Moody’s  Investors Service). 

Seylan Bank launches Seylfie youth savings account

Yet again revolutionizing the banking industry in Sri Lanka, Seylan Bank has launched a state-of-the-art digital bank account for the youth of Sri Lanka named - Seylan Seylfie. 

George Steuart Health introduces allergen neutralizing spray

George Steuart Health, the pharmaceutical solutions provider in Sri Lanka has yet again proved their aspiration to deliver the finest medical care to their customers across the island by introducing Allergof, an allergen neutralizing spray which helps treat symptoms of house dust allergens related allergies. 

Fifty fifth visit to Sri Lanka amazing landmark to achieve

If anyone visits only one particular destination for the 55th time, and stays for the 50th time at the same hotel, then it’s something worth being interested, and something really remarkable.

Lankan WEF delegates hold talks with StanChart Chair

The Sri Lankan delegation to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, held talks with Standard Chartered Bank Chairman Jose Vinals yesterday in Davos. Pic by Pradeep Pathirana