Ceylon Chamber opens up biz bulletin for more subscribers

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce is opening up its Business Opportunities Bulletin 2016/17, issued weekly for more subscribers. 

The Fairway National Literary Award 2016 Winners

The winners of the Fairway National Literary Awards 2016 were announced at a gala ceremony on the evening of the 13th of January 2017.

DFCC Bank’s newest fully-fledged branch opens in Wennappuwa

DFCC Bank’s newest fully-fledged branch opened its doors in Wennappuwa to enhance access for customers in the area. The branch was inaugurated recently 

AIA Vitality, making Sri Lankans healthy, one step at a time!

Prefer a walk to a nearby destination rather than getting stuck in traffic? Would you rather take the stairs instead of the elevator?

You can turn risks and opportunities into solid results

Some businesses have grown a little exhausted and just need some sprucing up. You see this in your local restaurant that closes for remodelling during the first two weeks in August and opens thereafter with the same cuisine but with new paint, new tables and chairs, an updated menu and a warm handshake for returning customers. 

Kelani Cables holds 2016 final electrical technicians’ workshop in H’tota

Kelani Cables PLC that produces the number one secure electrical and communication cable in Sri Lanka held the final Kelani Visura electrical technicians’ workshop for 2016 at Jade Green Hotel, Hambantota recently.

Dhammika Kalapuge improves public sector delivery

Customer service expert Dhammika Kalapuge delivered a session on delivering better customer service to around 150 public service officers at the Hotel School auditorium.

Trump, tech tycoons talk overhaul of H1B visas

REUTERS: President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team has been actively considering ways to revamp a temporary visa programme used to bring foreign workers to the United States to fill high-skilled jobs, according to sources familiar with the discussions.

Global unemployment expected to rise by 3.4 mn in 2017: International Labour Organization

The global unemployment rate is expected to rise modestly from 5.7 to 5.8 per cent in 2017 representing an increase of 3.4 million in the number of jobless people, a new ILO report shows (table 1).

Duo Software clinches APICTA Merit Award

Duo Software bagged a Merit Award at the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) Awards, held on 5th December 2016 at the Grand Hotel in Taipei, just months after winning Gold and Merit Awards at the National Best Quality Software Awards (NBQSA). 

SLASI presents awards to YCS competition winners

 The awards ceremony of the ‘Young Computer Scientist of the Year’ (YCS) competition organized for the 15th successive year by Sri Lanka Association for the Software Industry (SLASI), the Software Chapter of The Federation of Information Technology Industry Sri Lanka (FITIS), was held under the patronage of Minister of Education, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam in the Education Ministry auditorium recently. 

EZY Distribution drives Transcend to market leadership in 2016

EZY Distribution has been the key driver of enabling Transcend memory products to take to market leadership. 

Tea market review for 2016 and outlook for 2017

Over the past 3 years, the world production of tea grew 6 percent from 4,990 in 2013 to 5,304 billion kilograms in 2015. 

Pakistan Single Country Exhibition

The second edition of Pakistan Single Country Exhibition took place at the BMICH conference hall last weekend in a bid to further bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The two countries already have a free trade agreement (FTA) operational since 2005 Pix by Nisal Baduge

Fairway Galle Literary Festival

The Fairway Galle Literary Festival, since first launching in 2007, has become one of the most anticipated literary events in Southeast Asia for both authors and literary enthusiasts around the world. The festival is celebrated annually

AIA Vitality, a new and rewarding platform for healthy living

Traditionally, insurers provide financial assistance when things go wrong. For example, if you pass away, your death benefits will be paid or if you are hospitalized, your bills will be compensated. AIA Insurance’s game-changing approach is intended at turning this convention around and making the experience a positive one. Instead of the usual ‘if you die-we pay’ model, AIA has found a way to motivate you to get fit, stay healt

Orient Finance to raise Rs.400mn via rights to strengthen capital base

Janashakthi group subsidiary, Orient Finance PLC, plans to raise up to Rs.400 million via a proposed rights issue to strengthen its Tier II capital, a disclosure filed with the Colombo Stock Exchange said. 

HSBC risks losing advantage with year-long delay in Chinese banking push

REUTERS: HSBC’s ambitions to establish an investment banking franchise in China have hit a roadblock, with the bank still waiting for approval for its partnership with a state-owned fund more than a year after it announced the venture.

Fitch Ratings affirms nine Sri Lankan banks

Fitch Ratings has affirmed the long-term issuer default ratings (IDRs) of the following Sri Lanka-based banks: National Savings Bank (NSB) at ‘B+’; outlook negative; Bank of Ceylon (BOC) at ‘B+’; outlook negative; DFCC Bank PLC (DFCC) at ‘B+’; outlook negative.

Top economist highlights tragedy of policy decisions sans research

The government is making decisions without doing proper research, specially in the case of the country’s thrust areas of infrastructure development and trade policy, Sri Lankan President’s Economic Advisor Dr.Sarath Rajapatirana said last week.

As export-led growth era fades away Sri Lanka urged to implement 2nd gen economic reforms to stay af

The era where exports pushed a nation’s economic growth has begun to slowly disappear as this phenomenon has now become evident from the recent export growth statistics of Asia Pacific 

Ravi K vows to reveal names of Central Bank saboteurs busting rupee

The names of Central Bank officials who are sabotaging the rupee will be revealed in the coming days, after which the currency will strengthen in the coming months, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said recently.

MR challenged to explain Habantota port expenses

Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake last week challenged the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to explain where the remaining funds from the US$ 1.4 billion

India’s Central Bank employees urge governor to protect autonomy

REUTERS: The employee union of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has urged the bank’s governor to protect Central Bank autonomy and not allow the federal government to interfere in processes following criticism over how it handled a ban on high-value currency.

NCE urges exporters to make effective use of GSP Plus

While lauding the government for its role in regaining GSP Plus tariff concession from the European Union (EU), a leading export chamber in the country urged its members as well exporters in general to prepare themselves to make use of the opportunity to the maximum. 

Lakdhanavi and LTL Holdings subsidiaries import furnace oil direct from Singapore

The two subsidiary companies of Lakdhanavi Ltd and LTL Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, namely; Raj Lanka Power Company Ltd (RLPCL) and Lakdhanavi Bangla Power Ltd (LBPL) which operate two thermal power plants with the capacity of 104 MW in Bangladesh, 

Minodh de Sylva wins ‘Young Achiever Award’ in India

Minodh de Sylva won the Young Achiever Award, presented to those with significant achievements under the age of 35 years at the recently concluded Marketing Excellence Awards at the Taj Lands End Hotel, India. 

Sri Lanka-Pakistan bilateral trade could be improved further: envoy

The second edition of the Single Country Exhibition of Pakistan was held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) last weekend.

Hayleys unveils largest capacity solar power plant in Welikande

Hayleys Group PLC, jointly with Windforce Pvt Ltd recently announced the commissioning of their solar power plant located in Welikande in the Polonnaruwa district.

Pest managers hold first AGM

The first Annual General Meeting of the Pest Managers Association of Sri Lanka was held yesterday. About 38 registered companies attended the event. The following office bearers elected to lead the Association during year 2017. (Photo credit:Travis Ferreira)