CMA Sri Lanka holds 13th graduation ceremony

Angeline Dhevagunanesan was awarded the Prof. Lakshman R. Watawala Founder President Gold Medal for the best all-round student 2015/2016 at the graduation ceremony 2016 by chief guest Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen,

Forecasting ‘in crisis’ on Brexit: BoE chief economist

AFP - Economic forecasting ‘is to some degree in crisis’, the Bank of England’s chief economist has said after it misjudged the fallout from Britain’s vote in favour of Brexit.

Chinese ready to go ahead with H’tota port deal minus land: Malik

China Merchants Port Holdings (CMPH), the Chinese company with which government plans to enter into an agreement to develop Hambantota port, will still go ahead with the deal minus the 15,000 acres of industrial land, which would make the port viable, a high ranking government minister said yesterday.

Monetary Board likely to issue directive on banks’ minimum capital

The Central Bank is likely to issue a formal directive in due course to the effect of higher minimum capital requirements for licensed banks after the Monetary Board, the institution’s governing body, studies the proposal as they are well in favour of sector consolidation, according to the Central Bank Governor. 

Sri Lanka seeking US $50bn foreign investment for development -PM

REUTERS: Sri Lanka will aim to attract US $50 billion of mostly foreign investment in the next five to 10 years to help develop its infrastructure, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe  said this week.

Ceylon Chamber gives thumbs up for Central Bank’s reform agenda

Sri Lanka’s premier business chamber, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), yesterday gave thumbs up for the Central Bank’s recently released monetary policy road map for 2017 and called on the country’s business community to support the independence of the institution and its policy reform efforts. 

Planters sound alarm as ban on glyphosate strangles tea industry sustainability

In the face of devastating crop losses in excess of an estimated Rs. 15 billion in 2016, the Planters Association of Ceylon (PA) released a statement pleading with the government to immediately provide a rational and effective solution to the management of chemical weeding in the estate sector in a commercially-viable manner. 

Sri Lanka fiscal deficit narrowly misses target in 2016

The Sri Lankan government has narrowly missed its fiscal deficit target of 5.4 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2016, accruing a deficit of 5.6 percent of GDP, official Treasury data shared by the Finance Ministry with the press, showed.

Rupee ends weaker; moral suasion caps fall

REUTERS: The Sri Lankan rupee ended weaker yesterday due to dollar buying by foreign banks, but the Central Bank’s moral suasion prevented further fall, two days after the monetary authority signalled a change in its intervention policy.

Rigid Tyre breaks ground

The foundation laying for Rigid Tyre Corporation (Pvt.) Ltd., tipped to become Sri Lanka’s largest fully integrated tyre manufacturing facility with an investment of Rs.11.25 billion, took place in Horana yesterday.

DPMC rewards winners of Thegi Nidhanaya 2016

David Pieris Motor Company Ltd (DPMC), the largest automotive company in Sri Lanka awarded winners of the ‘Bajaj Thegi Nidhanaya’ promotion at an event held at their City Office in Battaramulla. The campaign which began on the 10th of October 2016, livened up the festive season as DPMC rewarded its loyal customers who purchase genuine Bajaj spare parts for their Three Wheelers and Motorcycles.

Safe Hands Products clinches FCCISL Silver and Merit Awards

Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industries of Sri Lanka has honoured the performance of Safe Hands Products (Pvt) Ltd, a pioneer in manufacturing gloves with silver award for the Western province and national level merit award at the Entrepreneur of the Year. 

BMICH partners Hayleys for Christmas carols

To complement national Christmas festivities and the Tourism Fest organized by the Ministry of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs, BMICH partnered with the Hayleys Group choir, capturing the spirit of the holiday season with much-loved musical classics that kindle nostalgic memories. 

Sadaharitha secures Gold at Swarnadeepa Awards

The renowned pioneer in afforestation in Sri Lanka, Sadaharitha Plantations Ltd, won the coveted Gold Award for uplifting sustainable commercial forestry at the recent Swarnadeepa Awards presentation.  

SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka marks 35 years of service

For the past 35 years, the fulcrum of SOS Children’s Village’s work has revolved around safeguarding the rights of children in difficult circumstances. SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka has supported children devoid of parental care and whose families live in difficult conditions and has also tirelessly worked in the country’s sociopolitical spheres, lobbying for the rights of Sri Lanka’s children. 

The European Union and ASEAN after Brexit

The result of the UK referendum in June 2016 in favour of leaving the European Union (EU) stunned Europe and the world. In the context of the current uncertainty surrounding the negotiations between the UK government and EU regarding Brexit, expectations and understandings of regionalism and integration will need to  be reassessed.

Bank of Ceylon celebrates New Year

The Bank of Ceylon commenced its New Year operations with a ceremony on January 2nd, the first working day. Religious ceremonies were also carried out on this day. The ceremony took place under the patronage of the Bank’s chairman, Ronald C. Perera, Board of Directors and the General Manager  D.M. Gunasekera.

MMBL appreciates long-serving employees

MMBL Group held its long-serving employees’ appreciation as part of the New Year celebrations at its head office in Peliyagoda recently. 

Etisalat marks beginning of 2017 with staff appreciations

The first day at work for 2017 at Etisalat Lanka was observed with prayers and cultural rituals on January 2 at the Etisalat head office in Colombo. 

Citi-CCC empower Urubokke micro-scale businessmen

Under the Citi-CCC rural economic empowerment programme, Hatton National Bank (HNB) provided loan facilities to a group of micro-scale businessmen in the Urubokke area of the Matara district to commence new businesses as well as for expansion of existing businesses. 

DFCC’s New Year family saving offer receives overwhelming response

DFCC’s New Year family saving offer received an overwhelming response as many customers walked into DFCC branches across its network on the 1st of January 2017 with their families to make deposits and earn rewards. 

Lanka Social Ventures organises international conference on social enterprises and financing

In order to create awareness on social enterprises and social financing and reflect on their potential to contribute to sustainable development and poverty reduction, an international conference is organised by Lanka Social Ventures in partnership with Oxfam, National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA), British Council, Good Market and VEGA BIZ+, Lanka Impact Investors Network (LIIN) and Social Enterprise Lanka. 

Kuwait Airways celebrates New Year with arrival of 2nd Boeing 777-300ER

State of Kuwait’s national carrier Kuwait Airways’ second of 10 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft ordered arrived in Kuwait on January 1.

Headlines PR completes 21 years

Headlines PR, Sri Lanka’s leading independent public relations agency developing and executing strategic communications campaigns for businesses across a broad range of industries, completed its 21st anniversary recently. 

Oman Air introduces new baggage concept

Oman Air announced a new baggage piece concept for launch in January 2017. This change will help Oman Air to standardize and in many cases reduce the charges currently in place for additional luggage. 

CDC Events handles largest ever conference

The 44th ISAAME (India, South Asia, Africa and Middle East) Forum concluded in Colombo recently, which brought in over 2400 delegates from 35 countries, out of which, 2000 delegates were foreign and the remainder Sri Lankan.

Sampath Bank hosts health conference for employees

Sampath Bank recently hosted a health conference in reiteration of its efforts to ensure the well-being of its employees.

eMarketingEye celebrates record haul of 27 award wins in 2016

eMarketingEye, the award-winning Sri Lankan integrated digital marketing agency and a pioneer in the industry, reached a record haul of 27 award wins in the year 2016, making it one of the most successful years in the company’s history. 

Altair supports ‘Semata Sevana’ programme

At least 16 needy rural families will receive houses through a donation made by luxury condominium builder Indocean Developers to the ‘Semata Sevana’ (Shelter for All) programme of the Housing and Construction Ministry.

Emirates rounds off a year of growth with fleet, product milestones

Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, rounded off another year of growth in 2016, underlined by fleet and network expansion, as well as customer- focused product investments.