Stop building, start zoning

The main advantages of vertical residential units are the affordability of such in key residential locations.

Colombo 10: From a concrete jungle to a thriving commercial hub

Emerging from its former image of a highly congested area with large underserved communities, Colombo 10 

Mobile operator hails govt.’s efforts to lift FDI barriers

The current regime has taken giant strides towards removing hurdles that restricted foreign direct investments (FDIs) in the past, the head Sri Lanka’s largest mobile telecom services provider Dialog Axiata said.

Prima KottuMee and Prima Treats to spice up 137th“Battle of the Blues”

Prima KottuMee and Prima Treats are two products that have always been popular among the younger generations. Therefore both Prima KottuMee and Prima Treats have decided to join together in order to make the Big Match season more exciting and lively, this year. 

CIMA convocation to be held today

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) will hold their first convocation for the year today

Thai Deputy Prime Minister visits Sri Lanka

Somkid Jatusripitak, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, is on an official visit to Sri Lanka from March 8-11.  

India’s new mega ports no threat to SL: expert

India gearing up to construct 4 mega ports may not pose any threat to Sri Lanka’s future maritime operations, an industry leader said.

HNB to raise Rs.7bn via listed debt issue

Sri Lanka’s second largest private bank Hatton National Bank PLC (HNB) is to raise Rs.7 billion through a listed debt issue.

Fitch downgrades Ceylon Dollar Bond Fund following sovereign downgrade

Fitch Ratings has downgraded Ceylon Dollar Bond Fund’s fund credit quality rating to ‘B+’ from ‘BB-’ and affirmed the fund volatility rating at ‘V5’.

SLTPB to allocate Rs.4 bn for promotions this year

The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau (SLTPB) will spend Rs. 4 billion on promotions this year, while a coherent destination marketing plan will be delayed further, officials said.

Colombo bourse nosedives on tax woes

The Colombo Stock Exchange yesterday nosedived as the main All Share Price Index (ASI) closed below 6,000 point mark amid Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe...

Ceylinco Insurance posts Rs.3.8bn consolidated after tax profit

Marking another remarkable year, the Ceylinco Insurance sector recorded a mammoth after tax profit of Rs.3.1 billion, for the year ended December 31, 2015. Contributing to this remarkable performance, Ceylinco General Insurance and Ceylinco Life Insurance recorded profits after tax of Rs.1 billion and Rs.2.1 billion, respectively. Moreover, the consolidated results recorded an imposing expansion, with the profit before tax reaching an exceptional

Tourism Minister opens Softlogic Finance’s 28th branch in Wattala

Softlogic Finance PLC opened its 28th branch in Wattala recently under the patronage of Tourism Development, Christian Religious Affairs and Lands Minister John Amaratunga, thereby continuing the company’s efforts to enhance its presence across the island.

Asian Alliance Insurance posts Rs.6bn GWP for 2015

Asian Alliance Insurance delivered a combined gross written premium (GWP) of Rs.6.2 billion in 2015, which is an increase of 29 percent compared with the previous year, outpacing the industry by far. Life Insurance GWP was a spectacular Rs.4.1 billion, increasing by 35 percent, whilst general insurance turned in a strong performance with GWP that was Rs.2.0 billion, increasing by 15 percent. 

Labour, government and private sector must cohabit to deliver the required economic growth

Given the current political and economic challenges facing Sri Lanka, our political leaders who are committed to economic and social development, need to work in collaboration with the industry and labour stakeholders to get the best out of our natural assets, relatively educated workforce and trade location. This shared commitment, will certainly help them to build the economic structure and workforce we need for Sri Lanka’s future economi

DFCC gathers steam in its plans to grow through innovation

DFCC, having undergone a ‘painstaking’ amalgamation process to become a stronger entity, its chief expressed confidence in the bank evolving to allow the stakeholders to reap benefits from the range of innovations, for which plans are afoot.

Trade in services: Sri Lanka needs to pull up its socks

Two previous Verité Insights titled ‘Sri Lanka missing world’s biggest trade party and it’s in her backyard’ and ‘Trade agreements that don’t deliver the goods’ published in May and June 2013 pointed out that Sri Lanka is well behind her Asian neighbours in entering into trade agreements and that those entered into were also deficient.

Seylan launches MPAY mobile POS system

Seylan Bank, the innovative financial solution provider, partners with CBA Solutions (Pvt.) Ltd to launch Seylan MPAY, powered by PAYable. 

Consumer Rights Forum 2016 on March 15

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka has organised the first edition of the Consumer Rights Forum targeting the World Consumer Rights Day, which falls on March 15, 2016.

Tourism: On the sword’s edge

“When the same people are the ones doing things year after year, nothing really different occurs because these same people do things that appeal to their sense of values – not anyone or everyone else’s.”

Leo Burnett opens millions of eyes to blindness

Sri Lanka has a population of 20 million. Of these, around200,000 people are believed to beblind and over 400,000 are havinglow vision. In many cases the low vision canbecuredwith a replacement and the availability of ahealthy pair of eyes.  

JAT Holdings introduces revolutionary Master Plaster

JAT Holdings, Sri Lanka’s undisputed leader in the furnishing and finishing industry, recently introduced “Master Plaster,” a product that has revolutionised Sri Lanka’s industrial market.

JAT Holdings Stamps its Presence at the International Cricketing Arena

JAT Holdings, Sri Lanka’s undisputed leader in the furnishing and finishing industry, has been making its presence globally through ground branding in international cricket tournaments

SLT Campus signs Letter of Intent with Texas Tech University

The Sri Lanka Technological Campus (SLTC), a fully owned subsidiary of Sri Lanka Telecom PLC entered into a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Texas Tech University, USA. This exciting new initiative has been taken 

Dialog introduces ICE range of mobile devices exclusively for kids

Dialog is presents the ICE range of mobile devices exclusively for kids, with the launch of the ICE Pal smart-watch and the ICE Slate smart tab to improve your child’s security, learning and recreation. The ICE

Top B’deshi vehicle importer selects IFS applications to support mission-critical processes

IFS, the global enterprise applications company, announced that Rancon Automobiles Limited and Rancon Autos Limited has chosen to deploy IFS Applications to support mission-critical processes such as finance,

Sri Lankan businesses waste 4% a year: CIMA study

Sri Lankan organisations waste an average amount of 4 percent of revenue every year, according to a new study by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).

HNB bets high on housing to drive growth in 2016

The second largest private lender, Hatton National Bank PLC (HNB) said they see a growth which would stem from the real estate and housing segment in 2016, which would offset the slowdown in demand

Ceylon Chamber’s Business Conclave to kick off this evening

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce-organised ‘Sri Lanka Investment and Business Conclave 2016’ will commence this evening (March 8, 2016) in Colombo with the participation of 125 plus potential investors,

CSE wants companies to enter bourse via PE route

??By Shabiya Ali Ahlam Businesses should opt to enter the Colombo bourse through the private equity (PE) route so that the capital market will have the right mix of companies, which would allow investors to reap benefits as expected,