What makes the difference between customers wanting to buy and wanting to leave?

When asked about what factors impact sales, many retailers will allude to the economy, weak consumer spending, competition and recent ‘shop from home’ innovations. 

Exchange rate management: Politics trumps professionalism

?Most people in a country don’t understand the intricacies of exchange rate management. Nevertheless, actions in this regard have significant implications for the economic stability, growth and overall success of the economy, on which human development is fostered. 

Face reality, think radical or exports will stagnate: MTI

Delivering the keynote at the 30th anniversary celebrations of the National Chamber of Exporters, MTI CEO Hilmy Cader assessed the contemporary issues related to exports in the international market place, ...

MSLGROUP expands its presence to Sri Lanka by rebranding Arc PR

The move further cements MSLGROUP’s leadership in Asia as well as strengthens its footprint and capabilities in South Asia

Etihad Airways announces global sale in Sri Lanka

Colombo, SRI LANKA– Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, is offering travellers from Sri Lanka fantastic savings in its six-day Global Sale starting today (January 26).

Nolimit unveils ‘Pink Elephant’ brand

?Nolimit, ‘the choice of every Sri Lankan’ and the country’s biggest fashion chain, launched its new brand - Pink Elephant -  which embodies Sri Lankan identity and tradition with a collection of fashion clothing, accessories, footwear, homeware, stationery and souvenirs. 

Maliban launches ‘Melko’ full cream milk brand

?Maliban Milk Products (Pvt.) Ltd has launched the much-awaited full cream milk powder brand Maliban Melko for the Sri Lankan consumer.

Monetary Board keeps policy rates unchanged

The Monetary Board of the Central Bank yesterday decided to keep the current policy rates unchanged with its last monetary action mopping up some excess liquidity in the domestic money market and still being transmitted to the macroeconomy. 

December motor vehicle registrations slow down

?Vehicle registrations for December 2015 declined both year-on-year (YoY) and compared to the past few months, as the number of letters of credit (LCs) opened may have declined over the uncertainty that prevailed discouraging importers.  

Sri Lanka ranked 14th in 2016 global offshoring index

Sri Lanka has been ranked in the 14th position on the 2016 A.T. Kearney Global Services Location Index (GSLI). The country moved up by two points this year from 2015 on the index...

Ravi K requests DIFC help setting up Colombo Int’l Finance Centre

?Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake recently held a special discussion with Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC) Governor Essa Kazim to bolster financial relations between the two nations.  

Laugfs group unit Lfinity launches online retail store with delivery options

?Lfinity (Pvt.) Limited, a unit of Laugfs group, recently announced the launch of its highly anticipated virtual hyper mall, ‘clickNshop.lk’, providing a broad range of high-quality products together with some exciting discounts.

Will GSP Plus have same upshot it used to have on Lankan exports?

A leading economist recently cast doubts over the immediate or medium-term benefits regaining the coveted General System of Preferences (GSP) Plus from the European Union (EU) could bring in for the country’s export sectors.  

Rebound in oil prices not entirely negative for SL: StanChart

Standard Chartered Bank’s (StanChart) global research team sounded bullish on the currently volatile oil prices reaching US $ 70 per barrel towards the end of the year, a development, according to its analysts, would not entirely be negative to Sri Lanka.

Kandurata socks continue to occupy top slot in Lankan market

?Sri Lanka’s leading socks manufacturer and marketer Kandurata Umbrella Industries (Pvt.) Ltd is leading the way among all the Lankan manufacturers who contribute to the country’s economy. 

Ceylinco Life dedicates 2016 to ‘going green’

?The management, staff and sales team of Ceylinco Life planted approximately 4,000 trees in one week in January 2016 to kick off a year dedicated by Sri Lanka’s life insurance leader to ‘going green.’

SDF hosts financial literacy workshops for small business entrepreneurs

?Sarvodaya Development Finance Limited (SDF) recently hosted workshops on financial literacy for small business entrepreneurs who had obtained financing facilities from the company in the areas of Balangoda, Ratnapura, Anuradhapura, Kandy and Gampaha. 

India’s MBD group donates A-level science books to CMC libraries

The MBD group of India recently donated important Advanced Level science books to the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) in celebration of its 150th anniversary this year. 

Aitken Spence Printing and Packaging renews CarbonNeutral certificate

Aitken Spence Printing and Packaging (Pvt.) Ltd, Sri Lanka’s premiere printing and packaging firm, reiterated its commitment to sustainability by renewing its CarbonNeutral certification.

UA’s ‘Union Manushyathwaya’ spreads goodness

?Continuing in its tradition of spreading health, wellness and goodness, among communities across the country, the team behind Union Assurance (UA) corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives were able to close out 2015 having influenced countless lives for the better. 

CMA shows love and care for Mallika Home children

?The staff of the Institute of Certified Management Accountants (CMA) Sri Lanka recently undertook a project to provide love and care for the children at the Mallika Home on Visakha Road.

CIMA to deepen state sector ties for better governance

The Sri Lankan division of the world’s largest professional accounting body for management accountants, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants of United Kingdom ...

YMF of Ceylon Chamber holds AGM

?The Young Members forum (YMF) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the year 2016 recently, which saw the appointment of a new committee, which will spearhead its operations during this year.

Ceylon Chamber to compile SME registry to help find business partners

?The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, the country’s premier business chamber, has started to collect data from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) spread across the country in order to compile a new SME Registry. 

Importance of ratifying the Trade Facilitation Agreement and digitalizing the Customs

This article is written to commemorate the World Customs Day, which falls today. The focus of this article is the reforms and preparations undertaken by Sri Lanka to ratify the World Trade Organisation

Factors limiting rural agriculture potential

According to a news item in Daily Mirror of January 22, 2016, (http://www.dailymirror.lk/103785/amunugama-stresses-need-to-bring-rural-agriculture-to-int-l-level), Minister Sarath Amunugama, at a meeting 

a ‘sustainable agri-business management’ model is key

Recently I read an article published in a weekend paper titled ‘Should plantation workers be working at poverty level wages?’ by Lanka Estate Workers’ Union President Vijay Kumar. He has raised very relevant and important

Oman Air Conference Looks Forward To An Exciting, Productive And Successful Year In 2016

A positive future and continued expansion will be the focus for Oman Air, as the airline starts the year withtheir major global conference in Muscat, under the theme “To Become the Best”.

Colombo comes alive with Kala Pola on Sunday 31st January

?Colombo comes alive in a massive riot of colour on Sunday, 31 January 2016 as Sri Lanka’s internationally acclaimed open-air art fair, Kala Pola, opens along Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha in Colombo 07.  

Stock market volatility and investment opportunities

Equity is an ideal financial instrument for a portfolio that is geared at long-term returns. It is undoubted that the rate of return on equity has been impressive when compared to other instruments.