HDFC Chief appointed CEO from January 1

State-owned Housing Development and Finance Bank PLC’s Chief Operational Officer S. Dissanayake has been appointed as the acting CEO/General Manager with effect from January 1.

Big Ideas for Small Business Managers : Concentrated marketing strategy: Saviour of small businesses

We have familiarized ourselves during the last three weeks with the eight categories of markets. This knowledge will equip you with additional insights when selecting segments to enter and strategies to pursue.

JKH to shed shares of insurance arm to keep it listed

?The John Keells Group will be shedding a minor portion of shares in its life insurance arm Union Assurance PLC to move into the secondary Diri Savi Board next year...

Worker remittances inflow likely to slow down in 2016

A top Sri Lankan policy maker expressed his doubts over the prospects of maintaining worker remittances from the Middle East (ME) this year amid growing financial instability and the political unrest in the region. 

Asiri Hospitals adjudged Healthcare Sector winner at CIMA LMD 100 Awards

Asiri Hospitals Holdings was recently adjudged the Healthcare Sector leader for the financial year 2014/15 according to LMD 100, the annual publication detailing Sri Lanka’s leading listed companies.

Healthcare sector leads the way in global mergers and acquisitions in 2015

?AFP: The volume of mergers and acquisitions worldwide set a new record in 2015 at more than $5 trillion, with tie-ups in the healthcare sector leading the way, consultants Dealogic said recently.

Export of Lankan women for domestic work – “A thing to be ashamed of”

?The practice of sending Sri Lankan women to work as domestic hands in foreign countries began three decades back mainly as a temporary solution to the rising unemployment issue in the country.

Litro Gas partners with Galle Season 2015

?Litro Gas, the largest importer and market leader of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in Sri Lanka, stepped up as the co-partner for Galle Season, the recently concluded annual event which is considered to be one of the most significant and popular fair and exhibition held in the southern province.

CB cautiously optimistic about Fed rate impact

?A possible rate hike in March by the US Federal Reserve as expected by some analysts will push Sri Lanka to reconsider its current monetary policy stance, Central Bank Governor Arjuna 

Fresenius Kabi pledges continued awareness on early Cancer detection

Fresenius Kabi GmbH with their local partner Malachi Holdings, (A fully owned subsidiary of Markss HLC (Pvt) Ltd), pledged its support towards enhancing overall awareness of early detection of Gynecological...

Random thoughts on hospitality: The years gone by and the one ahead

It’s that time of the year when new resolutions are made. Chances are good you made some last year -- and the year before as well. But, looking back, how many of the resolutions did you actually keep?

Gene-editing technique heals mice with muscular dystrophy

?AFP - Researchers have succeeded for the first time in reversing a degenerative illness in mice, using a revolutionary gene-editing technique that one day may help cure similar diseases in humans.

What if you are among 4.7 million people hospitalized each year in Sri Lanka?

Ever wondered why it costs more every time somebody in the family falls sick and has to visit the doctor, or worse, enter hospital even briefly?

How a 23-year-old beat United Airlines

?CNNMoney: Aktarer Zaman, now 23, didn’t back down when United Airlines (UAL) and Orbitz sued him a little over a year ago for opening a website called Skiplagged.com to help travellers find cheap plane tickets.

Save the Children Sri Lanka envisions different cup of tea

?In a reinvigorating development for the local tea industry, Save the Children Sri Lanka has put forward a unique proposal which has the potential to remarkably improve the lives of Sri Lanka’s estate community, while rejuvenating the Ceylon Tea brand by creating an industry-wide value proposition. 

Fly Mihin Lanka to experience best shopping experience in Chennai

Chennai, formerly known as Madras, is the capital city of Tamil Nadu and a cultural hub and thriving metropolitan city.

Lonely Planet’s best travel destinations for 2016

?It’s one of the most hotly anticipated travel guides of any year -- the annual survey of destinations Lonely Planet is recommending for 2016.

Kanrich Finance donates free spectacles to staff members

?In collaboration with Techno Vision , Kanrich Finance Limited launched a project for donating free spectacles, to their staff members. Prior to the donation of free spectacles, the members of the staff had their eyes tested free-of-charge.

BOC RanKekulu awards scholarships for 2000 Grade 5 scholarship high flyers

?Sri Lanka’s No.1 children’s savings account BOC Ran Kekulu offers 2000 scholarships each worth of Rs.10,000 for 2015 Grade 5 Scholarship achievers for the 14th time. 

Corporate sustainability is growing up, but can it evolve?

Corporate sustainability has grown and matured in the past decade, but there is a widening gap between organizations with strong sustainability commitments and those without in terms of activities, attitudes and infrastructure, according to new research from Siemens.

Malik calls for efficiency in investment and export promotion agencies 

The Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade kicked off 2016 with its firm talking chief urging relevant authorities to start moving along the lines of productivity and deliver...

Latvia National Day Celebrations

The 97th Latvia National Day was celebrated in Colombo recently with Prisons Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs Minister D.M. Swaminathan as the chief guest 

Valvoline celebrates 150 years with United Motors Lanka

Valvoline, an American lubricant brand celebrated 150 years in Colombo recently together with United 

Sri Lanka second best place to visit

Sri Lanka is ranked second among the top 16 places recommended by the world famous travel and life style magazine Condé Nast Traveller to visit in 2016.  Endorsing Sri Lanka as the second 

Japan’s ANA airline in billion-dollar Airbus deal: reports

AFP - Japan’s All Nippon Airways is buying three Airbus A380s in a billion-dollar deal, business daily Nikkei said yesterday, making it the first Japanese carrier to own the superjumbo jet.

ASEAN launches economic bloc but analysts sceptical

AFP - Southeast Asian nations officially launched an EU-inspired economic bloc this week aimed at boosting the region’s trading clout and attracting more investment, but analysts said a true single market was still a long way off.

​China’s new two-child policy law takes effect

AFP - Married couples in China will from yesterday be allowed to have two children, after concerns over an ageing population and shrinking workforce ushered in an end to the country’s controversial one-child policy.

EU-Ukraine trade deal comes into force, angers Moscow

AFP- Ukraine’s free-trade deal with the EU comes into effect from yesterday, coinciding with the start of Moscow’s food embargo against Kiev that will force the impoverished former Soviet republic to revisit its economic model.

China new home prices up in December as stimulus kicks in

AFP - China’s new home prices increased in December for the fifth straight month, a survey showed yesterday, following a series of stimulus measures aimed at boosting lending.

GE wins Saudi power plant contract worth nearly $1 bn

AFP - General Electric announced Thursday that it had won a contract worth nearly $1 billion from the Saudi Electricity Company to build and supply a power plant in northern Saudi Arabia.