Shares recover from 18-month low on bargain hunting

?REUTERS: Sri Lankan share index recovered yesterday after hitting over 18-month lows in the previous session, as investors picked up battered banking and telecommunications shares, brokers said.

Govt. backtracks on VAT, NBT revisions in Budget 2016

The amendments proposed to the Value-Added Tax (VAT) and Nation Building Tax (NBT) proposed in Budget 2016 would not be implemented until the relevant legislative enactments are passed by Parliament, Finance Ministry yesterday said in a statement.  

Govt.’s thrust on upscale Western tourists may be misplaced: JLL

The Sri Lankan government’s decision to place the utmost importance on upscale Western tourists seems to be misplaced, a Fortune 500 company said.

SLID, EU, IFC help Mannar, Vavuniya small businesses

International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, in partnership with the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors (SLID) recently rolled out a programme to promote improved corporate and ethical business practices for small businesses in the Mannar and Vavuniya Districts.

Indian Foreign Secretary meets Malik

Indian Foreign Secretary Subramaniam Jaishankar was on a visit to Sri Lanka. The main purpose of his visit was to pave the way for the India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission meeting, which would be held in Colombo next month. Jaishankar met Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik 

‘K’ Line’s newest car carrier makes maiden visit to H’tota Port

‘K’ Line’s newest car carrier M/V Hyperion Highway called at the Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port (MRMRP) in Hambantota on January 12, 2016. The vessel discharged 523 motor vehicles imported from Japan.

Sri Lanka Tourism begins 2016 with promo in South Korea

Together with Korean Broadcasting Systems (KBS) & Sri Lanka mission for Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) has taken the initiatives of promoting Destination Sri Lanka in Republic of Korea by inviting a media team of their one of the top rated travel programs called ‘Everywhere 

Litro Gas sponsors Miss Tourism Sri Lanka Int’l 2016

Litro Gas, the largest importer and market leader of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in Sri Lanka, stepped up as a sponsor for the upcoming Miss Tourism Sri Lanka International, a first ever pageant contest show which will witness  20 glamorous ambassadors from many nations.

Three Asia Leisure resorts in TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards

Starting of the New Year for Asia Leisure is news that three of their resorts, namely Shinagawa Beach, Balapitiya; The River House, Balapitiya and Tamarind Hill, Galle have made their way into TripAdvisor Travellers’

Odel donates kids’ play area to Lady Ridgeway Hospital

The Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital has become a brighter and happier place for its little patients and young visitors thanks to the generosity of Odel. Sri Lanka’s favourite department store has

SLT to empower highest GCE A/L achievers

Sri Lanka Telecom is to hold the ‘Sisu Abhiman Awards’ at the Presidential Secretariat.  The primary goal of the event is to empower learning by use of ultra-high speed broadband connection package. 

HNB Grameen takes lead in child protection issues

Two inaugural conferences of a series of awareness raising conferences organized by HNB Grameen Finance Ltd under the theme “For a protected generation of children” with a view to enlightening the entire society on child abuses encountered by

Laugfs concludes 2015 with CSR drive

Laugfs Holdings recently took up two more noble community support projects, organizing a blood donation camp and providing school supplies for children.  The CSR projects were driven by the Group IT team of Laugfs Holdings and was

Barista Lavazza helps school children during season

Barista Lavazza, Sri Lanka’s popular coffee house chain celebrated the season by making a difference in a child’s life.  With the beginning of the school year at hand the team recently provided school essentials to the children of Niyadhagala Vidyalaya, a remote school in the

Access Engineering secures another work package in ITC Colombo One Project

Access Engineering PLC has secured another work package in ITC Colombo One Project from ITC Limited; one of the largest diversified conglomerates in India, and the company is developing an iconic luxury hotel and residence project in Colombo named, ITC  Colombo One.  

Arpico commences taxi service for shoppers

The Arpico retail chain has broken new ground in value addition with the deployment of its own dedicated taxi service exclusively for shoppers.  The service, a first for a supermarket chain in Sri Lanka,

Millennium City sets new standards for eco-friendly vertical residential living

Millennium Housing Developers PLC, the pioneer in private sector township made another groundbreaking concept in vertical dwellings by introducing The Heights at Edmonton road in the heart of Colombo 05, on strategically located prime land for the convenience of those seeking the best investment in properties. 

Interior specialist Leema Creations honoured with National Gold Award

Leema Creations (Pvt) Ltd, the leading interior solution provider in Sri Lanka collected the National Gold Award for Large Category Segment at prestigious “Entrepreneur of the Year 2015’. 

Exterminators Sri Lanka records 36% reduction in carbon emissions

Exterminators Sri Lanka were recently recognizedby Sri Lanka’s leading sustainability solutions provider- The Carbon Consulting Company, for recording a 36 percent reduction in carbon emissions.

Omega Line wins coveted Presidential Export Award

Omega Line, one of the leading export oriented apparel industries in Sri Lanka was awarded Export Excellence Award in the Garment Trade category at the recently concluded Presidential export Awards. 

NDB Capital Scholarship Trust awards 2nd round of scholarships

NDB Capital Scholarship Trust awarded its second round of scholarships to deserving students from the University of Moratuwa, University of Sri Jayewardenepura and University of Colombo recently. 

People’s Insurance shares debut; close below offer price

?The shares of debutant People’s Insurance Limited PLC (PIL) yesterday closed at Rs.14.90, below the offer price of Rs.15, despite opening higher at 15.60. 

CMA conducts two-day workshop on Business Analytics and Big Data

The Institute of Certified Management Accountants (CMA) of Sri Lanka & Certified Professional Managers (CPM) in association with IFIM Business School, Bangalore, India with support from Association of Management Development Institutions of South Asia (AMDISA)

Women in Logistics and Transport Forum launches Asia Forum

?Women in Logistics and Transport (WiLAT) Asia Forum was launched on January 8th in Singapore in the presence of representatives from four WiLAT member countries. The event was hosted by Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Singapore.   

IPM expands presence in the hill capital

?IPM Sri Lanka - the Nation’s leader in HRM – expanded its presence in the hill capital Kandy by adding many additional facilities to cater to the rapidly growing requirements of IPM members

Sri Lanka job market prospects promising: everjobs.lk career report

?The latest data from the everjobs.lk career report underscores that, Sri Lanka’s job market continues to improve, with IT & software, banking & financial services, apparel, education, telecom and health care sectors providing more job opportunities in 2015. 

Sri Lanka to allow Chinese Port City project after delay

?REUTERS:  Sri Lanka is to go ahead with a US $1.4 billion Chinese-backed real estate project after some changes to its terms, a minister said yesterday, signalling readiness to accept more Chinese investment in the face of a balance-of-payment crisis.

Positive on bourse, conscious of global conditions: CSE chief

Calling for fresh impetus to boost activity in bourse, the head of Sri Lanka’s stock market yesterday asserted it is imperative to be conscious of the “adverse” global conditions to ensure minimum impact.

Former dy minister Hussein Bhaila heads Lanka Cement

?Former parliamentarian and deputy minister Hussein Bhaila has been appointed chairman of Lanka Cement PLC with effect from December 30, 2015, the company said in a stock exchange filing.

NSB to undertake financial due-diligence of Entrust Securities

?State-owned National Savings Bank (NSB) yesterday said it was in the process of undertaking a financial due-diligence of the scandal-hit primary dealer Entrust Securities PLC.