Maldives sees marginal growth in tourist arrivals amid decline in major markets

Tourist arrivals to the Maldives increased 0.4 percent year-on-year (yoy) to 95,114 in September with most major markets recording declines, along with falls in occupancy rates and duration of stay.

The unfinished business of IMF quota reform

The Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Lima, Peru have now concluded.

The budget is not mainly about money; it’s about governance

Budgeting is a governance process that drives national plans, priorities and policy. While much of that is reflected in the content of the budget, important governance aspects are also reflected in the budgeting process.

Union Assurance General top achievers tour Thailand

Union Assurance General Limited recently rewarded the topmost performers of its sales force with an all-expenses paid tour to Thailand as part of a structured and comprehensive rewards and recognition

Cinnamon Grand enhances facilities for staff with new Lifestyle Complex

Cinnamon Grand Colombo opened a new state-of-the-art building offering top-notch facilities for the hotel’s 1200 associates recently, as part of an overall capacity enhancement, which also saw the opening of a new entrance to the hotel’s main ballroom, Oak Room. 

Ranki Engineering wins top award for third consecutive year

Ranki Engineering, the leading supplier of Zinc – Aluminium roofing and accessories won the award for the Best stall for the third consecutive year at the ‘Construct Exhibition 2015’ held at the BMICH recently.    

Country Style Foods introduces “SMAK Active” isotonic drinks

Country Style Foods (Pvt) Ltd., the manufacturer and distributor of SMAK brand products recently introduced “SMAK Active” isotonic drinks to the market.  SMAK Active which is a 

Bartleet and Acuity to implement Intellect’s next gen brokerage solution

Bartleet Religare Securities (Pvt.) Ltd, a joint venture of Bartleets, a Sri Lankan Conglomerate and Religare and Acuity Stock Brokers, a leading investment bank in Sri Lanka, i...

Laugfs Gas celebrates 14 years in business

?Sri Lankan energy conglomerate Laugfs Gas celebrates 14 years of continued excellence this year. 

Sampath Bank’s IT innovations receive international recognition

Sampath Bank, a name synonymous with innovation in Sri Lanka’s financial sector, was duly recognized for technological innovation when its Cardless Cash product was honoured with the Runner-up award for ‘Product and Service Innovation’ at BAI ...

Amãna Bank commemorates National Pensioners’ Day

Having launched its very own Pension Saver account recently, Amãna Bank has commenced a special promotion to mark National Pensioners’ Day,...

Pan Asia Bank 3Q PAT records impressive growth of 200% to Rs.300mn

Pan Asia Banking Corporation PLC has increased its profit after tax (PAT) by a staggering 197 percent to Rs.300.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2015 (3Q’15) from a year ago, supported by improved performance from all segments.

Fitch affirms five small and mid-sized Lankan banks

Fitch Ratings has affirmed the national long term ratings on five small and mid-sized Sri Lankan banks. 

Cargills Bank initiates investment drive with high interest

To encourage a culture of savings during the World Thrift Month, Cargills Bank has initiated a fixed deposit promotion campaign offering considerably higher interest rates and is offering interest rates of 8 percent for 12 months,...

No blanket incentives and subsidies in budget 2016: FinMin

Blanket incentives and subsidies will not appear in the upcoming budget, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said while speaking at a forum organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce’s Malaysia Business Council.

E Channelling expands to India

E Channelling PLC, the country’s premier ICT services provider to the healthcare industry, has expanded its presence all the way to India with the signing of a historical partnership with Aster Medcity in Kochi. 

Tea stakeholders meet PM today to discuss pressing industry issues

The key stakeholders of the country’s tea industry will be meeting Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today to discuss critical current issues in the industry.

Capt. Suren Ratwatte appointed as Mihin Lanka CEO

Captain Suren Ratwatte was recently appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mihin Lanka with effect from October 2015. Capt. Ratwatte was also appointed as the CEO of SriLankan Airlines and will take over the operational and strategic management of both airlines. 

Harsha urges need to transform Kadirgamar Institute into a top think tank

The government’s primary foreign policy agency, the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategy Studies, will require reforms to be made effective once more, the Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister said.

Sausages, ham are cancer-causing, red meat ‘probably’ too: WHO

AFP: Eating sausages, ham and other processed meats causes colon cancer, and red meat “probably” does too, an arm of the World Health Organisation (WHO) said yesterday.

Fitch assigns Sampath Bank’s Rs.7bn debt issue final ‘A(lka)’

?Fitch Ratings has assigned Sampath Bank PLC’s (A+(lka)/Stable) Basel II-compliant subordinated debentures of up to Rs.7 billion a final national long-term rating of ‘A(lka)’.

Coconut Research Institute gets new Chairman

Jayantha Jayewardene has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Coconut Research Institute (CRI). 

Simplifying human capital mgt with mobile applications

If you’re starting to think ‘mobility’ is a recurring theme in your reading, you’d be right. For those who haven’t started to build organisational capabilities to leverage it, it’s fair to say you’re late to the party.  The good news: better late than never. 

Driving Lean innovation in the digital era

According to the Sri Lanka Association of Software Service Companies (SLASSCOM), the vision for Sri Lanka’s IT services sector is to facilitate 1000 startups by 2022, ...

Consumers support NDC-enabled improved air travel shopping: IATA study

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced the results of a study of air travelers showing that passengers would welcome the richer travel shopping experience that will be enabled by the New Distribution Capability (NDC). 

Etihad ranked 20th most attractive employer in EMEA by Linkedin 

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has been ranked the 20th most sought-after employer in LinkedIn s 2015 100 Most InDemand Employer in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) list.

Emirates’ Social Media Customer Service expands language offering

?Emirates has extended its social media customer service to provide 24-hour support, seven days a week. 

Qatar Airways introduces additional seat capacity to Sri Lanka and Maldives

?Qatar Airways is introducing additional seat capacity for flights to Sri Lanka and the Maldives this October in time for the busy winter travel season.

China-Sri Lanka Cooperation Studies Centre inaugurated

A long felt need to promote and nurture Sino-Lanka relations was realized recently with the inauguration of China-Sri Lanka Cooperation Studies Centre (CSLCSC) at the headquarters of the Pathfinder Foundation (PF) by Chinese Ambassador in Sri Lanka Yi Xianliang.

SLASSPA head meets Defence Secretary

Sri Lanka Security Service Providers Association (SLASSPA) President Major Tissa Aluwihare paid a courtesy call on Defence Ministry Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi at his office yesterday.