Grant Advertising strengthens management board

Sajith Weerasinghe and Peter Solomons have been appointed to the Board of Management of Grant Advertising.Counting 12 years of vast experience in the fields of Communications, Behavioral Planning and Consumer Psychology, Sajith’s knowledge of t he Sri Lankan psyche has been largely responsible for the market success of several reputable brands. He is Grant Advertising’s Strategic Planning Director.

Laugfs celebrates two decades of trust and excellence

?Laugfs Holdings Limited, one of the diversified business conglomerates in Sri Lanka, celebrates a remarkable journey, completing 20 years of excellence and trust that are firmly etched in the hearts of Sri Lankans. 

Prima showcases product range at Pro-foods exhibition

Prima products were showcased at Pro food Pro Pack and AgBiz Exhibition 2015 organized by Sri Lanka Food Processors Association (SLFPA).

Jump over those irritating hurdles and secure your right place in the race

?A total commitment to leadership success means challenging our thinking, priorities and blind spots. Unfortunately, what people don’t communicate to us are our behavioural blind spots – the things we routinely do to others but don’t realize the impact.

LMRB awarded Asia’s Best Employer Brand 2015

?Lanka Market Research Bureau (Private) Limited (LMRB) was awarded the prestigious Asia’s Best Employer Brand 2015 at the 6th Asia’s Best Employer Brand Awards at a ceremony held at the Pan Pacific Hotel, Singapore on August 12th. 

Emerging economies let currencies slide to stay competitive

?AFP: The world’s emerging economies are allowing their currencies to slide in a quest to remain competitive, following China’s devaluation of the yuan and the dollar’s strength in anticipation of US rate hikes.

Gold industry analysts expect price boost from currency war fears

?REUTERS: Gold prices could rise above US $ 1,200 an ounce in the next few months as fears of a currency war following the devaluation of the yuan make equity markets choppy, boosting physical Gold and ETF buying, leading industry analysts said at a conference.

NHRDC study highlights need for Education Voucher System

?Education is a vital investment for human and economic development and is influenced by the environment within which it exists. 

Insurance Institute of India to support SLII in Insurance education

A high ranking team from the Insurance Institute of India (III) visited Sri Lanka recently. The team comprised of P Venugopal (Secretary General)

IMF official says “premature” to speak of Chinese crisis

?REUTERS: China’s economic slowdown and a sharp fall in its stock market herald not a crisis but a “necessary” adjustment for the world’s second biggest economy, a senior International Monetary Fund official said on Saturday.

DFCC and DVB introduce financial solutions beyond banking

?DFCC Bank, the country’s leading development bank and its commercial arm DFCC Vardhana Bank (DVB), introduced Bancassurance, to offer their customers a combined banking and insurance solution.  

Coca-Cola to invest US $ 4bn in China over next 3 years: CEO Muhtar Kent

?PTI: Coca-Cola will invest US $ 4 billion in China over the next three years, its CEO Muhtar Kent announced at the site of a new plant in the soft drink giant’s third largest market.

Union Assurance General rewards loyal customers

?Union Assurance General has set out to reward its loyal customers through their recently initiated Customer Loyalty  Reward scheme. 

Engineering Consultants partners Keios Italy for “Kandy City Urban Upgrading Project”

The joint venture between Engineering Consultants (Pvt) Limited (ECL), Sri Lanka’s leading multi-disciplinary consulting company, and Keios Development Consulting of Italy...

Government to sell US $ 1.5bn of Indian Oil shares today

India will sell a 10 percent stake in top state-run refiner Indian Oil Corp Ltd today through a stock market auction, the government said, as part of its drive to raise funds by selling off assets.

BOC rewards babies born in August to mark 76th anniversary

?In celebration of the Bank’s 76th Anniversary, Bankers to Nation – Bank of Ceylon will reward babies born in the month of August 2015 with cash rewards. This promotion is valid for babies born between 1st to 31st August 2015. 

Mercedes-Benz Club of Sri Lanka holds Fun Rally

?The Mercedes-Benz Club of Sri Lanka together with Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC (DIMO) organized a fun rally for its members recently. 

HNBA posts Rs. 79.5 mn 1H PAT amid challenging market conditions

HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) continued to maintain its growth momentum in the 1st half of 2015, in challenging market conditions. The group recorded a 19 percent growth in consolidated premium income amounting to Rs 2.68 billion up from the 2.25...

Pressure continues to build on BOP

?Sri Lanka appears to be steadily tilting towards another Balance of Payment (BOP) crisis as the country’s volatile economy is facing multitude of issues from falling exports, weakening rupee and dwindling foreign reserves.  

Softlogic Finance records improvements in key financial indicators in 1Q

?Softlogic Finance PLC’s new business model has paid rich dividends in the first quarter of the 2015/16 financial year, with the company achieving impressive improvements in a range of key indicators. 

New government mulls scrapping export taxes

?Cess and other forms of taxes imposed on exports are most likely to be done away with, as the new government wants to rev up the country’s faltering exports as a key economic policy priority.

Local tyre manufacturer cautions against Chinese products dumping

?Chinese-origin tyres are starting to flood the local market, which could cause an adverse effect for locally manufactured tyres, according to Kelani Tyres PLC Chairman Chanaka de Silva.

Most ministers likely to retain previous portfolios in new Cabinet

?Most of the ministers of the new Cabinet are likely to retain the previous portfolios they held in the interim government, Mirror Business learns.

Ease of doing business: Low hanging fruit for the new regime

At the conclusion of the parliamentary election a new government has been formed under the premiership of Ranil Wickremesinghe. It is important to emphasise the need for introducing immediate policy reforms to accelerate economic growth and development.

Aitken Spence to open Browns Beach this year

?Aitken Spence Group’s Browns Beach Hotels PLC will be commencing operations of its Negombo resort during the financial year 2015/16, Group Chairman Harry Jayawardene said in his annual review.

Grant Advertising strengthens management board

?Sajith Weerasinghe and Peter Solomons have been appointed to the Board of Management of Grant Advertising. 

Politics and stock market myth

?Politics and equity markets are inseparable. Political conditions influence the performance of an equity market. However, an equity market should not be politicized as it would hinder the performance of the market and economic growth.

June trade deficit widens over 50%

?Sri Lanka’s June trade deficit widened as much as 51.9 percent to US $ 689 million amid higher vehicle imports and sliding exports, the data released by the Central Bank showed.

Prof.Heyvaert in Sri Lanka to conduct International Environmental Law workshops at KDU

Professor Veerle Heyvaert, Associate Professor (Reader) of Environmental Law and European Law  at the London School of Economics, will be conducting a series of workshops at the Sir John Kotalawela Defence University (KDU)...

Ceylon Chamber led BCCS to recognize more economic sectors

?The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce led ‘ Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Award 2015’  an annual event which is being conducted to recognise the best ‘sustainability’ initiatives of the corporate sector has decided to recognise more economic ‘sectors’.