What does the Iran nuclear deal mean for South Asia?

As reports on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreement between Iran and the P5+1 — the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, China and Germany

Colombo Dockyard makes 2Q turnaround, posts Rs.182mn net profit

Colombo Dockyard PLC posted a year-on-year (yoy) net profit of Rs.182.11 million for the second quarter ended June 30 (2Q15) against a net loss of Rs.51.65 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

Expectations from the newly elected government

Many right thinking people watched with alarm and disappointment the steady decline in the moral values of our nation with politics for material benefits overtaking our cherished values.

Digital Holdings and Asiri form JV to develop e-Healthcare platform

Digital Holdings Lanka (Private) Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of mobile telephony market leader Dialog Axiata PLC has formed a joint venture company with Softlogic Holdings PLC subsidiary Asiri Hospital Holdings PLC to develop a healthcare sector e-commerce platform.

Fonterra cuts dairy auction volume

Fonterra says it is significantly reducing the amount of product it puts up for sale on the GlobalDairyTrade auction platform over the next 12 months.

Softlogic Group 1Q net profit soars over 100% to Rs.84mn

Sri Lanka’s diversified Softlogic Group PLC saw its net profit for the quarter ended June 30, 2015 (1Q16) surging over 100 percent year-on-year (yoy) to Rs.84 million, the interim financial accounts released to the Colombo Stock Exchange showed. 

Foreign investors sell Rs.5bn rupee bonds in a week

?Foreign investors sold Rs.5.1 billion of bonds (US $ 38) in the week to August 12, 2015 continuing a trend that gathered pace after a rate cut in April 2015, official data show.

Big Ideas for Small Business Managers : An inspiring leader is always an optimistic one

Even with such an indecisive statement by a world-renowned military leader, there is enough evidence to suggest that leadership and managerial performance do contain natural as well as learned skills.

Bountiful harvest

?The government is expecting this year’s Yala paddy output to increase by about 16 percent from last year. Picture shows paddy farmers in Ampara waiting to transport their stocks to nearby purchasing centres 

CMA presents Professional Excellence Awards

CMA presented Professional Excellence Awards to several top professionals.  The awards were presented at the CMA Global Management Accounting Summit by the chief guest President Maithripala Sirisena...

China’s long march to currency reform takes step forward

?AFP - China’s currency devaluation is a step in the long march to a more open regime for the yuan, analysts say, but authorities will need to further loosen their controls to promote long-term growth.

IMF urges Spain to keep reform focus ahead of elections

?AFP - Spain must stay the course on economic reforms if it wants to generate growth and reduce its sky-high unemployment rate, ahead of a year-end general election, the International Monetary Fund said yesterday.

Shares up ahead of polls

?REUTERS: Sri Lankan shares ended firmer yesterday on hopes that political stability after the Aug. 17 parliamentary elections would help boost investor sentiment, brokers said.

Increased consumption adversely affecting storage operations: Finlays

Cold storage giant Finlays Colombo PLC said that the increased consumption currently taking place in the country has adversely affected its storage operations, while other factors balanced the logistics industry.

Rupee trades steady despite importer dollar demand

?REUTERS -The Sri Lankan rupee traded steady yesterday despite importer dollar demand ahead of the parliamentary election on Monday, while dealers said they expected the currency to face further pressure in line with weakening regional currencies.

Asian shares hit by currency concerns, oil slump

?Asian markets mostly fell yesterday, weighed down by jitters over the impact of China’s yuan devaluation and the timing of a US interest rate rise, while a fall in oil dragged down energy stocks.

Tokyo Cement adds fourth vessel to transportation fleet

?Tokyo Cement, the company that continues to lead the field in redefining the market, consumer expectations and technological possibilities, announced the addition of a fifth vessel, ‘MV Mohar’ to its fleet of cement transport ships on August 11th.

AIA inspires academic excellence in Batticaloa

?AIA Sri Lanka donated a new building to Kokkadicholai Ramakrishnam Maha Vidyalayam in Batticaloa as a corporate social responsibility (CSR) endeavour to inspire academic excellence among the children in the North and East where for decades the students had to go to school amidst war.  

CandleAid Lanka holds career guidance programme

?The biggest hurdle for the young today is to get an interview for a job and then know what could be done in preparation to come out a winner. 

Esoft donates modern computer lab to Baduraliya school

?Esoft Metro Campus, which has launched the ‘E-Thilina’ community service-oriented initiative in partnership with Sirasa Television, donated a fully-fledged, computer laboratory with Internet and other modern facilities to Hadigalla Janapada Maha Vidyalaya, Baduraliya, recently. 

D 82 Toastmasters International hosts first-ever CEO Breakfast Forum

?The first-ever CEO Breakfast Forum by Toastmasters International USA ‘Where Leaders Are Made’ was held recently at the Victorian Ballroom Kingsbury Hotel.

EAP Broadcasting Company wins big at Sumathi Awards 2015

?The EAP Broadcasting Company recently won 16 awards in a variety of categories at the Sumathi Tele Awards held at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre  in Colombo. 

Emerald stages Fashion Flash Mob

?Emerald, Sri Lanka’s premier brand of men’s shirts, treated weekend shoppers at Cool Planet - Colombo 5, Beverly Street - Rajagiriya, Fashion Bug - Duplication Road, Kandy Selection - Kadawatha and Tillakawardena Textiles - Kiribathgoda to a mini fashion flash mob recently.

Edulink partners with Phoenix GaminG to present GamerFest 2015

?Edulink International Campus, a collaborative campus of the prestigious University of Greenwich and University of Northampton in the UK, was a proud sponsor of the recently concluded ‘GamerFest 2015’ organised by Phoenix GaminG, the best professional eSports organisation in the country.

Hale & Hearty – Convenient health Insurance for the entire family

  Friday August 14th 2015, Colombo: ATL now provides individuals and families added peace of mind, through its ‘Hale & Hearty’ hospitalization insurance plan. This convenient insurance plan covers individuals and their families within the age group of 18 to 55. It can be tailored to meet the needs of entrepreneurs, executives, managers and others like young adults and Housewives. The policy is ideal for individuals resi

Esteem from JAT to encourage economical plantation

As part of a major diversification process, JAT Holdings embarked on opening up a new subsidiary to the company’s portfolio by introducing Esteem Plantations (Pvt) Ltd. JAT Holdings, being leaders in the production of wood coatings, already had acquired plantations of Sandalwood and Mahogany.  With over 25 years of experience in the plantations sector, in both, state and private entities, General Manager, Dinal Samaranayake disclosed

CA Sri Lanka announces 51st Annual Report Awards

Entries are now open for the  Annual Report Awards Competition, organised by The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka), the national professional accounting body , which is aimed at recognising and rewarding excellence in financial reporting.

As Indian-born Sundar Pichai takes over Google, what his rise should tell us

?When an Indian is appointed to head the world’s most widely used tech company, it makes those of us who count a common Asian heritage, ask ourselves if there are lessons to be learnt from his rise to the top. And as always, there are insights indeed.

UDA claims acquired private land value far exceeds book value

The value of private land requisitioned for government use by the past regime far exceeds the figures displayed in the Urban Development Authority (UDA) accounts.

President denounces protectionist policies

President Maithripala Sirisena highlighted the need for a customer-centric, market driven, competitive economy to which the local industries must adapt instead of resorting to protectionism, while delivering a speech at the inauguration of the 6th Ceramic and Glass Symposium.