Verité Research discusses importance of budget transparency and accountability

?Verité Research hosted a seminar and discussion on the topic “Budget Transparency in Sri Lanka: Learning from the Open Budget Survey” on the 2nd of April, presented by Nilangika Fernando. 

Sri Lanka to host 8th IPWE Conference

Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB) announced yet another international conference (eight installment) of the International Perspectives on Water Resources & the Environment Conference ....

NCC seminar on CEPA and implications on SL economy

?The National Chamber of Commerce  has organised an awareness seminar on CEPA on April 29th from 3.00 p.m  to 5.00 p.m at the Chamber Auditorium. High level government officials and prominent business leaders from the private sector will address the session and air their views on CEPA.

Gamma Pharmaceuticals launches new tube filling machine

?Gamma Phamaceuticals (Pvt.) Ltd installed a new fully-automated cream and ointment tube filling machine at its manufacturing facility on Madapatha Road, Piliyandala. 

Durdans Hospital and Credence Genomics in partnership

?Durdans Hospital, a premier tertiary healthcare service provider in Sri Lanka established since 1945, has partnered with Credence Genomics (Pvt.) Ltd, Sri Lanka’s pioneering commercial next generation....

ComBank supports Ranaviru Sevana Avurudu celebrations

Commercial Bank of Ceylon (ComBank) supported the Avurudu celebrations of Ranaviru Sevana, the rehabilitation centre in Ragama for disabled war heroes, for the sixth consecutive year in 2015, enabling disabled soldiers to enjoy a day of fun activities by engaging in traditional games.

AVIC-INTL donates living goods to orphanage

?With the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, China National Aero Technology International Engineering Corporation (AVIC-INTL), a Chinese company, recently, once again donated living goods worth Rs.200,000 to the orphanage, Lawris Girls’ Home, in Colombo,.

Australia-World Vision provide safe drinking water in Jaffna

?Responding to an immediate need for safe drinking water in the Jaffna District, World Vision Lanka on request from the Government of Sri Lanka has commenced water distribution with funding from the Australian aid programme.

Berendina donates bicycles to Mutur school children

?Berendina Development Services (BDS) donated bicycles to needy school children in the Mutur area of the Trincomalee District at a ceremony held at Al Mina Maha Vidyalayam, Periyapalam, Mutur recently. 

We will continue to make investments: New Nestlé Lanka MD

Mirror Business sat down with Nestlé Lanka PLC’s new Managing Director Shivani Hedge, who took over local operations on February 1st 2015.  She succeeded Ganesan Ampalavanar, who served in this capacity for 2 years before taking up the reins at Nestlé Vietnam.

Four forces facing the global economy

? In our April 2015 World Economic Outlook, we forecast global growth to be roughly the same this year than last year, 3.5 percent versus 3.4 percent.    This global number reflects an increase in growth in advanced...

China’s Xi in Islamabad to unveil $46 bn investment

?AFP: Chinese President Xi Jinping headed to Islamabad yesterday to unveil a US$ 46 billion investment plan that Pakistan hopes will end its chronic energy crisis and “transform” the country into a regional economic hub.

The Freedom of Information Law must apply to Parliament and Cabinet as well

Earlier this month (11 April 2015), the New York Times published an article on a decade’s experience with the UK Freedom of Information Act entitled “From A to Z (Asteroids to Zombies), the British Just Want the Facts.

ComBank’s ATMs set new records this ‘Avurudu’

?If withdrawals from the ATMs of Commercial Bank in the ‘Avurudu’ season are anything to go by, Sri Lankans celebrated their New Year on a grand scale in 2015, establishing new records for cash dispensed from the largest automated teller network owned by a single bank in the country.

Softlogic Finance opens branches in Senkadagala and Pamankada

?Softlogic Finance PLC has affirmed its aggressive expansion strategy by opening two fully-fledged branches in Senkadagala, Kandy and Pamankada Colombo 6 within a single week.

LB Finance opens newest branch in Valachchenai

?LB Finance PLC opened its newest branch in Valachchenai recently, offering an exciting range of financial products for its community. This occasion was graced by Chandana Wijerathna...

Pan Asia Bank ‘Nivasa’ housing loans – A fast and convenient solution

?Pan Asia Bank, in response to the increased customer demand for housing loans, has commenced promoting its “Nivasa” housing loan scheme with a host of value added features.

The 3-member committee’s 19 page report falls far short of proper inquiry

1) One week prior to the bond issue,  who were the officials the Central Bank Governor was in touch with at the Department Of Public Debt concerning the bond issue (with 30-year maturity)?

Standard Chartered Bank to support  SLCHBC website

?The Sri Lanka-China Business Council (SLCHBC) announced the support of Standard Chartered Sri Lanka, for its website, http://www.srilankachinabusiness.cn/. 

BoC upholds top position with Rs.20bn PBT

?Bank of Ceylon (BoC) closed its 75th year on a high note by recording the highest ever profit before tax (PBT) in the bank’s history as well as in the Sri Lankan banking industry of Rs.20.3 billion, achieving a growth of 29 percent compared to the previous year. 

CSE to host conference for regional exchanges

?The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) in association with the South Asian Federation of Exchanges (SAFE) will host the South Asian Investment Conference and SAFE Annual General Meeting on April 26th and 27th in Colombo. 

IMF & WB urged to create fund to tackle epidemic outbreaks

?The global multilateral lenders were called on to establish a separate fund designated to be used in cases of epidemics, which could incite mass scale destruction into mankind and irreparable damage to those economies at large. 

CONTROVERSIAL 30-YEAR BOND ISSUE:Committee finds serious lapses by BOC; recommends forensic audit an

?The Committee appointed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickrasinghe to inquire into the controversial 30-year bond issue has found “serious lapses” on the part of state banking giant Bank of Ceylon (BOC) which routed unusually large amount of bids on behalf of Perpetual Treasuries. 

As hard as drawing investments in

?Minister of Highways and Investment Promotion Kabir Hashim took part in traditional ‘Avurudu Kreeda’ in Mawanella, where he is the chief organizer for the United National Party. The picture shows the minister taking part in tug-of-war. 

Aitken Spence Travels surpasses 100,000 visitor handlings to Sri Lanka

?Aitken Spence Travels, a leading destination management company in the country has surpassed the one hundred thousand milestone of handling visitors to Sri Lanka for the financial year of 2014/2015.  

Vehicle registrations hit all-time high in March

Vehicle registrations hit an all-time high in many segments in March, showing mixed responses to the intended outcomes of the interim budget, according to data compiled by stockbrokerage JB Securities (Pvt) Ltd.

TBWA\Sri Lanka recognized at AdFest with two awards

?Founded in 1998, ADFEST focuses on celebrating and raising the standards of creativity in the region, and it is widely recognized as one of the most competitive and prestigious festivals in the Asia Pacific region. 

Marina makes ‘Ananda Asiri Avurudu Siri’ enjoyable

?‘Ananda Asiri Avurudu Siri’, the New Year festival of the Primary Section of Ananda College was held at its playground recently. The chief guest at the event held under the guidance of Kithsiri...

Puritas commissions wastewater treatment plant for coir industry

?Sri Lanka’s coir industry reached an important milestone last month, with the commissioning of a pioneering wastewater treatment plant for the Botanicoir (Pvt) Ltd factory in Dankotuwa. 

‘NDB Jaffnaspire 2015’ to focus on community development, empowerment

?NDB will be conducting a five-day series of activities in the Jaffna peninsula, in a bid to inspire and empower the people of the region towards sustainable financial progress; by introducing them to the Bank’s unique financial solutions and advisory services.