India rejects BP’s request to market jet fuel

?REUTERS: India has rejected a request from BP PLC to be allowed to sell jet fuel to the booming aviation market in Asia’s No. 3 economy, saying it did not meet the conditions necessary, a source with direct knowledge of the decision told Reuters.

Japan’s Fujifilm agrees to buy Cellular Dynamics for US $ 307mn

REUTERS: Japan’s Fujifilm Holdings Corp said yesterday it has agreed to acquire U.S. biotechnology firm Cellular Dynamics International Inc (CDI) for US $ 307 million.

HNB’s Chiranthi Cooray wins Global HR Leadership Award

?Taking Sri Lankan HR leadership to international frontiers, L Chiranthi Cooray, was the recipient of the Global HR Excellence HR Leadership Award by the World HRD Congress at a ceremony held at the Taj Lands End Hotel, Mumbai, India on February 15th.

Bank of Ceylon excels at JASTECA Awards

?Bank of Ceylon won multiple awards for its implementation of the “5 S” concept in branches and became the only bank to win awards at the 19th Japan Sri Lanka Technical and Cultural Association (JASTECA)- Taiki Akimoto 5S Awards ceremony. 

Cashing in on empty car seats

Tehan recently opted for a new way to reach Colombo from Galle, his hometown : He skipped the train ride and hopped in a car pool he had booked on his mobile phone.

Leo Burnett is the most awarded Sri Lankan agency at ADFEST 2015

?Leo Burnett Solutions Inc. (LBSI), the local office of the global advertising network Leo Burnett Worldwide, recently won three silver awards at the prestigious ADFEST 2015 annual advertising festival, which took place in Pattaya, Thailand. Leo Burnett was the most awarded agency from Sri Lanka at ADFEST 2015 and secured one silver Direct Lotus award for which there were 213 entries, and two silver Press Lotus awards for which there were 286 ent

Kuwait Airways fly daily from Colombo

Kuwait Airways commenced its Colombo Operations way back in 1972. With a history of 43 years in Colombo, Kuwait Airways has  been gradually expanding  its services with the emerging need.

Activists in court over bond deal

?Three good governance activists have filed a petition in the Supreme Court for an independent inquiry on the alleged bond sale fraud and requested the court to direct relevant authorities to set up proper regulatory framework to avert incidents of this nature in future.

S.D.N. Perera takes reins as NSB GM/CEO

S.D.N. Perera has been appointed the 16th General Manager/CEO of National Savings Bank with effect from March 12, 2015. Perera is scheduled to assume duties today.

Sunil and Ranee to step down from NDB, HNB

?The Chairpersons of two leading private banks in the country have indicated that they will be stepping down from their duties and will not pursue re-election to their posts during the respective banks’ Annual General Meetings scheduled for today.

BOC 4Q net down; FY14 net up 18% to Rs.14.4 bn

The state banking giant with over Rs. 1.3 trillion asset base saw its net profits for the quarter ended December 31, 2014 down 43 percent year-on-year (yoy) to Rs. 3.1 billion,  but the group ended the financial year with a net profit of Rs. 14.4 billion, up 18 percent. 

Land Alienation, Strategic Development Acts under review

The Land Alienation Act which restricts the foreigners owning lands is currently being reviewed by the new rainbow government and the Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe will soon address this issue, according to a top government official.  

Archetyping beyond Warrior CEO

?The 12 archetypes or patterns of behaviour identify the personality makeup and leadership style of chief executive officers (CEOs) and emerging leaders. Most CEOs only display their Warrior but each archetype has its positive and Shadow energies.

HNB to raise US$ 100 mn through 7-year ADB loan

HNB entered into a landmark agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to raise US$ 100 million by way of a 7-year senior debt.  This is the largest transaction by ..

Creating one million new jobs

?The new government of President Sirisena in their 100-day programme talks of creating a strategy to overcome the unemployment problem that affects our young people by putting in place a million jobs programme for local and foreign employment and for self-employment. 

Burger King opens doors at Bandaranaike International Airport

?International fast food giant Burger King has opened its latest restaurant at the Departure Hall of Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), providing a much-needed boost to the airport’s dining options. 

People’s Bank posts best ever financial results in 53 years

People’s Bank closed 2014 with an impressive performance, attesting that it continues to remain the ‘Pulse of the People’.   Posting the milestone of Rs 1 trillion in its balance sheet, only the second bank in Sri Lanka

Time to say ‘Cheese!’ with Pizza Hut!

Pizza Hut just launched an unbelievable treat for pizza lovers who are cheese fanatics. The all-new Cheesy Blaster pizza promises to offer the most discerning cheese aficionados an unbelievable cheese fix unlike any...

HNB Assurance partners SLIM Peoples Awards 2015

?SLIM, Sri Lanka’s national body of marketing, hosted the ninth SLIM-Nielsen Peoples Awards recently at Water’s Edge, Battaramulla. The awards ceremony is an annual flagship event organised by SLIM that is distinguished for being the only award show to reiterate the ....

Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts and Times of India partnership further strengthened

?Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts further strengthened its partnership with the Times of India group, the largest publishing group in India, by developing a comprehensive communication and marketing plan around the fbb Femina Miss. India beauty pageant. 

Manjula to resign from HNB Assurance

?HNB Assurance Managing Director Manjula De Silva has tendered his resignation, the company informed the Colombo Stock Exchange last Friday. The resignation has been accepted by the HNB Assurance board with effect from March 31, 2015.

Leo Burnett Asia Pacific named Network of the Year at ADFEST 2015

?Leo Burnett Asia Pacific has been named the winner of the ‘Network of the Year’ award at ADFEST 2015, Asia Pacific’s leading advertising festival.

Whales, ultimate magic of Sri Lanka tourism

Project Blueprint, the result of a joint partnership between Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), a leading global marine conservation organisation with SriLankan Airlines, Sri Lanka Tourist Board (SLTB), Jetwing Hotels and Cinnamon Hotels to...

NTB Debit Cardholders win iPhones

?Nations Trust Bank PLC is giving away an Iphone 6 every week to their MasterCard Debit Cardholders, for a period of eight weeks; during the month of March and April under the promotion “Swipe your Nations Trust Bank Debit Card and win an iPhone 6 every week”. 

Unawatuna beach: Has the nation got it back?

?March 18, 2015 was a truly momentous day in the history of Unawatuna. After a year of preparation, the Coastal Conservation Department, true to its word, started pumping sand on to the eroded eastern and middle section of the Unawatuna beach. 

MasterCard ‘Diners’ Delight’ offers scrumptious spread for Avurudu

?Giving cardholders yet another reason to revel in the Sinhala and Tamil New Year festivities with friends and family, MasterCard brings back its ‘Diners’ Delight’ program to Sri Lanka. 

Sri Lanka to participate in ‘Expo Milano 2015’

Sri Lanka announced its participation in ‘Expo Milano 2015’  hosted by Milan, Italy, at a recent press briefing attended by Sports and Tourism Minister Navin Dissanayake, Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen.....

NDB educates street vendors on food safety

?NDB recently hosted a workshop on food safety for the women engaged in the street food business along Gall Face Green. The programme coincided with the commemoration of ‘International Women’s Day’.....

Fitch affirms Siyapatha Finance at ‘A(lka)’

?Fitch Ratings Lanka has affirmed Siyapatha Finance PLC’s (SLFL) National Long-Term Rating at ‘A(lka)’. The Outlook is Stable.  The agency has also affirmed SLFL’s outstanding senior unsecured debentures at National Long-Term Rating ‘A(lka)’ and...

Sri Lanka Tourism includes Scandinavian countries in focus market drive

?The leadership of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau (SLTPB) has relooked its overall portfolio of markets and has strategically selected one of the key focus areas globally - Scandinavian countries - to market Sri Lanka as a destination for travel in the future.