Sampath Bank bags Runner-Up in Banking Category

?Sampath Bank has yet again made news by winning the award for runner-up in the category of Banking Industry at the prestigious Sustainability Reporting Awards 2014, organized by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Sri Lanka. 

ADB sees strong growth for developing Asia in 2015 and 2016

?Developing Asia will maintain its strong economic growth in 2015 and 2016 supported by soft commodity prices and recovery in the major industrial economies, says a new Asian Development Bank (ADB) report.

Opening up opportunities for SMEs in government supplies market

?During the half way mark on a recent flight from Colombo to Jaffna on Helitours, the passengers were given a packet of wet wipes (refresher tissues) along with the snack box.

ADB cuts 2015 growth forecast

Sri Lanka’s economic growth is projected to drop to 7 percent in 2015, but is set to pick up in the following year, according to Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Hameedia takes HSBC Colombo Fashion Week 2015 by storm with its FH Studio collection

Continuously setting the benchmark in the fashion industry, Hameedia, Sri Lanka’s leading menswear specialist recently took centre stage at the HSBC Colombo Fashion Week (CFW) Spring/Summer 2015 edition with its Envoy by FH Studio collection. 

The Fashion Design Council of Sri Lanka officially launches to represent designers in Sri Lanka

After three years of work in progress, the Fashion Design Council of Sri Lanka (FDCSL) was officially launched on 24 March 2015. Prior to the launch of the FDCSL, council members studied the strategies and structures of other fashion councils around the world, in order to formulate an effective model. Over the last ten years, the fashion industry in Sri Lanka has found a direction and a voice and it is evolving and thriving. This new focus has he

TAL Group celebrates its 44th Anniversary in style!

1971 saw the birth of Thompson Associates (Ceylon) Limited which today has grown to become the TAL Group of Companies. Through its subsidiaries – TBWA\Sri Lanka and Total Media Direction (TMD) - the TAL Group continues to provide total communication solutions as it has been doing for over 4 decades. In February this year, the TAL Group commenced their 45th year in operations.

findmyfare.com and Standard Chartered Bank extend ‘Fly Out For Free’ offer

Sri Lanka’s largest online travel company, findmyfare.com recently launched the ‘Fly Out For Free’ offer for Standard Chartered credit cardholders and gave them the chance to fly to any destination for free. The offer was launched at midnight on 16 March 2015 and all 100 air tickets were booked in just 24 hours. Standard Chartered and findmyfare.com will now extend the offer on 26 March 2015, and an additional 50 free air ticket

Plantation industry in dire straits

Plantation companies that have not diversified to include oil palm are likely to face an overall negative outlook due to global and macroeconomic factors. “Only oil palm planted estates will make a profit,” Watawala Plantations PLC CEO Dr. Dan Seevaratnam told Mirror Business recently.

Two new appointments to CSE board

Lal Nanayakkara and Anton Godfrey have been appointed to the board of directors of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) with effect from March 20, 2015.  Nanayakkara served as a board member of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) from 1998 to 1999. 

Credit growth to recover up to 15-17% in 2015: S&P

?The Sri Lankan banking sector credit growth could gradually pick up to 15 percent to 17 percent levels from the 13.7 percent level seen in 2014 amid lacklustre demand for private credit and relative drop in credit to the government from the...

Singhe Hospitals MD confident of profits

?The Managing Director of Singhe Hospitals—of which an Initial Public Offering (IPO) is currently underway—says the company’s profits will grow in 2015/16 and dividends will be paid to investors. 

BIA runway : Access tells its story

?Access Engineering PLC (AEL) informed the Colombo Stock Exchange that it had followed proper procedure in acquiring the US $ 85 million contract to repair the runway at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), contrary to earlier reports.

SEC gets tough on Kalpitiya Beach Resort

?While expressing its “grave concern”, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued directives to Kalpitiya Beach Resort PLC with regards to the proceeds the company collected during its Initial Public Offer...

Alexandre Glauser appointed as OZO Hotels Sri Lanka Area General Manager

?Thailand-based ONYX Hospitality Group appoints accomplished hospitality professional, Alexandre Glauser as the Area General Manager to OZO Hotels in Sri Lanka, which includes OZO Colombo and soon-to-open OZO Kandy. 

Nurturing young talent, inspiring collaboration a priority, 4As says at AGM

?The Sri Lankan Chapter of the Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies (4As), which represents advertising and marketing communications practitioners, agencies and related businesses in Sri Lanka, recently elected its new board members for...

Uga Escapes opens Residence all-suite boutique hotel

Uga Escapes officially opened its doors to its fourth property, Residence, an all-suite boutique hotel, at No: 20, Park Street Colombo 2. Uga Escapes, demonstrating its commitment to the luxury tourism sector...

New range of Bigen products launched in Sri Lanka

?Hoyu Company Ltd of Japan, manufacturers of Bigen hair dye, together with Premasiri Stores, held its inaugural Bigen dealer conference at the Sasakawa Hall in Colombo last week.  

Budget proposals positive for large spirit makers: Fitch

?Fitch Ratings says the Sri Lankan government’s proposals to impose a minimum excise tax on liquor and beer manufacturers and tighten issuance of liquor licences are positive for larger spirit manufacturers, including Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka PLC (DIST; AAA(lka)/Stable). 

Stock market speculation, manipulation and regulation: What is your stand point?

?The debate on speculation, manipulation and regulation/enforcement in equity markets is on-going. Hence, it is timely to pave the way to a discussion on the aforementioned. 

Fast-tracking your way up the corporate ladder :As a leader today, how do you want to be remembered

?In your current leadership role, have you thought about how you’d like to be remembered once you move on to your next challenge? What is the legacy you will leave behind? Will it what you wanted, something to be proud of, or was it disappointing? 

Water for sustainable development: Addressing water issues in Sri Lanka

?One does not need additional explanations to highlight the importance of water for every human’s survival. In addition to being a basis for our survival, it is also at the core of sustainable development. 

Integrated water management and sustainable urbanization in Sri Lanka

World Water Day 2015 was celebrated yesterday (March 22) under the theme ‘Water and Sustainable Development’. In this article to mark the day, Chatura Rodrigo and Athula Senaratne highlight the importance of integrated urban water management (IUWM)....

Children play on the Galle Face beach.

Children play on the Galle Face beach. In the background are two excavators carrying out the protective work on the breakwater of the Colombo Port City Project. 

HNB Assurance unveils ‘Liya Harasara’ third edition

?The International Women’s Day is celebrated worldwide on March 8. In order to celebrate this special day HNB Assurance has once again initiated ‘Liyaharasara’, a special tribute towards women, by commemorating this day with a special campaign carried throughout this month. 

Fitch affirms Melsta Regal Finance at ‘A+(lka)’; Outlook Stable

?Fitch Ratings has affirmed Melsta Regal Finance Ltd’s (MRF) national long-term rating at ‘A+(lka)’. The outlook is stable. MRF’s rating reflects Fitch’s expectation of support from its ultimate parent, Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka (DIST; AAA(lka)/Stable).

Berendina expands microfinance services to Horowpathana

?Berendina Micro Investments Ltd opened its first branch in Horowpathana in the Anuradhapura District recently. Berendina Micro Investments Ltd is established to extend the microfinance services of the Berendina group...

Seylan wins Effie for ‘Seylan Sure’ communication campaign

?Seylan Bank won a Bronze award for its communication campaign on its premier savings product Seylan Sure, at the recently concluded Effie Awards, organised by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing. 

LB Finance opens Jaffna Premier Branch & City Branch on 19th March 2015

Finance Stalwart LB Finance PLC opened its Jaffna Premier Branch (No 406, Hospital Road Jaffna) & Jaffna City Branch (No, 111, Stanly Road, Jaffna) on 19th of March 2015?

Hameedia introduces Goodyear welted shoes – the ultimate range of footwear for men

Hameedia recently introduced its latest range of Goodyear welted shoes, a sophisticated collection of men’s footwear designed to offer optimal levels of quality, durability and comfort. Hameedia is continuously setting the benchmark in the fashion industry and its new range of Goodyear welted shoes, further enhances the company’s product portfolio and strengthens its position as Sri Lanka’s leading menswear specialist.