President Sirisena’s first one hundred days

Fifty one days have passed, and 49 remain to fulfill the election promises of the 100-day reform introduced by the newly elected regime in Sri Lanka.  People are questioning the delay in implementing certain key promises, and the ...

Japanese firm to invest over US $ 100mn in Lankan hospitality projects

Diversified Japanese conglomerate Belluna Co. Ltd has partnered with Asia Capital PLC to bring one of the largest private sector foreign direct investments (FDIs) from Japan worth over US $ 100 million into the leisure industry of Sri Lanka.

Jet Airways continue to refine, create distinct high quality service

?Jet Airways has always embraced and benchmarked against global standards in order to offer a unique international air travel experience to its passengers; synonymous with world class product offerings. 

Emirates appreciates top Lankan agents’ contribution

?Emirates has honoured travel agents in Sri Lanka in characteristic elegance and style, at an appreciation dinner at Waters Edge to celebrate the airline’s partnership with the trade.

Air Arabia 2014 net profit soars 30% to AED 566 mn

?Air Arabia (PJSC), the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier, announced its financial results for the full year ending 31 December 2014, reflecting another year of continued growth and high levels of profitability.

Twenty seven youth graduate from Aitken Spence School of Hospitality

?Having completed a 3-month basic course in food and beverage, 27 trainees graduated from the Aitken Spence School of Hospitality in Ahungalla recently.   The graduation ceremony held on February ....

KIDZ PLANET – Specialized skills and activity center

How about picking up a new skill and hobby this year? Step outside your comfort zone this year and try something totally new! When was the last time you tried something for the first time?  Develop speaking skills and confidence in young students.

Hilton Colombo features a specially designed fashion environment at HSBC Colombo Fashion Week

Hilton Colombo celebrates the sixth year of its collaboration with HSBC Colombo Fashion Week (CFW), with a specially designed fashion environment called the Fashion Village. The Hilton Colombo is also participating in an exciting segment of the ‘Fashion+Food’ programme redesigning its Il Ponte restaurant as a Fashion Café during the CFW Spring/Summer 2015 Show. The Fashion Café will feature chefs from the Hilton Colombo

American & Efird Lanka named winner at Sustainability Reporting Awards

American & Efird (A&E) Lanka, a fully owned subsidiary of one of the world’s premier industrial sewing thread manufacturer American & Efird LLC, USA, once again was lauded and recognized for its continuous transparency and accountability when it emerged as an overall winner in the General Services and Utilities sector at the ACCA Sustainability Reporting Awards.

Listed entities’ profit growth slows in December quarter

?The Colombo stock Exchange (CSE) listed entities saw their overall profits for the quarter ended December 31, 2014 (4Q14) slowing down to 9.3 percent year-on-year (yoy) to Rs.56 billion after growing 52.8 percent yoy in the third quarter, an independent research company said. 

Sri Lanka Tourism and SriLankan launch joint promotion

?Sri Lanka Tourism and SriLankan Airlines have agreed for a mutually beneficial joint marketing programme at a meeting at ITB in Berlin.  Sri Lanka Tourism last week entered into a promotional tie-up with Sri Lanka Tea Board worth Rs.1 billion.

Answer to labour scarcity lies within: economist

?Shifting of large surplus labour in low productive agriculture, state-owned enterprises (SoEs) and the public sector could address the private sector’s cry for want of labour, according to a veteran economist. 

February tourist arrivals up 17%

?Sri Lanka’s tourist arrivals in the month of February rose 16.7 percent year-on-year (yoy) to 165, 541, amid a surge in Chinese tourists, the data released by Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority showed.

Sri Lanka-EU trade tops US $ 5 billion

?Sri Lanka’s bilateral trade with European Union (EU) topped US $ 5 billion mark for the first time in country’s trade history, Industry and Commerce Ministry said.

Networking and information: Crucial ingredients in empowering women-owned and led micro, SMEs in Sri

The International Women’s Day is globally celebrated on March 8 every year. This year’s celebrations under the theme ‘Empowering Women - Empowering Humanity:

Fast-tracking your way up the corporate ladder Not making a decision is definitely not a smart decis

We continue with the last part of our four-part study on how to make right decisions. We discussed at length the tools and techniques the professional uses to arrive at right solutions.

Stock market regulation: Safeguards interest of investors?

?“The setting up of the Securities Council alone will not result in the development of the capital market. The balanced development of the market in the long run would depend on the creation of the right climate, the right inducements and the right incentives”

Fish ban likely to delay regaining EU’s GSP+

The re-establishment of the much coveted GSP+ (Generalized System of Preferences) preferential trade agreement with the European Union (EU) could take nearly two years due to the ban on fisheries, according to the man in charge of Sri Lanka’s economic policy.

HNB launches Sri Lanka’s first Oculus Rift virtual reality brand experience

?Hatton National Bank (HNB), Sri Lanka’s premier private sector commercial bank recently launched Sri Lanka’s first-ever Oculus Rift brand experience using virtual reality (VR) technology as part of its ‘New World Banking’ marketing campaign. 

HNB Assurance rewards top performers of bancassurance

?The innovative insurance solutions provider, HNB Assurance (HNBA) recently held its Annual Awards ceremony for bancassurance officers at Galadari Hotel Colombo to recognize the top contributors from the HNBA Bancassurance team in the year 2014.

​Cargills Bank 4Q net up over tax gains

The banking arm of the Cargills group, Cargills Bank Limited (CBL), posted a net profit of Rs.44 million (10 cents per share) for the quarter ended December 31, 2014, increasing from Rs.4.1 million a year earlier helped by a corporate tax credit. 

​Sri Lanka records £ 1,158mn exports to UK in 2014

Sri Lanka recorded £1,158 million of exports to the UK in 2014, signifying a 36 percent annual growth, helped on by the apparel industry, and reaffirming the UK as Sri Lanka’s top export destination in Europe.

Fitch affirms Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation at IFS ‘BB-’/Stable

?Fitch Ratings Lanka has affirmed Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Limited’s (SLIC) Insurer Financial Strength rating (IFS) at ‘BB-’ with a stable outlook. The agency has also affirmed the National Insurer Financial Strength Rating and National Long-Term Rating at ‘AA(lka)’ with a stable outlook.

Dialog scores at Mobile World Congress with two global awards

Sri Lanka’s premier connectivity provider, Dialog Axiata PLC, clinched two Global awards at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) held in Barcelona Spain.  The lineup of Global Award winners and nominees featured the world’s leading mobile operators, innovators and solutions providers. 

Current situation of RE60's entry to the Lankan market

The simple, effective and immediate solution for the high rising cost of fuel, the new Bajaj four-wheeler, RE60 is yet to make its presence in Sri Lanka. The eco-friendly budget car is the first four-wheeler developed by Bajaj.

Market misconduct investigations to restart: Thilak

Capital market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will revive the investigations against the alleged capital market offenders involved in pumping and dumping of shares, leaving thousands of innocent retail investors destitute during 2010 and 2011, the re-appointed Chairman, Thilak Karunaratne said.

Central Facilitation Agency to make Strategic Projects Act redundant

The Board of Investment’s (BOI) new one-stopshop would make last year ’s Strategic Projects Development Act irrelevant and create an investor-friendly environment, according to Deputy Minister of Investments Promotions Eran Wickramaratne.

Indian Ocean: Modi on a maritime pilgrimage - Analysis

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the Maldives, Mauritius Seychelles and Sri Lanka during this month to reinforce India’s foreign policy objectives. A number of political, economic, social and security issues would constitute the agenda and several agreements and memorandums of understanding are expected to be signed with the Indian Ocean states.

Colombo Port City Project: A threat to sustainable development?

Tuesday, March 3, 2015, environmentalists took to the roads in protest against the Colombo Port City Project. One of the many projects of the Rajapaksa government and the one that has been used freely by President Sirisena’s election campaign days, the project is planned on 252 hectares of reclaimed land in Colombo. This land (if the project is carried as per plan) will include shopping areas, a water sports area, a mini golf course, hotels

Fresh perspectives needed to boost South Asian connectivity

One of the easiest ways to boost economic activity is by promoting regional economic integration that facilitates freer movement of goods, services and investment, helping to achieve regional developmental objectives by creating jobs. But in eastern South Asia, this process is being held up by misguided decisions, strategies and outdated ideas.