Holcim Lanka hosts ‘concrete week’ to educate stakeholders

Holcim Lanka recently held its first Innovation and Application (I&A) week at its new I&A centre at R. A. De Mel Mawatha to create awareness among its key stakeholders of the several value added services offered by the centre.

Iodex holds relief camp for Sri Pada pilgrims

Iodex, the Ayurvedic balm brand from SmithKline Beecham (GlaxoSmithKline), recently held a relief camp to provide support to thousands of pilgrims visiting Sri Pada, a sacred place for Sri Lankans at a height of 2,243 metres.

UltraTech conducts building clinics with Engineers Institute

UltraTech Cement Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd is conducting building clinics in partnership with the Institute of Engineers to help individual home builders get professional advice to cut down on costs and own a long-lasting house.

HNB-Ideal Motors partnership to promote Mahindra vehicles

Hatton National Bank (HNB), the premier private sector commercial bank in Sri Lanka, recently joined hands with Ideal Motors (Pvt.) Ltd to promote Mahindra vehicles.

Further savings on fuel for HSBC cardholders

HSBC’s popular ‘free fuel for one year’ at islandwide Lanka IOC fuel stations continues to reward credit cardholders with further savings on fuel on top of the fuel price reduction.

CDB launches Salary Plus account

Recognising the importance of proper income management and inculcating the habit of saving amongst the people, Citizens Development Business Finance PLC (CDB) launched its innovative Salary Plus savings account recently, expanding its portfolio of financial solutions.

Sri Lanka must leverage its diaspora for development but it’s more than just money

Sri Lanka has struggled with engaging its diaspora. The protracted conflict polarized diaspora communities abroad and created negative perceptions at home. Yet, a conference held last week attempted to reverse this. Titled ‘Our Sri Lanka: Engaging Persons of Sri Lankan Origin Overseas’, the Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies (CHA) and International Alert brought together inspiring and committed individuals from the UK who are demonst

Political situation in Sri Lanka and region

Following is the speech delivered by Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute (LKIIRSS) former Executive Director Asanga Abeyagoonasekera recently, at the Consortium of South Asian Think Tanks (COSATT) Regional Conference on ‘Deeper Integration for Peace and Prosperity in the South Asian Region’ organised by the Centre for South Asian Studies (CSAS) in cooperation with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) in Katmandu, Nepal.

Economics of broken window is applicable to corruption

The Sirisena presidency and the UNP that championed it have been endorsed by t he ballot with the hope t hat they will take action against the rampant corruption that was felt to be hurting the public welfare under the SLFP-led Rajapaksa presidency.

Sri Lanka waiting for right time to raise up to US $1.5bn bond

REUTERS: Sri Lanka is waiting for the right time to launch a sovereign bond of up to US $1.5 billion, possibly with a longer tenure to roll over its debts in 2015, Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran said.

Land Rover partners with HSBC Colombo Fashion Week

Land Rover is extremely proud to partner with HSBC Colombo Fashion Week for a fourth consecutive year for the upcoming Spring/Summer 2015 Show. The annual HSBC Colombo Fashion Week showcase has become one of the most highly anticipated events of the year not just in Sri Lanka, but also in the region. Land Rover’s well-considered partnerships and events resonate with consumers who have come to regard the brand as a beacon of a boundary-pushi

Maliban milk products awarded ‘OHSAS 18001: 2007’ certification

Maliban Milk became the first milk food company in Sri Lanka to be awarded the International Standards of ISO Certifications Trinity; ISO 9001, ISO 22000 and ISO 14001 from the Sri Lanka Standards Institution.

Brandix felicitates donation of 3,321 units of blood

The National Blood Transfusion Service (NTBS) has felicitated the Brandix Group for the donation by its employees of 3,321 units of blood in 2014, the largest donation by a single corporate entity in the country in the year.This is the fifth year in succession that Brandix, Sri Lanka’s single largest apparel exporter, has been acknowledged as the largest donor of blood among private sector organisations that donate annually to the NTBS.

SLT wins Taiki Akimoto 5S Awards

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), the national ICT solutions provider proved to be one of the strongest business entities when it was awarded the prestigious ‘Taiki Akimoto 5S Awards including; the Merit Award for t he Service SectorLarge, Merit Award for the “Best Efforts i n Public/ Private Partnership”-CSR Awards 2014 categories and three Certificates of Compliance awarded to SLT Regional Offices Chilaw, Kotte & Kurunegala for the

Pan Asia Bank records over 34% credit growth and 265% growth in PAT

Pan Asia Bank recorded an impressive 265 percent growth in profit after tax (PAT) for the financial year ended December 31, 2014 to post Rs.415.2 million on the back of strong core-banking performance, non-fund-based income and efficient cost management.The pre-tax profit too grew by three folds to Rs.538.4 million. These results were achieved in spite of substantial provision for impairment on loans and other losses of Rs.815 million.

Job portal Everjobs makes debut in Sri Lanka

Everjobs (everjobs.lk), the new j ob portal for fast growing markets, was launched yesterday in Sri Lanka. The company’s mission is to simplify the job search and hiring process by connecting job seekers with employers in a matter of clicks. The Everjobs site offers helpful tools and intuitive features, such as a CV creation t ool, easy site navigation, search filter and career tips.

Dominant leadership traits

Trait theory highlights the notion that traits refer to stable or consistent patterns of behavior relatively immune to situational contingencies— individuals with certain traits denoting particular behavioral predispositions would react in similar ways across a variety of situations having functionally diverse behavioral requirements.

IMF, WB, donor support should not be a pretext for avoiding economic reform

The IMF tends to be the refuge of countries that have mismanaged their economic affairs. In this context, it is important to recall that Sri Lanka has had to obtain balance of payments support from the IMF on a number of occasions.

Oil prices stabilise in Asian trade

Oil prices stabilised in Asia yesterday following sharp gains in the previous session as dealers predicted the end of volatile trading and the beaten-down commodity bottoming out, analysts said.

Natural rubber prices to reach $2.40 per kg in 2015: experts

At the end of Q2 of 2014, the prices of natural rubber were down by almost 70 percent since the highs of early 2012.The relative price weakness reflects a slowdown in demand in emerging economies, particularly China, as the majority of natural rubber is used for tire production.

High-level Swiss mission to SL in May

Switzerland, the nation with the richest households in the world, is to boost its economic ties with Sri Lanka as the Swiss Foreign Minister is due in Colombo and a high-powered trade and investment mission too been scheduled.

Banks, businesses should reorganise, restructure

Sri Lankan banks and businesses should be dynamic and adapt to the existing environment which is here to stay despite any political changes, according to a head of a leading Sri Lankan bank.

Aitken Spence adds another island to Maldivian resort portfolio

?Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC has recently entered an agreement with the Maldivian government to lease and develop an uninhabited island named “Aarah”, Mirror Business learns.

Gaming facility restrictions to delay JKH’s US $ 445 mn syndicated loan : report

?With the new government’s decision not to allow gaming facilities in the proposed integrated resorts, John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH) has faced a delay in obtaining a US $ 445 million syndicated loan, foreign media said. 

AIA Lanka December net profit dips 58%

?The local unit of the Hong Kong stock exchange listed Asian life insurance giant, AIA Group Limited, AIA Insurance Lanka PLC (AIA) saw its net profits for the quarter ended December 31,2014 falling by 57.8 percent to Rs. 153.8 million (Rs.5 a share) from a year ago, interim financials showed.

Chevron Lanka December net down 5%

?Chevron Lubricants Lanka PLC, the local unit of US-based multi national saw its December quarter (4Q14) net profit falling 5 percent year-on-year (yoy) to Rs.558 million amid a decline in its top line, the financial accounts released to the Colombo Stock Exchange showed. 

OZO Colombo receives the Golden Pillow Award for Best Newly Opened Hotel in South Asia

OZO Colombo was recently recognised as the Best Newly Opened Hotel in South Asia by one of China’s leading hospitality industry awards, the Golden- Pillow Award of China Hotels 2014. 

Three countries to trial new jet tracking system

?AFP - Australia yesterday said it was trialling a “world first” system with Malaysia and Indonesia that increases the tracking of aircraft over remote oceans, allowing authorities to quickly react to abnormal situations such as the disappearance of MH370.

SLT 4Q net profits fall by 37% over high costs

State-owned telecommunication services provider, Sri Lanka Telecom PLC group (SLT) saw its December quarter net profits (4Q14) contracting by as much as 37 percent to Rs. 958 million (53 cents a share) from a year ago, the interim results released the Colombo Stock Exchange showed.

Microsoft partners Ewis to launch local low-cost hybrid tablet

How do you make a nine inch tablet affordable to a Sri Lankan buyer? The answer to this question is simple enough. It has to be designed and assembled locally and that is what EWIS has done in partnership with Microsoft. Together the two companies have come up with a winning device “EWIS T900G” at a price that is very affordable.