Hybrid importers seek further relief with deadline nearing

The collective of individual hybrid importers are still campaigning for further relief for 350 of their peers, as Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake has placed February 28 as the deadline for clearing cars from port for those who had opened letters of credit prior to the interim budget’s announcement on January 29.“We are requesting to remove to 2/28 clause from the offer, because it’s impractical,” the group’s spoke

NDB 4Q net up over 90% amid lower loan impairments

While increase in core-banking, non-fund based incomes and the better management of operating costs contributed to the better performance, the biggest boost for the profits came from the significantly lower impairments charged against the individual borrowers.

findmyfare.com’s First-Ever ‘Valentine’s Boot Camp’ a Big Hit

Sri Lanka’s largest online travel company, findmyfare.com recently hosted the first-ever ‘Valentine’s Boot Camp’ for couples at the AVANI Kalutara Resort. The exciting and engaging event brought together 10 couples who battled their way through a series of challenging games and activities in order to secure the highly coveted first prize, an all-expense paid luxury trip to the Maldives over the Valentine’s Day weeken

Budget reflects ideological clashes within government

Top economists in the country slammed the new regime’s interim budget for political indecisiveness and failing to rectify past economic missteps, during a post-budget seminar organized by the Sri Lanka Economic Association (SLEA) and the University of Colombo recently.

Red Bull Levels: The ultimate test of body and mind

On the southern coast of Sri Lanka, local villagers often fish on stilts by the shore, or to move from one treetop to another while balancing on tight ropes to extract sap that’s made into palm wine, more locally known as toddy. Both traditions have been practiced for decades and require extreme skills. 

Cerebral Palsy Lanka Foundation Hosts Special Wheelchair Donation Camps for Children with Cerebral P

Cerebral Palsy Lanka Foundation (CPLF) the first organization for children with cerebral palsy in Sri Lanka will be hosting a series of special wheelchair donation camps for children affected by the disorder.  The free camps will take place every Sunday starting from 15 February to 19 April 2015 and specially designed wheelchairs will be donated to children suffering from cerebral palsy. The camps are designed to enhance the mobility of affe

Natasha Balendra Appointed as Chairperson of NCPA

Lawyer Natasha Balendra was today appointed as the Chairperson of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), by Rosy Senanayake, the State Minister of Child Affairs.  As Balendra assumed office, she vowed to uphold her post devoid of any external political influence or pressure.

CB Asia Creative Rankings 2014: Leo Burnett Solutions tops the Sri Lanka rankings table to win the C

Leo Burnett Solutions in Sri Lanka never fails to impress! The agency has over the past several years been a regular visitor to award stages - and they have achieved this via some very interesting work.

Budget concessions could revive inflation : Moody's

The public sector salary increase, fuel price cut and a number of other concessions given in the revised budget of the new government may revive inflation amid the expected boost in consumption, Moody's Investor services cautioned in a brief comment, yesterday.

CFW Partners with Premier Restaurants for Fashion+Food

HSBC Colombo Fashion Week (CFW) in partnership with Café Francais, Nihonbashi, Tintagel Colombo, Clique Cuisine and Asylum, will tantalize the most insatiable and stylish palates in the city with its ‘Fashion+Food’ series, a chic fine dining experience that accentuates and showcases the beautiful marriage between the fashion and culinary worlds. Five premier, design-conscious restaurants will celebrate this union with painstaki

New Lankan Government Makes U-Turn to China

When Mahinda Rajapakse was toppled by a "peoples' power" anti-corruption vote on January 8, there were messages from Western leaders and op-eds in newspapers in London, New York, Toronto and Oslo welcoming the success of another "regime change" campaign to overthrow a leader who was hostile to the West and cuddling with the Chinese.

Aitken Spence December quarter net down 19.5%

Blue chip Aitken Spence PLC saw its net profit for the December quarter (3Q15) declining 19.5 percent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs.870 million, amid a fall at the top line level. The earnings per share deteriorated to Rs.2.14 from Rs.2.16. The firm's revenue during the quarter fell to Rs.9 billion from Rs.10.5 billion in the same quarter of the previous year. A drastic cut in expenses on raw material and other consumables used for operations,

Qatar Airways Announces “A World of Fabulous Fares” Global Sale

Qatar Airways has announced its latest global sale– A World of Fabulous Fares offering customers in Sri Lankaup to 35% savingson airfares to a variety of destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with wow.lk’s Selfie Competition and Special Offers

wow.lk, the premier e-commerce site in Sri Lanka invites you to join its one-of-a-kind celebration of Valentine’s Day. wow.lk will be conducting a fun selfie competition in the run-up to Valentine’s Day, giving customers the chance to win a one night full board stay including a romantic candlelight dinner at The Eden Resort and Spa operated by Browns Hotels & Resorts.  Additionally a variety of special offers and promotions w

Etihad Airways Organises Charity Visit To Sri Lanka To Support Global Education And Health Intiative

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has donated more than UAE dirhams 100,000 to underprivileged communities in Sri Lanka. A delegation from Etihad Airways visited Sri Lanka this week to present the donation, raised through a series of charitable initiatives in Abu Dhabi. 

New X-Trail from Nissan exceeds expectations

The latest offering from Nissan Sri Lanka was t he all-new X-Trail, launched at t he Colombo Motor Show 2014. The 2015 X-Trail has already garnered high demand, with several cars being delivered to lucky owners and many more orders for the new SUV already being placed.

British Car Day returns with Classic Car Club and Land Rover

The Classic Car Club of Ceylon and Land Rover will once again present ‘British Car Day’, an event, which showcases British cars and motorbikes from the 1930s all the way up through the years.

Good environmental management practices in hotel industry: Determinants and barriers

With the tourism sector in Sri Lanka recording remarkable growth in the recent past, it is imperative to ensure such growth is environmentally sustainable. In this regard, the accommodation should receive foremost attention given its expansions both in terms of investments in new hotels and refurbishments of existing hotels in the country.

Tax reform: Time to stop ‘Kicking the can down the road’

Tax matters don’t make for the most riveting of conversations. For most people ‘tax’ is t hat cumbersome thing that needs to be filed in time to avoid getting a ‘red notice’. Debates on tax issues in Sri Lanka rarely extend beyond the immediate days after Budget Speeches.

Motivation is an art that makes business profitable

One of the most valuable assets that any business has is its people. There should be highly qualified and motivated employees, so that employees are able to shape the future of the business, making it more profitable and competitive. The truth is that people work to live. If they could live sans working hard, they never work. It means that there is always something that really motivates employees to work hard. That is why, they are working so har

Nation building is an art, framework creating a science

It was King Solomon, the king of Israel, who onetime said, “Where there is no vision, people perish.”He was the third king of Israel, who built Israel to become a powerful nation with great prosperity. History records that many leaders from many countries visited him to learn from his wisdom and strategy.

Great men as leaders

“G reat leaders are God-gifted, not man-made.” This quote sums up the basic tenant of the Great Man theory of leadership – i.e. you are either a natural born leader or you are not.

S&T joins Hayleys to redefine interior fit-out market in Sri Lanka

Services & Trade Co. LLC (S&T) is a leading interior fitout and contracting company headquartered in Oman with operations across 14 countries.S&T has entered in to an exclusive joint venture agreement with t he Hayleys group to offer a complete range of interior fit-out contracting services in the Sri Lankan market.

Higher vehicle sales brightens Lanka Ashok Leyland’s 3Q

Lanka Ashok Leyland, unit of India’s Ashok Leyland saw its net profit surging to Rs.275.3 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2014 (3Q15) against a net loss of Rs.3.65 million, amid increased revenue from higher vehicle sales.The earnings per share for the quarter improved to Rs.76.04 from a loss per share of Rs.1.01.

Technology boost for social enterprises

A group of leading young experts from the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector have collaborated to create Saviman, a platform which would allow non-profit organizations and social enterprises to ask for technological solutions in using ICT to take their projects to new heights.

CIC Launches Optigard Gel Range – A Novel Solution to Combat Ants and Cockroaches

CIC Crop Solutions’ Lawn and Garden Division, a part of CIC Holdings PLC recently launched Optigard Gels, a consumer friendly pest control solution designed to exterminate ants and cockroaches. Optigard Ant Gel Bait and Optigard Cockroach Gel Bait from Syngenta are available in affordably priced 30g syringes at selected pest controllers. A resource line is available at the CIC head office for more information on both products. The gels act

Raja Bojun offers special Valentine buffet

‘Raja Bojun’ are the pioneers in making truly Sri Lankan authentic dishes that suit the palate of food lovers in the country and around the globe.Raja Bojun restaurant is at Liberty Arcade is a much convenient dining facility that caters the guest who would love to dine in serene environs with the feeling of ‘ stress free out-door dining within’.

’Beauty Central’ opens doors at Asiri Hospital

With a combination of leading consultants in cosmetology and dermatology providing first class aesthetics for discerning patients, ‘The Central Hospital’; the newest addition to the Asiri Group of hospitals, recently opened its doors to their new designated unit dedicated to cosmetic procedures.

Prima Stella brings ‘Champions’ Choice’ with Sanga

Continuing the partnership with Kumar Sangakkara, Prima Stella i nstant noodle offers youngsters a rare chance to be trained under t he expert guidance of the top cricket star.

Closeup brings smiles to lucky couples at bridal fair

All young couples look forward to their wedding day which is seen as the most important day in their lives.Couples visiting the Closeup boothAs a brand close to the young generation, Closeup believes that every wedding day is an occasion when smiles are plenty and every close encounter matters. These moments are to be cherished when captured into a memorable wedding photography album.