Total Govt. Debt increases by Rs.793bn in 2013

The total government debt increased to Rs.6793 billion in 2013 from Rs.6000 billion in 2012, according to the 2013 annual report of the Finance and Planning Ministry released yesterday.

Changing face of Sri Lanka tourism

There is no doubt that tourism in Sri Lanka is currently growing in leaps and bounds, with the cumulative arrivals up to April 2014 amounting to 534,132, which is an overall growth of 27 percent year-on-year (YoY). Hence, it is quite possible that the arrivals to the......

Rubber industry needs a production improvement plan

Many factors have been influencing the natural rubber (NR) industry in the past quarter of a century. Growth in population and the development of world economy have enhanced the demand for goods and services, including rubber products.

India Modified: Any lessons for Sri Lanka?

Narendra Modi’s dramatic victory has given him a resounding mandate to pursue his pro-growth/pro-business agenda. He campaigned unreservedly on a strongly developmental platform. The results indicate that the majority of Indians want higher growth, lower inflation and less corruption.

Foreigners confident and continue buying at Colombo bourse

Month to date, May 2014 has been rather encouraging for the Colombo bourse with the All Share Price Index (ASPI) gaining 57 points (or 0.9 percent) while recording a healthy average daily turnover of Rs.1.4 billion.

John Keells net profit down 3% in FY13/14

The net profit of the premier blue chip John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH) for the year ended March 13, 2014 (FY13/14) fell 3 percent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs.11.7 billion. Last year’s profits were boosted by Rs.2 billion fair value gain, which had declined to Rs.470 million in FY13/14.

Why companies must invest in leadership

Effective leaders in organisations bring together both individuals and organisations to solve customer and organisational problems. But, there is a difference between leaders and leadership. Leaders refer to individuals who have unique capabilities to guide the behaviour of....

March exports jump 28.6%; trade gap narrows 15.5%

Sri Lanka’s March trade deficit contracted 15.5 percent year-on-year (YoY) to US $ 602.2 million amid higher export earnings and moderate import expenditure, the latest data released by the Central Bank showed.

Sri Lankan tea players to benefit from world’s aging population: report

Sri Lanka’s tea sector players are likely to benefit from the new demand coming from the ageing population in the global market place, particularly from countries such as Japan, Europe and the US, according to a recent study by the Business and Information Division of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

March exports jump 28.6%; trade gap narrows 15.5%

Sri Lanka’s March trade deficit contracted 15.5 percent year-onyear (YoY) to US $ 602.2 million amid higher export earnings and moderate import expenditure, the latest data released by the Central Bank showed.

Starcom Worldwide continues to drive innovative media solutions

Starcom Worldwide Sri Lanka continues to drive excellence in media solutions in Sri Lanka with its executions of award-winning campaigns conceptualized by Leo Burnett Solutions Inc.

Credit dilemma: monetary and financial system stability in Sri Lanka

February 2014 marked five consecutive years of single-digit rates of inflation in Sri Lanka – supposedly the longest spell in the country’s post-independence history. Quite rightly, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) can take its share of......

Project management can be demystified with today’s techniques

Now that a solid project plan is done, the team can begin executing the project against their assigned tasks. This is the stage where everyone actually starts doing the work.

Stock-picking strategies

When it comes to personal finance and the accumulation of wealth, a few subjects are more talked about than stocks. It’s easy to understand why: playing the stock market is thrilling. But on this financial roller-coaster ride, we all want to experience the ups without the downs.

From a bloated public service to higher productivity and incomes for public servants

Since the mid-60s, the public service has been subject to a high degree of politicization under successive regimes. During the 70s and 80s, the public service cadre and recruitment procedures went through many changes primarily to serve the partisan objectives.

Guarantee on pawning loans credit positive for banks: Moody’s

Moody’s Investor Services said the credit guarantee scheme on pawning loans proposed by the Central Bank (CB) would have a positive impact on banks’ credit ratings.

Swiss firm plans steel shapes manufacturing plant in SL

Montanstahl AG, a Swiss-based stainless steel shapes manufacturer, is looking to establish a ‘green-field’ project in Sri Lanka, which will be a 100 percent export-oriented firm.

Mobitel Business Solutions launches Ultrasonic Fuel Sensor for the first time in Sri Lanka

Mobitel Business Solutions, a division of the National Mobile Service Provider, Mobitel Pvt Ltd, under its ‘mAutomotive’ initiative launches the Ultrasonic Fuel Sensor, a state-of-the-art technology that is expected to revolutionize the monitoring mechanism for fuel consumption of vehicles in the most reliable and efficient manner for the first time in Sri Lanka.

Swiss based firm to set up steel shapes manufacturing plant

Montanstahl AG, a Swiss based stainless steel shapes manufacturer is looking to establish a “green-field” project in Sri Lanka, which will be a 100-pct export oriented firm

amanté recognizes best dealers for 2013

Sri Lanka’s premium lingerie brand, amanté, recently awarded its top dealers amongst its 50 strong outlets island wide for their sales contribution to the brand.  The GLITZ/NOLIMIT chain was awarded the amanté Best Dealer for 2013, with two outlets with in the chain awarded first and third place in sales performance.

Natural rubber — Plans for the future

Natural rubber today accounts for something like a third of the world’s production of all rubbers and nearly 85 percent of the output comes from Southeast Asia. Technical and economic problems that have manifested themselves in the past in relation to production and marketing of.....

Socialist Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka - Is it socialist?

Presently there is a substantial discourse on whether the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is waning in its commitment to the institutions of democracy. This insight explores a different question, is it waning its commitments to social institutions?

Millennium IT bags FITIS Cricket Championship 2014

Millennium IT, a key player in the IT/BPO services in Sri Lanka won the championship trophy at the recently concluded FITIS cricket carnival 2014 held at P Sara grounds.

Getting a project done in time: Managing people, time and results

In any organisation, only two aspects of work exist—on-going operations and projects. The on-going operations constitute an organisation’s repetitive activities, such as accounting, marketing, HR, production, etc. The projects are the unique, temporary endeavours with each having a specific beginning and end.

Economically neglected Vanni ‑ Tamil Tigers’ main stronghold

There were a number of mistakes made by the previous governments  during the 30- year old civil war fought in the North of Sri Lanka form 1978 that  ended in  2009.This war was  aggravated after the July 1983 riots where a  large  number of Tamils from all walks of life were killed and maimed or........

55 words or 10 phrases customers rarely hear!

As a student of hospitality, I was constantly reminded that in a well-run hotel, the ‘manager must be present’, available and in evidence. He or she should be out on the floor greeting guests and putting a face on hotel operations whilst staying connected, committed and.....

Rs.172mn fraud at Sierra Cables

A fraud amounting to approximately Rs.172 million has been detected at Sierra Cables PLC, a unit of Sierra Holdings, the company informed the Colombo Stock Exchange yesterday

Rubber for latex and wood: a long-term option

It is unlikely that the rubber plantations, currently going through difficult times with profitability per hectare markedly eroded due to rapidly declining selling price of rubber and spiralling costs of production due to rising wages of tappers, will bounce back in the near future.

Faulty Towers the dining experience returns to Sri Lanka

This internationally successful homage to the BBC’s most popular sitcom returns to Mount Lavinia Hotel with Dialog being the platinum sponsor, following a sold-out debut season last year.

SG Holdings Global announces Rs.10.70 per share mandatory offer on Expolanka

SG Holdings Global Plc Ltd, the overseas arm of SG Holdings of Japan which bought 30 percent stake in Expolanka Holdings PLC in a Rs.6.2 billion deal last Friday, has made a mandatory offer to acquire remaining Expolanka shares at Rs.10.70 per share