The female game changer in tech valley

Some women know the art of wearing their laurels well.For Weili Dai, as the only female co-founder of a cutting-edge semiconductor company, Marvell, the laurels never came easy but she knows how to wear them well. In fact, too well.

People challenges in mergers and acquisitions

The rapid change in the market place, due to globalization, growth in outsourcing, the need to speed up growth and the shortening of product cycles and the rapid pace of technological innovation, has forced companies to look to mergers and acquisitions (M&A) as a part of their business strategy, to meet their business goals.

Sri Lanka Tourism in 2013: The good, the bad and the ugly

The past year was certainly a ‘mixed bag’ for Sri Lanka tourism with possibly the ‘highs’ slightly outweighing the ‘lows’. A quick overview of the past year, albeit weighted towards the hotels sector, is as follows.

Access Engineering completes Eastern province bridge construction project

Post-war infrastructure development in the North and East involved the construction and rehabilitation of a number of bridges and culverts along various roads.

Ceylon Cold Stores profits swell 315%

Ceylon Cold Stores PLC profits improved by a drastic 315 percent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs.259.4 boosted by strong operating profits during the quarter ended December 31, 2013. The turnover increased by 8 percent YoY to Rs.6.30 billion while the cost of sales increased by a modest 6 percent YoY to Rs.5.48 billion, leading in turn to a gross profit of Rs.826.1 million, an increase of 24 percent YoY.

BoI nets Rotterdam-based IT company

ISM eCommerce recently signed an agreement with the Board of Investment (BoI) for setting up a project to develop software and provide business process outsourcing (BPO) services for the export market. The total value of this investment is US $ 3 million.

Customs for facilitating legitimate trade in Sri Lanka

January 26th was International Customs Day. The theme for this year is, “Communication: Sharing Information for Better Cooperation”. Trade facilitation measures are important means of achieving improved communication and.........

Havelock City Chairman S P Tao Donates New Temple Complex for Sama Vihara

The reconstructed Sama Vihara Complex fronting Havelock City Project was declared open by His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa amidst a distinguished gathering at a grand opening ceremony held recently. The temple was a gift from Havelock City’s Chairman, the visionary entrepreneur and leader, Mr. S P Tao.

Manager’s essential power-toolbox Taking firm grasp of diversified business firm

Product Portfolio Analysis (PPA) is a process where managers study the profitability of the various products and services a business offers. It is designed to help optimize the allocation of resources between those products and services.

Are you ready to face a growing stock market?

The Sri Lankan equity market experienced certain developments during the past few years and is currently poised for growth. The daily average turnover for the current year is Rs.1,132 million, while the net foreign inflow is Rs.826.6 million.

Growing business with CRM

If you’ve heard of customer relationship management (CRM) and wondered why it’s so important, it’s simple. No matter what business you’re in, unless your customers are happy you won’t succeed and this is why CRM is so important - more important than sales or marketing or any other part of the company that wouldn’t survive without customers.

Access for all – Samasource, one woman’s crusade to empower the powerless

Samasource. Kind of sounds familiar. Sama in Sanskrit and in Sinhala means ‘all’ and that’s exactly what Samasource founder, Leila Janah, is confident it will be - giving equal opportunities for all.....

CA Sri Lanka launches SME toolkit for 2014

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) officially launched its small and medium Enterprise (SME) toolkit for 2014 recently. The audit manual, which is targeted at Small and

Sri Lanka makes strong case for investments in Singapore

Following are excerpts of the panel discussion held as part of the ‘Invest Sri Lanka’ Investor Forum, that concluded in Singapore this week. Ferial Ashraff, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka...........

Growth rate: What it means and what it does not?

Growth rate figures  are often highlighted  in the  media  by Central Bankers and others  especially when they are  estimated at  say 6 to 7 per cent; Some say we are  experiencing  an economic  boom, while other say we are on the......

Achieving fiscal targets: Long procrastination will continue

Not even governments can perpetually spend more than they earn, without jeopardising the economy. Therefore, the fiscal targets of the present government – to systematically reduce the budget deficit over a......

Policy rates won’t change in next 3 to 6 months: Cabraal

Sri Lanka’s interest rates are at an appropriate level and the Central Bank probably will keep borrowing costs steady for the next three to six months if current conditions persist, Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal was quoted as saying to Bloomberg.

Condominiums: There are some unhappy buyers……

It is necessary for Condominium unit owners to actively participate in running the complex through the Condominium Management Corporation. You cannot buy a Condominium and feel that this is one way to have a peaceful life without getting involved in repairs and maintenance.

CB dismisses statistic manipulation charges

The Central Bank yesterday dismissed recent allegations of manipulating economic statistics by the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS), saying that such allegations are “unfounded and baseless.”

Havelock City Unveils a Spectacular Clubhouse

An architectural masterpiece spanning over 60,000 sq. ft. with luxurious star-class facilities where one will be spoilt for choice, is at the doorstep of every Havelock City resident at the newly opened clubhouse.

Malaysia’s RAM announces sale of RAM Ratings Lanka

RAM Holdings Berhad has divested RAM Ratings (Lanka) Ltd, its wholly-owned subsidiary in Sri Lanka. The acquisition was led by the management team from RAM Lanka comprising Mahinda Preethiraj Jayawardena and Adrian Perera.

Customers too expect standards

We may not be aware of them, but we use standards every day, in all aspects of our daily lives – in communications, education, healthcare, food, transport, construction, furniture, customer service and in many others.

Beyond borders: Growth challenges for emerging markets

A number of emerging market economies  have been on a rollercoaster since the U.S. Federal Reserve announced last May the eventual tapering of its asset purchase program.

SEC urges listed companies to appoint compliance officers

Sri Lanka’s capital market watchdog, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), urged all public listed companies to appoint an officer for the purpose of monitoring the particular company’s compliance with the SEC regulations.

FTA with China next boost for Lankan apparel sector: JAAF

Efforts to drive the Sri Lankan apparel sector into a new growth phase may hinge on the success of the potential free trade agreement (FTA) in the offing with China, according to Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) Secretary General Tuli Cooray.

CIFL depositors seek Presidential intervention

The depositors of distressed finance company Central Investment & Finance PLC (CIFL), who opposed the restructuring plan proposed by the Central Bank, yesterday requested a dialogue with President Mahinda Rajapaksa for relief.

CIFL depositors protest

The distressed depositors of Central Investments & Finance PLC (CIFL) yesterday staged a protest in front of the CIFL head office in Dharmapala Mawatha, demanding their moneys back

Can we really walk the talk?

Building a career has always been a tough calling. Whether for a man or woman, working towards a goal of success, with a strong dose of determination and courage, rarely comes easy

Economic outlook 2014 SL will show all characteristics of growth of small developing countries: Dr.

The Talking Economics editorial team interviewed Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) Executive Director Dr. Saman Kelegama to get his views on the outlook for 2014 for the global economy and for Sri Lanka. Excerpts …

Countries need to start investing in disaster readiness

The last three years will be remembered for deadly climate-related disasters, among them the great floods in Thailand in 2011, Hurricane Sandy in the United States in 2012 and Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines in 2013.