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.

Many mergers & acquisitions ultimately don’t add any value: Prof. Ulrich

Professor Dave Ulrich, the global HR Guru explains in an interview why so many corporate combinations that looked like such great opportunities and so good on paper often do not materialize or fall far short of expectations.

Dale Mortensen and real crisis of unemployment

The economics profession lost a prominent labour economist this past weekend – Prof. Dale Mortensen, a 2010 Nobel Laureate. When I heard of his passing-away, it took me back to June last year in the little lake-side town of Iseo, in Northern Italy, where I was fortunate to have heard one of his last international lectures.

Foundation laid; time for other stakeholders to deliver: Godahewa

Dr.Nalaka Godahewa, Chairman of the Securities and Exchange recently shared his thoughts with the Mirror Business about the year that ended and his expectations for the country’s capital market for the New Year. The following are excerpts.

Manager’s essential power-toolbox Is diversification the right strategy for your business?

Companies diversify for a host of reasons. In some cases, it’s a survival strategy. For instance, if your company makes the bulk of its sales at a particular time of year, it makes sense to consider diversification.

Is your dream just a dream or a workable reality?

Everyone dreams of that dream career or that dream-turned reality start up but it seems that for most, it stays what it was at the beginning – just a dream. Some of us have these fantasies, these visions about leaving the........

Urgent need for e-waste management in Sri Lanka

With the rapid developments in technology and the growing demand for new products, the production and consumption of more ‘electronic and electrical equipment’ (EEE) has significantly increased around the world.

Developments in rubber diseases management

Most of the major diseases of Hevea brasiliensis are of worldwide distribution (with the notable exception of South American leaf blight, against which strict quarantine regulations are enforced by rubber-growing countries outside the........

Igniting customer service with a spark

One morning on the way home after my regular walk at the park, I stopped as I regularly do, at the nearest branch of a supermarket chain, endorsed by a ‘celebrity’ of cricketing fame and his wife

Tourist arrivals top 1.2mn for 2013 after data validation

Sri Lanka Tourism yesterday said it had topped the arrival target of 1.2 million tourists set for 2013, after it adopted a new method of calculation.

Sri Lanka to change inflation index to cover whole nation

Sri Lanka will change its inflation index to change the basket of items and broaden coverage to the whole nation rather than just the capital city, the state-run statistics office said yesterday

Sri Lanka’s trade liberalisation: What you see is NOT what you get

Sri Lanka’s 2014 Budget claims a continuous commitment by the government to maintain a liberal, consistent and simple trade regime. The budget speech puts it this way: “A four band tariff structure presently in place is further consolidated aligned with simplicity to facilitate production and trade.”

SL’s remittance inflow to moderate with fresh demand for services sector

Sri Lanka expects a moderation in the growth of remittance inflows in the future, owing to structural changes that are expected to take place in the economy.

Pak’s latest GSP with EU, opportunity for Sri Lankan exporters: Qureshi

Sri Lanka’s second largest trade partner in SAARC is looking for more Lankan exports in the coming year, while also eyeing Sri Lanka’s sugar sector entry,

Latest bond issue mirrors investor confidence: CB

The relatively low rate at which Sri Lanka sold its latest US $ 1 billion bond issue reflects the confidence international investors have placed in the sovereign bond issuances of Sri Lanka, the Central Bank said yesterday.

Sri Lanka begins sale of 5-year sovereign bond

Sri Lanka yesterday commenced the sale of her sixth international sovereign bond. International rating agencies Fitch, Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s rated the bond at ‘BB-(EXP)’, ‘B+’ and ‘(P)B1’, respectively, in line with their respective sovereign credit ratings assigned to the country.

Your taxes, your enterprises and the politician

Universally, parliaments are tasked with the role of making laws, approving taxation, and holding the executive arm of government accountable. That accountability extends to the performance of Public Enterprises that are often funded by or enjoy the patronage of,   the government.

Manager’s essential power-toolbox Organisational culture could be changed if only leadership agrees

Competing Values Framework (CVF), which we discussed last week, has been applied to a host of situations where organisational culture is a critical ingredient – leadership, management development and strategy implementation. But it is first and foremost known as ‘culture change’ tool.

Unravelling stock market jargon

The year 2013 has brought promising returns to individuals who invested in the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE). The impressive growth in the market might encourage further investment.

Overseas Realty receives accolade for energy efficiency

Striving for eco-friendly spaces Overseas Realty – owner, developer, manager of the most iconic building in Sri Lanka, the World Trade Center, Colombo (WTC) was recognized as the most energy efficient building under large scale commercial buildings sector at the Sri Lanka National Energy Efficiency Awards 2013 held at the BMICH.

Brokers seek permission to close shop temporarily

Several struggling stock brokers have written to the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) requesting permission to temporarily halt their operations mainly due to low activity levels in the bourse, Mirror Business learns.

Brokers seek permission to close shop temporarily

Several struggling stock brokers have written to the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) requesting permission to temporarily halt their operations mainly due to low activity levels in the bourse, Mirror Business learns.

India Infoline to exit Lankan stock broking venture

Nearly two and a half years into setting up of a stock broking arm in Sri Lanka, India’s diversified financial services group, India Infoline Limited (IIFL) is to sell its entire stake to exit the Lankan operations, according to a top company executive.

Central Bank cuts lending rates by 50bps

The Central Bank yesterday compressed the policy rate corridor to 150 basis points (bps) from the current 200 points, by cutting the rate for the lending of overnight funds to the banking system by 50 basis points, claming “volatility in the interbank call money market has reduced substantially.”

New foreign banks entering market should incorporate business locally: CB

New foreign entrants to Sri Lanka’s banking sector will be required to incorporate their businesses locally commencing from 2016, according to Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Governor, Ajith Nivard Cabraal.

Has your idea come of age in 2014?

Another year dawns - as always, 2014 gives us the opportunity to look at the world with fresh perspectives. It will offer many new challenges along with new opportunities but just how will you make use of those opportunities?

Changes to Condo Act will offer greater protection for residents Condominium concept should not be o

When this concept is oversimplified so much, a distorted impression of it can be given to the buyers. This will be disastrous to condominium owners and to the industry in general.

Five trends that will shape IT decisions in 2014

What’s the next big IT trend? Customers want to know how they can leverage these trends, as well as how they can address any challenges. These trends, including the explosion of data,

SEC mulls ‘independent opinion’ on offer price for future IPOs

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has carried out a study to assess the possibility of mandating the justification of the ‘fairness of the Initial Public Offering (IPO) offer price’ by an independent and competent party, an year-end review by the SEC noted.