CB keeps policy rates unchanged

The Monetary Board of the Central Bank yesterday decided to keep the key policy rates unchanged amidst decelerating credit and import growth.

Lanka sells US $ 121mn in 3-year bonds

The latest issues of Sri Lanka Development Bonds were oversubscribed by 2 times with a total bid of US $ 121.05 million being received.

Emerging tourism trends

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) undertook an Airport survey of Departing Foreign Tourists from Sri Lanka from January to June 2011 and the results were published last week.

Maliban Lemon Puff re-launched with a new look and refined taste

Maliban Biscuit Manufactories (Pvt) Ltd. re-launched one of their most popular and sought after brands 'Lemon Puff' that has been a favourite biscuit among Sri Lankan youth for more than 40 years.

Workplace harmony: Key to enhanced performance

The employees of any workplace establish a kind of relationship among each other that keeps a diplomatic approach but usually does not go beyond personal level.  Since everyone has to work towards a common goal, the departments too are interrelated in their functions.

Stockbrokers say ‘No Problems Sir!’

The appointment of Dr.Nalaka Godahewa as the Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman seems to have been able to cast out all the grievances the stockbrokers have had, even perhaps to the utter surprise of Godahewa himself.

Sri Lanka’s Q2 GDP growth seen at 6.7%: 6.6% for 2012

Sri Lanka’s economic growth in the second quarter of this year likely expanded by 6.7 percent year-on-year, slowing from 8.2 percent a year earlier, a Reuters median forecast of 10 analysts showed ahead of the official data release on recently.

Seylan totally service-oriented: Kapila Ariyaratne

Seylan Bank recorded an impressive 1 H performance with a Profit after Tax of Rs 1.021 billion for the 6 months ended 30 June 2012.  This is a strong testament and proves beyond doubt that the strategies adopted and operational improvements are yielding the desired results.

From start up to growth stage – nurturing a business into expansion

For most women-owned (or otherwise) small businesses, the startup phase is often considered the most critical. Yet, as most have found later on, the critical phase actually commences when the business enters the phase of growth. The growth stage can be challenging, even though the startup...

Manipulation to make CSE best performing market soon - Harsha

Market manipulation would make the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) the number one performing stock market in the world soon, UNP National List MP Dr. Harsha De Silva said yesterday.

Maliban Lemon Puff relaunched; BNS Brand Ambassadors

Maliban Biscuit Manufactories (Pvt.) Ltd. recently announced the relaunch of one of its flagship brands, Maliban Lemon Puff. Bathiya Jayakody and Santhush...

Imports shrink; trade gap narrows

Sri Lanka's export earnings in the month of July fell 17.4 percent year-on-year to US$ 794.4 million, while expenditure on imports also fell 24.9 percent YoY to US$ 1.3 billion. The trade gap also narrowed 33.8 percent YoY to US$ 534.6 million, the lowest level recorded in 17 months.

From worst to near best: What has really changed?

The statistics by Bloomberg yesterday showed that the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) had become the third best performing market in the world during the period from August 10, 2012 to September 10, 2012.

Are patients free to select ‘best’ specialists in town?

The recently debated burning question as to whether foreign medical specialists have a right to work in the private hospitals in Sri Lanka leaves an open-ended question.

Vehicle registration plunges in June

 Three-wheeler registrations dropped sharply from 13,753 registrations recorded last year to 4,340, while motor cycles decreased by 46.3% to 12,181.

Tokyo bourse invites Lankan corporates to list

The Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE), which is the third largest equity/stock market in the world, with a total market capitalization of US$ 3.3 trillion, has expressed interest to have Sri Lankan listed corporates in the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) to be listed in the TSE as Japanese Depository Receipts (JDRs), stated Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Japan, Admiral (Rtd.) Wasantha Karannagoda.

Rupee to steady at 130-132: Report

The Sri Lankan rupee (SLR) will stabilize at Rs.130-132 against the US dollar by the end of 2012, depreciating 16 percent year-on-year (YoY) and is likely to depreciate from 2 to 3 percent in 2013, a recent report by a local stockbrokerage said.

Bourse up for 10th session in a row

Sri Lankan stocks extended gains for a 10th straight session yesterday, jumping 1.73 percent to a seven-month high in strong volume led by blue chips.

Electricity and petroleum sector reforms: Let consumer be the king

In the past two years, rarely has a week passed without a news item which highlighted the losses, poor quality of products and services, inefficiencies and possibly corruption in the electricity and petroleum sectors.

Mission statement: Pie in the sky or bread on the table?

From the many discussions with various executives, I found we share a common curiosity of the many lofty mission statements which many companies are known to have come up with.

Selecting stocks: Which is better, fundamental analysis or technical analysis?

When you are making an attempt to analyze securities and make investment decisions, the strategies you use will most likely find themselves in two very broad categories:

Outgoing TEA Chief makes final call for ‘tea hub’

Outgoing Chairman of the Tea Exporters Association (TEA), Niraj De Mel, made a final appeal to tea industry stakeholders and policy makers, in defense of the ‘tea hub’ concept, at the recently concluded TEA Annual General Meeting.

Sri Lanka drought may cut growth to 6.7%- Jayasundera

Sri Lanka’s economic growth this year may range between 6.7 percent and 7.2 percent depending on the impact of a drought that has lasted since the beginning of t he year, Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundera said.

Tax rates & regulations, inflation, corruption impeding Lanka's biz growth - GCR

Tax rates have been identified as the most problematic factor for doing business in Sri Lanka with tax regulations following closely, the findings of the latest Global Competitiveness Report (GCR) by World Economic Forum showed.

Cement shortage looming?

Sri Lanka’s construction sector is likely to experience a cement shortage in the near future, with certain cement importers and dealers trying to hoard cement in the wake of a possible price hike, Mirror Business learns.

Emirates, Qantas enter global aviation partnership

Emirates and Qantas yesterday announced a new global aviation partnership that will give customers a seamless international and Australian network...

Mindshare team wins Sri Lankan media Young Spikes

Out of the 14 teams that vied for the right to represent Sri Lanka at the Young Spikes competitions to be held in Singapore this year Tharanga Rathnasekara and Champika Anuradha from Mindshare will represent Sri Lanka as the winners of the local media competition

Uncertainty in Sri Lankan tea business continues

Global tea prices are set to stay strong through 2012, with demand driven by growth in Asia, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

TISL urges govt. to resolve crisis at SEC

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) yesterday called upon the government to take necessary actions to resolve the present situation at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in a manner that will not negatively impact on market confidence.

Colombo Dockyard strengthens services for offshore vessels

Colombo was the automatic choice of Global Offshore Services Ltd. India, for their conversion / repair requirements to ready the offshore support vessel (OSV). Shergar, to meet with the stringent Petobras charter requirements. This project was awarded to Colombo Dockyard as a result of successful completion of OSV. Kailash also owned by the same owners during June 2011.