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.

Is higher allocation of funds for education, a viable demand?

It is encouraging to learn, through various statements made by representatives of Federation of University Teachers Association (FUTA )  on their prolonged strike, that  university academics are keenly interested in getting themselves  involved in  various issues pertaining to the wellbeing of the  people of the country and designing policies to deal with them.

Government eServices project launched today

The launch of the Government eServices Project aimed at making public service efficient and people-friendly will take place today at 5.00 p.m.

“Tea hub” debate heats up; India shows concern over cheap tea re-export

An Indian Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce has expressed concern over the issue of re-exports of lower quality tea from India under the brand of Indian origin tea at a time where Sri Lanka’s own resurfaced debate on a ‘tea hub’.

THE MOST IMPORTANT MANAGEMENT SECRET: The Pygmalion Effect

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us — Oliver Wendell HolmesInterestingly enough, ancient Greek mythology creates an archetype for a present day social phenomenon with an artist named Pygmalion.

INVESTING: Asset allocation, diversification and rebalancing

Even if you are new to investing, you may already know some of the most fundamental principles of sound investing.How did you learn them? Through ordinary, real-life experiences that have nothing to do with the stock market. For example, have you ever noticed that street vendors often sell seemingly unrelated products

Munchee emerges ‘Best Employer Brand’ at CMO Awards

Munchee, the flagship brand of the Sri Lankan confectionery powerhouse, Ceylon Biscuits Limited was awarded the prestigious title, the ‘Best Employer...

Amana Bank - Lead Strategic Partner for IFN Roadshow Sri Lanka

The world renowned Islamic Finance News (IFN) Roadshow will hit the shores of Sri Lanka this September, bringing together the country’s Islamic Finance industry and its key regulatory stakeholders to one forum to discuss the issues, challenges and potential of the industry.

Harsha lashes out at inept SEC appointments

United National Party (UNP) MP and economist Dr. Harsha de Silva yesterday lashed out at the new Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman and Commissioner Priyantha Fernando, on grounds of conflict of interest.

Local footwear producers lobby for import duty increase

Local footwear manufacturers are calling for an import duty increase through the next budget, to safeguard the domestic industry.

Global palm oil boom raises conservation concerns

Palm oil was once touted as a social and environmental panacea — a sustainable food crop, a biofuel that could help to cut greenhouse-gas emissions and a route out of poverty for small-scale farmers.