Can Sri Lanka follow India’s Natural Rubber story?

Is Sri Lanka satisfied with the award-winning NR productivity of about 1250 kg/ha? Although the national productivity in 2011 had been 1558 kg/ha, research yields much higher than this and the Indian national yield is 1835kg/ha. Are we not interested in boosting our productivity by year 2021 (10 years) to 2000 kg/ha?

Largest-ever pharma delegation arriving today

Pharmexcil, India’s powerful promoter of $10 billion pharmaceutical exports, will lead the special Indian pharma delegation arriving in Colombo this morning.

SLIM ties up with Indian School of Business

The Indian School of Business (ISB) and Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Colombo, to facilitate professional training in Sri Lanka.

Greening jobs in Sri Lanka: Getting things started

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) defines the concept of green jobs as encompassing two basic elements. The first involves, “averting dangerous and potentially unmanageable climate change and protecting the natural environment which supports life on earth.” 

SLT posts Rs.3.3bn operating profits in 1H

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), the pioneer telecommunication services provider in Sri Lanka, released its group and company financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2012, recording a Rs.3.36 billion group operating profit, a growth of 15% year-on-year (YoY)

SEC Chief says under “immense pressure to resign”

The head of Sri Lanka’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) yesterday said he was coming under immense pressure to resign on false accusations by some investors under investigation for “pump - and - dump” deals.

Clothing giant pulls out from SL

International trade unions warned that Sri Lanka should correct serious violations of codes of conduct after the global clothing giant J Crew pulled out its future orders from the local suppliers.

Tourists need Lankan skies to be safe

Come December 2012, there is a centenary celebration of a little known event that set off a stellar trail of aviation in Sri Lanka. The old Race Course was the venue; limited records indicate that a German aviator did the maiden flight in our paradise isle.

Hambantota Port heralds Aegean Highway of K Line

K Line, the pioneer in maritime transportation of cars has further strengthened its confidence in the Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port (MRMRP) in Hambantota with the maiden call of its RO/RO carrier MV ‘Aegean Highway’ yesterday. This vessel previously deployed on Australian – Europe – USA sector has now been engaged on Persian Gulf service with effect from July 28 this year

History repeats; Tilak to quit SEC?

In spite of the commendation the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chief Tilak Karunaratne received from the Committee of Public Enterprises (COPE) last week for ‘excellent performance’, the regulator is believed to be under extreme pressure, which may eventually lead to his stepping down, Mirror Business reliably learns.

Sri Lanka should explore alternative financing models - Howells

The Sri Lankan government needs to explore alternative models of financing in order to sustain its infrastructure development drive according to visiting Director, Global Infrastructure and Project Finance of Fitch Ratings New York, Cynthia Howells.

360 Degree Feedback: The good, the bad, and the ugly

Want to make your team members really unhappy? Care to create uproar in your organization that rivals in ferocity any change you’ve ever introduced in your history? Want to stir up all of the dormant fireballs hidden just below the surface in your organization?

Important tips to become a successful stock investor

The thought of investing in the stock market may seem a little frightening at first, especially for those who have never done so. Wading into any uncharted territory is scary, but armed with knowledge and guidance, the stock market is not so difficult to navigate and shares should form an integral part

Unilever Sri Lanka wins Gold at HRM Awards 2012

Unilever Sri Lanka demonstrated its commitment to its employees, emerging one of ten Gold Award winners at the recently concluded HRM Awards organized by the Association of Human Resource Professionals, in collaboration with AonHewitt.

WP’S contribution to GDP marginally drops

The total share of t he Western Provinces’ contribution to Sri Lanka’s gross domestic product ( GDP) lowered slightly from 44.8% in 2010 to 44.4% last year, while the Northern Province emerged as the top GDP performer, the latest statistics from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka showed.

Amex offers 20% savings at Abans showrooms

American Express is offering Cardmembers super savings at all Abans showrooms from 3rd August to 31st October 2012. Simply use your American Express card and receive a 20% savings on a variety of products.

Higher education should be open more to pvt.sector – Prof. Samarajiva

While the government should not pull out from its commitment to the primary and secondary education sector, more opportunities should be granted for the private sector at higher education level, said former Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Director General Professor Rohan Samarajiva.

Proprietary software made more accessible

The revolution will be a quiet one, it will certainly be gradual, yet inevitable!  It will first happen in our office, beginning with what would be a steady...

Lessons businesses can learn from swimmer Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps didn’t merely win medals; he rewrote swimming – and Olympic history at the London Olympics, emerging the most decorated Olympian...

Aviva NDB Only Insurer Among ‘Super 10’ Gold Winners at HRM Awards

AVIVA NDB Insurance was among the “Super 10” Gold Winners at the prestigious HRM Awards held recently.  AVIVA NDB was the only insurer to win the coveted award.

People’s Leasing delays US$ 150mn dollar bond issue

People’s Leasing Company PLC ( PLC), Sri Lanka’s largest lease financier and a unit of state-run People’s Bank (PB), has temporarily put on hold plans to raise USD 150 million from a Euro dollar bond issue.

T-bill yields up

Treasury bill yields rose at yesterday’s auction held to reissue Rs.18 billion maturing bills, the Public Debt Department of the Central Bank said.

Airtel Lanka relocates corporate office to WTC

Bharti Airtel, a leading global telecommunications company with operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa, announced that the corporate office of Airtel Lanka would gain a new identity through its relocation to the spacious corporate hub of Colombo, the World Trade Centre (WTC).

SriLankan Airlines wins HRM Awards 2012

SriLankan Airlines demonstrated its high level of professionalism in human resource management and development when it won a Silver award in the Government-Owned Business category at the recently concluded National HRM Awards 2012, organised by the Organisation

Smart Media felicitates award winning clients

On the theme ‘Taking the Business of Annual Reporting International’, Smart Media - The Annual Report Company held a ceremony to felicitate and recognise its Sri Lankan and international clients who had won awards at the League of American Communications Professionals (LACP) Vision

Brandix Group wins Gold at National HRM Awards

Commitment to excellence in Human Resource Management has won the Brandix Group a Gold award at the 2012 HRM Awards presented by the Association of Human Resource Professionals in partnership with Aon Hewitt, the largest human resource consulting group in the world.

SEC Chief insists on independence at COPE

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Tilak Karunarante had insisted on independence when SEC appeared before the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) yesterday, Mirror Business learns.

Sri Lanka building platform for faster growth - Cabraal

Sri Lanka’s efforts to narrow its trade deficit and contain inflation will place the island on a platform for faster economic growth, Ajith Nivard Cabraal, governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka said yesterday.

What will South Asia look like in 2025?

South Asia is among the fastest growing regions in the world, but it is also home to the largest concentration of people living in conditions of debilitating poverty, human misery, gender disparities, and conflict. In my book, Reshaping Tomorrow, I ask if South Asia is Ready for the Big Leap.

India agrees on fair play, aims to double bilateral trade

India is committed to provide special preferential treatment for Sri Lanka ‘without seeking any reciprocity,’ a high ranking Indian politician has told a forum held in Colombo.