Hotels Association of Sri Lanka condemns recent spate of violence in the country

As one of the biggest beneficiaries of peace returning to the country in 2009, the President of the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka, Sanath Ukwatte stressed the importance of unity among all communities for Sri Lanka to 

Merkel, Macron consider key eurozone reforms

AFP: Shocked by Brexit, the European Union has made reform a top priority, spurred on by the energetic French President Emmanuel Macron who wants big changes especially for the euro, the bloc’s single currency.

Stocks recover as investors buy select blue chips

REUTERS: Sri Lankan shares rose marginally yesterday, recovering from a one-and-a-half-month closing low hit in the previous session, as investors bought select blue chips in low volumes while lower economic growth weighed on the market. 

Indonesia wants Australia as full ASEAN member

AFP: Indonesian President Joko Widodo wants Australia to become a full member of ASEAN, signalling yesterday he is keen on Canberra playing a bigger regional role in trade and defence matters.

Symposium on improving biz climate

Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade organized a symposium on ‘Initiatives to improve the business climate in Sri Lanka’ at Hotel Taj Samudra yesterday. Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama and State Minister for National Policies and Economic Affairs Harsha de Silva also addressed the gathering. This was followed by the presentations on ‘Current reform activities

Asian markets mixed after week of fluctuations

Asian investors remained on edge yesterday as the curtain came down on another volatile week for markets with fears of a global trade war playing off against a positive economic outlook.

EU readies tax on US tech titans

AFP: The European Union will next week unveil plans for a digital tax on US tech giants like Facebook, Amazon and Google as transatlantic tensions flare over prospects of a trade war.

Rupee hits new low on importer dollar demand

REUTERS: The Sri Lankan rupee hit an all-time low for a second straight session yesterday due to importer dollar demand, but ended steady as exporters sold the U.S. currency in late trade, dealers said. 

Hong Kong’s richest man Li Ka-shing to retire

AFP: Hong Kong’s richest man Li Ka-shing announced yesterday he was stepping down as chairman of his flagship company CK Hutchison, marking the end of an era for one of the world’s most storied tycoons.

SL’s largest independent power producer calls for depoliticisation of govt. tender procedures

LTL Holdings, which claimed to have submitted the lowest bid of US $ 160 million for the construction of 300MW liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plant in Kerawalapitiya, this week urged the authorities to think of the national interest when going ahead with the tender procedures. 

HNB says troubles in agri, tourism, construction sectors slowed loan growth

Hatton National Bank PLC (HNB), Sri Lanka’s second largest private lender by assets, is hoping to be more aggressive in 2018, after a challenging environment for the key agriculture, tourism and construction sectors held back higher lending, the top management said this week.

New rules restricting fag sales rattle tobacco retailers

The Tobacco Retailers’ Association yesterday voiced opposition against the government’s intentions to ban the sale of cigarettes at outlets within 100 metres of schools and places of religious worship, since such a move would drive most eateries and shops out of business.

Control of payment gateways by a few said to be trapping Lankan e-commerce surge

The control of payment gateways by a handful of large banks and financial institutions is trapping the e-commerce revolution from taking off in Sri Lanka, a Canadian e-commerce expert was quoted as saying in a communiqué issued by the Industry and Commerce Ministry.

New rule to make rating mandatory for private debt issuances

The private debt issuances in Sri Lanka, which have thus far been spared from the regulatory purview, will soon come under the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) oversight, as they will be required to obtain a credit rating before they raise any kind of debt, even if such instruments are not listed on the Colombo bourse.

Govt. invites Japan to develop own industrial zone in Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankan government this week invited Japanese investors to set up export-oriented industries in the upcoming industrial zones and offered Japan the opportunity to develop its own industrial zone in Sri Lanka.

Terminal operators at Colombo port ink pact to operate as one unit

A historic tripartite agreement was entered into yesterday by the three main terminal operators at the Port of Colombo to operate as one unit to further smoothen the activities at Sri Lanka’s main port.

NSB records highest ever pre-tax profit in its history

The financial year 2017 proved to be a remarkable year for state-owned National Savings Bank (NSB) as the banking giant recorded profit before tax (PBT) of Rs.14 billion, the highest ever in its history. Profit after tax (PAT) kept abreast at Rs.9.6 billion. 

Credit growth to surge beyond Central Bank’s expectation if agriculture sector picks up

Private credit growth may exceed the Central Bank projections of 13.5 percent for 2018 by a significant margin if the agriculture sector recovers this year, according to Hatton National Bank PLC (HNB), Sri Lanka’s second largest private lender by assets.

Exporters want decisive action taken against hate-mongers

The National Chamber of Exporters (NCE) yesterday called on the government to take decisive action against the perpetrators of the recent civil unrest in order to send a strong message to the world that there will be no room for similar situations in the future.

TRACE urges government to reconsider social media ban

TRACE, an organisation committed to promoting technology and innovation in Sri Lanka, yesterday urged the government to reconsider the current ban of social media.

Beginning of end for Sri Lanka’s coalition government

The results of Sri Lanka’s local government elections held on February 10, 2018 are causing unexpected political turmoil in the country. The resounding electoral performance of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s newly-formed party, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), is aggravating the already significant rift between the ruling coalition leaders President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. The future of t

A weary public and economy awaits political salvation

Looking back over its past three years in management, common belief holds that the government needs to get its priorities right. The unfortunate events of Kandy and its enduring aftermath are a culmination of mismanagement of affairs by the powers that be and it is safe to say the incumbents will leave behind a legacy of scant interest on any front.

DHL Express offers innovative delivery options in Sri Lanka

DHL Express, the world’s leading international express services provider, announced the launch of a new innovative DHL Locker. This is part of its global On Demand Delivery service offering, providing customers with an innovative and convenient option to pick up their online shopping packages.

Dialog-Samsung announce pre-order for Galaxy S9 & S9 Plus

Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s premier connectivity provider and the exclusive partner network for Samsung in Sri Lanka, announced the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus along with pre-order facilities. 

It’s time to ‘Press For Progress’ for Sri Lanka’s women

The International Women’s Day is always an important marker in my calendar and this year’s theme ‘Press For Progress’ couldn’t be more exciting.

Maldives Education & Career Exhibition to kick off on March 29 in Male´

The Maldives International Education and Career Expo will be held for three consecutive days on March 29, 30, and 31, 2018, in Male´. 

IPM successfully completes 4th Certified HR Auditor Programme

IPM Sri Lanka – the nation’s leader in human resource management, conducted its popular IPM Certified HR Auditor Programme in collaboration with TV Rao Learning Systems (TVRLS), India recently at OZO Hotel in Colombo.

Finlays enters JV with JKH to develop Vauxhall Street land

Finlays Colombo Limited has entered into a joint venture agreement with two wholly-owned subsidiaries of the John Keells group for the development of its land at 186, Vauxhall Street. 

NDB eyes systemically important private bank status by 2020

Armed with a new strategic plan, National Development Bank PLC’s (NDB) new Director/CEO Dimantha Seneviratne says he and his team are ready to take the bank to the next level and transform NDB to one of the systemically important private sector banks by 2020. Before joining NDB, Seneviratne was Director/CEO at Pan Asia Banking Corporation PLC (PABC). He was instrumental in turning around PABC and transforming it into a high-performing mid-s

New accounting standard on loan-loss provisions to dent bank profits

Sri Lanka’s banks are expected to face a yet another challenge, this time from a new accounting standard, which came into effect on January 1, 2018.  The new International Financial Reporting Standard 9 issued on financial instruments will increase the provisions against the possible loan losses and compress margins exerting pressure on the bottom line and thereby the regulatory capital, the banks said.