CB releases Rs.1000 note to mark 70th Independence

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has issued a circulation standard commemorative currency note in the denomination 

Tourist arrivals to Maldives up 20% in December

The Maldives welcomed 143,041 tourists in December 2017, which was a 19.7 percent increase compared to the corresponding month in 2016, with increasing numbers of tourists visiting from all major source markets in Europe and Asia.

First FDI tourism project in SL’s east coast launched

Pura Resorts Canada with Ideal Developments Canada this week announced the very first foreign direct investment (FDI) tourism project in Sri Lanka’s east coast, Pura Luxury Villas Resorts. It will feature incredibly luxurious chalets and villas on the east coast of the island along the pristine shores of Nilaveli beach, Trincomalee.

Iconic Galaxy says buyers need to home-in now before VAT effect

Is it a good time to buy a house? This is the perennial question on the minds of homebuyers.  But this question assumes significance as Sri Lanka moves to a new tax regime in relation to condominiums where a 15 percent  Value Added Tax on apartment purchases would come into effect from April 1. 

Ceylinco Life urges Sri Lankans to put ‘Children First, Education Next’

Ceylinco Life’s continuing emphasis on the importance of families spending quality time together has found new expression in the latest communication campaign launched by Sri Lanka’s life insurance market leader.

SilkAir to increase flight frequency to Colombo from March

SilkAir, the regional wing of Singapore Airlines (SIA), will be increasing flight frequency to Singapore to meet growing travel demand.

Emirates to launch non-stop Dubai-Newark service with daily flights

Emirates will introduce a new non-stop service between Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Dubai from June 1st 2018, adding to its existing daily flight which operates with a stop in Athens, Greece.

Gulf Air independently ranked third most punctual airline in 2017

Gulf Air, the Kingdom of Bahrain’s national carrier, has been independently ranked by UK aviation analysts OAG the third most punctual airline in 2017, amongst Middle East and African airlines, with an average on-time performance (OTP) of 80.22 percent.

Qatar Air to get first Airbus A350-1000 next month

AIRWISE: Qatar Airways will take delivery of the first production Airbus A350-1000 next month, after a delivery delay over the installation of the airline’s business class seats was resolved. The Doha-based airline is launch customer of the 366 seat A350-1000 and also its smaller sister, the 325 seat-900.

EasyJet CEO cuts pay to match predecessor in equality move

REUTERS: EasyJet’s new male chief executive has cut his annual salary to that of his female predecessor, citing the low-cost airline’s commitment to equal pay, the group said Monday.

Kuwait Airways revamp aircraft fleet and increase flights to Colombo

Since the inception of its operation in Colombo in 1972, Kuwait Airways has established and built up a reputation of being a progressive and ever-expanding airline; one of the most reliable airlines operating out of Colombo.

SIA to launch Melbourne-Wellington services and daily flights to Canberra

Singapore Airlines (SIA) recently announced that it will introduce a new service that will connect Singapore and Melbourne to New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington.

CA Sri Lanka educates Nepal’s chartered accountants on IFRS implementation

In its capacity as an influential accounting body, CA Sri Lanka continued to take the lead in educating member bodies in the South Asian region on the implementation of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). 

Sri Lanka gets AUD 31mn grant assistance to strengthen governance

Australia and Sri Lanka have signed a subsidiary arrangement for grant assistance to work together on strengthening governance in Sri Lanka, through a four-year programme valued at up to AUD31 million (Rs.3,850 million). 

Fitch rates DFCC’s Basel III sub-debt up to Rs.7bn ‘A+(lka)’

  Fitch Ratings has assigned DFCC Bank PLC’s Basel III-compliant subordinated unsecured debentures an expected national long-term rating of ‘A+(lka)(EXP)’, one notch below the bank’s National Long-Term Rating of ‘AA-(lka)’. 

StanChart forecasts slowdown in exports this year

As the temporary drivers that boosted global exports in 2017 are set to fade away, the world’s exporting nations, particularly in Asia, are unlikely to see the same export growth they witnessed in 2017, according to the Standard Chartered’s  global economic outlook report for 2018 titled ‘Beware of the dog’.

January consumer inflation eases to 5.8%

REUTERS: Sri Lanka’s consumer prices in January rose 5.8 percent from a year earlier, but eased from the previous month’s 7.1 percent, government data showed yesterday. 

Sri Lanka’s budget transparency improves in 2017

Sri Lanka improved its budget transparency last year compared to two years ago under the Open Budget Survey, although it ranked the second lowest among its South Asian peers, according to Verite Research (Pvt) Ltd.

25 Amana Takaful “Adhyapana” policyholders rewarded for their exceptional performance

A solid education is valued above all, in the present society.Education indeed defines an individual and opens up many

Hameedia encourages customers to dress better this new year

Hameedia, Sri Lanka’s leading menswear specialist, has launched its annual ‘Upgrade your Wardrobe’ initiative,

SLIM Holds Inauguration Ceremony for First CIM Intake of 2018

The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM), the renowned National Marketing body and premier Institute for Marketing education

Conde Nast Traveller includes Cantaloupe Levels in its coveted ‘Best Beach Breaks 2018’

One of southern Sri Lanka’s hippest boutique hotels, Cantaloupe Levels, has been anointed one of the ‘Best beach breaks for 2018’ 

Ciello Launches Gallery & Introduces Cutting-Edge European Technology

Ciello, a disruptive new start-up has entered the local market with the aim of changing the way spaces are created in Sri Lanka

Lankan economy should become globally competitive and integrated: NCC Chief

Following is the speech made by National Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka President Sujeeve Samaraweera, at the 59th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Colombo recently.

Lines of defense in risk management

Risk management in banks can be simple if every in house managerial pillar of the organizational structure does its job effectively and is sensitive to risk. 

NDB provides gift vouchers with ‘Ran Naya’ service

NDB’s ‘Ran Naya’ pawning service now offers customers gift vouchers for transactions ranging from Rs. 50,000 and above.

Harris retires; Rangamuwa appointed Pan Asia Bank Deputy Chairman

Harris Premaratne has retired from the board of Pan Asia Banking Corporation PLC as the Deputy Chairman with effect from January 28 on reaching 70 years of age as per the corporate governance rules of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

DFCC Bank opens full service branch in Nivithigala

DFCC Bank opened a new branch at Nivithigala recently, thereby growing their network to 138 fully-fledged branches across the country. 

NDB Wealth says to plan for financial independence this February

As Sri Lanka marks its 70th Independence Day, financial planner NDB Wealth is asking all Sri Lankans to take the first real step towards planning for their own financial independence. 

SDB Batticaloa branch shifted to new location

Batticaloa branch of the SDB bank relocated to its new premises on 22ndJanuary.