Almost half of IT decision makers don’t consider cyber security as top priority: Fortinet survey

Fortinet, the global leader in high-performance cybersecurity solutions, recently announced the findings of its new Global Enterprise Security Survey. 

Finlays Tea Estates holds awards night

The annual awards night of Finlays Tea Estates was held recently at Jie Jie Beach Resort, Panadura. Finlays’ two plantation companies – Hapugastenne and Udapussellawa – were celebrating their 25th year since the incorporation in the year 1992. 

Time to take it down a notch

In his riposte to me by Rohan Fernando, former Chairman of the TEA, in Mirror Business on November 2, I’m gratified to see Fernando has moderated the TEA’s tone: no more talk of missing backbones and “inefficient protectionist elements”. 

Indonesia focuses on palm oil smallholders to raise output

REUTERS: Small palm plantations in Indonesia drew more attention than usual at the opening of the nation’s annual palm oil conference yesterday, as the world’s top palm oil producer seeks to boost overall output by improving smallholder productivity.

Maggi partners International Pepper Conference as part of commitment to use popular Sri Lankan spice

Maggi recently partnered the 45th International Pepper Conference as Silver Sponsor, as part of its commitment to use popular Sri Lankan spices in its products to naturally enhance flavour,

Mobitel Spearheads Drone Application Developer Community in Sri Lanka

Advancing the trend in drone application development in Sri Lanka, Mobitel is partnering Bhoomi-Tech (Pvt) Ltd, Browns Advanced technology (Pvt) Ltd, Center for Research and Development 

JKH to gain 100% control of Trans-ware Logistics

Blue chip John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH) will own 100 percent of Trans-ware Logistics, a company involved in renting of storage space, with the exit of its Singaporean and Malaysian shareholders, foreign news reports said.

Chemanex to exit export business

The CIC group subsidiary, Chemanex PLC, said on Tuesday it was ceasing its export business, as such operations have been deemed to be unviable.

Shares edge up on foreign buying

REUTERS: Sri Lankan shares edged up yesterday on foreign buying in market heavyweight John Keells Holdings while investors awaited for direction from September-quarter earnings and the national budget scheduled to be presented next week.

NTB announces Rs.3.2bn rights issue eying aggressive growth

Nations Trust Bank PLC (NTB) yesterday announced a rights issue of non-voting shares convertible into voting rights, as the lender plans for aggressive growth in assets, ahead of the need for higher capital requirements under the new BASEL III accord. 

Thilan Wijesinghe clarifies

This is a clarification to the article that appeared on the front page of Mirror Business yesterday, November 1, 2017, titled ‘Govt.’s PPP boss wants new set of regulations to facilitate investment’.   I wish to reiterate that there is no ‘shroud of secrecy’ in the formulation of new guidelines to govern public- private partnerships (PPPs), as implied in your report. 

NDB 3Q profit up on healthy growth in loans, margins

National Development Bank PLC (NDB) reported an after-tax profit of Rs.1.03 billion or Rs.6.13 a share for the July-September quarter (3Q17), which is an increase of 17.2 percent from the same period last year, the interim financial accounts showed.  

Rupee edges down for 3rd straight session

REUTERS: The Sri Lankan rupee ended slightly weaker for a third straight session yesterday on importer dollar buying, with the market expecting further depreciation in the currency on anticipated higher imports this month, dealers said.

Lower room inventory hurts JKH’s resort operations here and Maldives

John Keells Hotels PLC, which operates the John Keells group’s non-city resort hotels in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, saw its net profit for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 (2Q18) falling 71 percent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs.100.6 million, amid a top line slowdown due to lower room inventory. 

Seylan Pahasara 134th library gains ground

Seylan Pahasara 134th Library successfully developed and handed over to the students of Jinaraja Girls College of Gampola.

SriLankan Airlines rewards passenger survey winner

SriLankan Airlines, the national carrier and Oneworld member airline, held its monthly draw to select the lucky winner from those who provided feedback by taking part in the international  passenger survey.

FALIA holds alumni event in Sri Lanka

The Foundation for the Advancement of Life & Insurance Around the world (FALIA) Japan, recently hosted the alumni get together in Sri Lanka, at which the title of ‘Grandmaster’ was conferred on Ceylinco Life’s Managing Director R. Renganathan.

TBWA Sri Lanka ranked No.1 Creative Agency by Campaign Brief Asia

One of the premier creative power houses in the country, TBWA Sri Lanka has been ranked the number one Creative Agency in Sri Lanka by Campaign Brief Asia.

Kapruka.com and Grasshoppers to open export market for Lankan producers via Amazon

Doors are being opened for Sri Lankan producers to export to ‘Fulfillment by Amazon’ (FBA) centres in mature online markets such as the USA and UK.

Shraddha TV spearheads rebuilding of landslide affected school in Matara

Shraddha Media Network in partnership with the Maha Karuna Buddhist Society Malaysia, Theravada Buddhist Council Malaysia, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Disaster Management and Dialog Axiata PLC commenced the construction of a new building for landslide-affected Kalubovitiyana Maha Vidyalaya in the district of Matara.

TEA Rohan responds to Tea Board Rohan

Mirror Business received the following letter from former Tea Exporters’ Association (TEA) Chairman Rohan Fernando in response to the article titled ‘If government needs a backbone, TEA needs a brain’, authored by Sri Lanka Tea Board Chairman Rohan Pethiyagoda that appeared yesterday. 

Shangri-La Colombo partners with Trail to drive a fundraiser

Asia Pacific’s leading luxury hotel, resort and residential group Shangri-La joined in as a partner with Trail Sri Lanka last month to drive a fundraiser in USA, urging the Sri Lankan expats to contribute towards this year’s Trail initiative of building a cancer unit at Karapitiya Hospital.

NDB Wealth offers best returns for your family

Sometimes the smallest decisions can be the most rewarding ones. Such is the case with the NDB Wealth Family Share Builder account, an ideal alternative to fixed deposits with just a little more risk. 

Sampath Bank relocates Puttalam branch

Sampath Bank’s Puttalam branch, previously located at No. 114/A, Kurunegala Road, Puttalam is now relocated at No. 85/1, Kurunegala Road, Puttalam. 

JIT CSR practices recognized at Asia Pacific HRM Congress

Just In Time Group (JIT), a leading ICT Systems and Solutions company received the award for ‘Best CSR Practices’ in the ICT sector at the Asia Pacific HRM Congress Awards 2017 held in Bangalore, India recently.

Building a vibrant export-oriented vision for SL’s poultry industry

The rising popularity of chicken meat as a daily staple in most Sri Lankan diets has been well underway over recent decades with the country projected to consume as much as 189,690 metric tonnes (MT) of chicken, projecting an annual growth rate of 3 percent by end-2017. 

HNB General Takaful wins Gold at Islamic Finance Forum

HNB General Insurance Takaful, the Islamic Insurance unit of HNB General Insurance Limited (HNBGI), a fully owned subsidiary of HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA), received the Gold Award for ‘Takaful Window/Unit of the Year’ at the recently held Islamic Finance Forum of South Asia. 

Multilac spearheads ‘Lead Poisoning Prevention Week’ Campaign

Multilac, one of the leading paint brands in the country spearheaded a campaign called ‘Lead Poisoning Prevention Week’ recently to create awareness among public on the harmful aspects of lead exposure especially to the children.

Take the plunge, there’s never a perfect time: Reddy

Anjana Reddy named as one of the top 30 e-commerce and retail entrepreneurs in the Forbes’ 30 under 30 list for Asia 2017 is founder of Universal Sportsbiz Pvt Ltd (USPL), which owns the brands Collectabillia, Imara and Wrogn. She is a go-getter who works 18-hours a day, loves cars, cares for eight dogs and builds Lego sets to ease her mind after a hard day’s work. If one meets this 28-year-old on the street they would not be able to

Assetline Leasing opens branch in Kiribathgoda

Assetline Leasing Company Limited opened its new branch in Kiribathgoda, expanding the company’s island-wide presence to 49 branches and further strengthening its network in the Gampaha district. Situated in Makola Road, Kiribathgoda, the new branch is equipped with all facilities.