Mastercard Opens-Up Access to Blockchain API for Partner Banks and Merchants

Mastercard announced that it will be opening up access to its blockchain technology via its API published on Mastercard Developers. Mastercard’s blockchain solution provides a new way for 

World’s tallest model apartment makes way for Achilleion

Sri Lanka’s foremost real estate giant, Blue Mountain, has announced 2nd November 2017 as the last day for prospective customers to view the majestic model apartment at Achilleion to experience seven-star luxury at its best.

Advantis Engineering lauded for innovation at Construct 2017

Advantis Engineering bagged the ‘Most Innovative Stall’ Award at the National Construction Association of Sri Lanka’s (NCASL) Construct 2017 Awards ceremony held at Water’s Edge recently. The company received this award for the modular living vision of a ‘Smart Space’ that it showcased at the Construct 2017 exhibition in August this year.

Gampaha – The rising residential hub

According to the report dubbed ‘An Island of Retail Opportunity’ by the investment management firm Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), Gampaha is one of the upcoming retail hotspots in the country. Even though the city of Gampaha is the administrative capital of the region, the largest metropolis within the district, the city of Negombo, is also showing remarkable growth in its real estate sector thanks to its tourism value.

Prime Group awards Prime Grand construction contract to Maga Engineering

Prime Group, the leading Sri Lankan property giant, announced the awarding of the contract for construction of its iconic property Prime Grand, Ward Place to renowned construction entity Maga Engineering at a ceremony held at the Prime Grand Display Suite and Sales Gallery recently. Prior to the awarding of the contract, an extensive evaluation process was carried out by Prime G

Lanka Hospitals joins SLHA to mark World Heart Day

Lanka Hospitals Corporation PLC joined the ‘Heart Walk’ organized by Sri Lanka Heart Association (SLHA), held in commemoration of the World Heart Day which falls on 29th September, and the event is conducted annually in a bid to spread awareness on the importance of healthy living among the masses.

Ruhunu Hospital opens New Medical Centre in Baddegama

Ruhunu Hospital (Pvt.) Ltd is one of the leading private hospitals in Southern Province which offers quality healthcare services at affordable cost and in further expansion processes, it has opened a new medical centre at Baddegama in order to provide top-quality medical services to the people in the area.

Durdans Hospital encourages screening for breast cancer

The cancer incidence reports suggest that of all cancer types, Sri Lankan females are most susceptible to breast cancer.

DFCC’s Subsidiary SYNAPSYS bags silver award at NBQSA 2017

Synapsys, a subsidiary of DFCC Bank PLC, was bestowed with two prestigious awards at the 19th National Best Quality Software Awards (NBQSA) organized by the British Computer Society

China biotech’s ‘coming out party’ masks long road ahead

REUTERS: Investors are betting on China’s potential to feed the global pharmaceutical pipeline, putting a multi-billion-dollar price tag on a handful of stocks, even as the country struggles to close a huge R&D gap with the West.

UCSC and CSSL facilitate international Epihack project to fight dengue

  Epihack Sri Lanka is set to be a five-day event organized by Nanyang Technological University alongside University of Colombo School of Computing (UCSC) and Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL).

Clinically proven syrup to address cough and cold

Healing Herbs All Natural Cough Syrup, manufactured by Astron Ltd, is clinically proven to address seven signs of respiratory tract infections such as dry cough, productive cough, common cold, phlegm, sore throat, runny nose and nasal congestion.

CIM SL hosts 3rd Talking Point Programme reigniting conversation on brand relevance

The Chartered Institute of Marketing Sri Lanka (CIM SL) concluded its third Talking Point Programme under the thought-provoking topic ‘Is Branding Losing its Relevance?’ 

Biggest container vessel to enter South Asia calls Colombo

The biggest ever container vessel to call South Asia, MV Milan Maersk of the Maersk Line made her maiden call at the Port of Colombo.

Shippers Academy to discuss state of economy with CB Governor

Central Bank Chief Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy was recently recognised as the South Asian Central Bank Governor of the year, managing a tough economic situation faced by Sri Lanka.

Eagle Logistics celebrates 12th anniversary

4PL provider and supply chain integrator Eagle Logistics celebrated its 12th business anniversary last week with all religious activities at their corporate office in R.A. De Mel Mawatha Colombo 03.

Advantis Engineering Lauded for Innovative Smart Space Solution at Construct 2017

Advantis Engineering bagged the “Most Innovative Stall” Award at the National Construction Association of Sri Lanka’s (NCASL) Construct 2017 Awards ceremony held at Water’s Edge recently

Concessions to import labour must be thought through

National Human Resources Development Council of Sri Lanka (NHRDC) and International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka Chairman Dinesh Weerakkody points out that a key factor the success of Sri Lanka’s economic growth plan hinges on is its availability of skilled and employable workforce to support the growth. Weerakkody says people who understand the talent challenges must address this issue, rather than the people who have limited or no domain

Road to becoming a maritime hub - opportunities and challenges

Sri Lanka’s journey in becoming a maritime hub is put on the fast track with the signing of the Hambanthota port agreement and the expedition the Colombo Port Expansion project.

Softlogic Life partners Dialog to launch ‘Per Day Insurance’

Softlogic Life recently collaborated with Dialog Axiata PLC to launch an all new life insurance scheme under the name ‘Per Day Insurance’, which is available to all prepaid and postpaid Dialog customers. Softlogic marked its presence in the insurance business in 2012. Softlogic Life Insurance PLC has evolved into a leading insurance solutions provider at the forefront of the industry for over 17 years since inception. Dialog Axiata PL

Combank enables POS use in Sri Lanka for UnionPay cards

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has enabled point-of-sale (POS) usage for UnionPay cards, making it possible for cardholders of the world`s largest card base in circulation to pay for purchases at local retailers with these cards.

Amãna Bank named ‘Lead Banking Partner’ for IFFSA 2017

For the second consecutive year, Amãna Bank has come forward to sponsor the Islamic Finance Forum of South Asia (IFFSA) as its Lead Banking Partner. 

AIA Group’s new business climbs 20% helped by China, Hong Kong

REUTERS:  AIA Group Ltd, the world’s third-largest life insurer by market value, clocked a 20 percent increase in new business in the third quarter aided by strong sales in its main markets of China and Hong Kong.

NDB wins ‘Best Local Bank in South Asia for BRI’ at the Asiamoney Awards

NDB was crowned as Best Overall Local Bank in South Asia for BRI (Belt & Road Initiative) at the Asiamoney New Silk Road Finance Awards 2017. 

LB Finance gets nod to operate microfinance business in Myanmar

L B Finance PLC’s overseas foray has borne fruit with the company successfully securing a licence to run a microfinance business in the southern central part of Myanmar, which is slowly opening up after decades of military rule.

Govt. to bring in new Fiscal Liability Management Act to tackle debt problem

The government is fast-tracking new regulations for better liability (debt) management to service the country’s massive debt pile, under which the restructuring of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) take centre stage.  

‘Invest Sri Lanka’ at iconic Nasdaq MarketSite

Representatives of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) were recently hosted by Nasdaq at Nasdaq MarketSite –the commercial marketing presence of the Nasdaq stock market and the location for market bell ceremonies at New York’s Times Square. 

Dialog plans to set up country’s first digital bank next year

Dialog Axiata PLC is clearly upping its game in the financial technology (fintech) space following its majority stake purchase in Colombo Trust Finance PLC (CTF), as the telco plans to set up the country’s first digital bank by first quarter of next year (1Q18).

Watawala spins off tea biz; listing of new entity via introduction

Watawala Plantations PLC (WATA) has spun off its tea segment operations from its palm oil business—a move the holding company has been planning from the beginning of the financial year 2017/18.  WATA earlier said its operating assets and liabilities of upcountry tea business segment would be vested under newly formed entity, Hatton Plantations Limited.   

Govt. needs to grow a backbone: tea exporters

An increasing number of Sri Lankan tea exporters are setting up tea processing facilities outside Sri Lanka, as the government doesn’t have a “backbone” to implement its own policy of creating a tea hub in the country due to influence from protectionist lobbies, the country’s tea exporters said.