My friend foundation launches “English for All” program that encourages the learning of English Lang

My Friend Foundation, an organization focused on improving the lives of children in underprivileged schools, launched an innovative programme named ‘English for All’ on September 25, 2017.

Serendib Flour Mills celebrates World Children’s Day with students of CEHIC

As part of its ongoing CSR efforts, Serendib Flour Mills (SFML) recently renovated the bus belonging to the Centre for the Education of Hearing Impaired Children (CEHIC) in Kelaniya in commemoration 

Most Sri Lankans restrict themselves from following their dreams as early as the age of 30-40years

To help Sri Lankan adults live their lives to the fullest, Fonterra Brands Sri Lanka, the company behind Anchor, has launched another country first with its latest dairy innovation focused on heart health.

Achieving 4mn tourist arrivals by 2020 difficult without proper connectivity: Dhammika

Vallibel Group Chairman Dhammika Perera spoke this week at the Tourism Leaders’Summit and International Research Symposium 2017 at the BMICH held to celebrate the World Tourism Day raised serious concerns about achieving the four million arrivals target set by the government.

Sri Lanka captures Gujarati attention at Travel and Tourism Fair

Sri Lanka Tourism clinched the best decorative stand - international awards at the Travel and Tourism Fair (TTF) fair, which was held recently in Ahmadabad, India. 

Oman Air SCM certification to ISO 9001:2015 standards

Oman Air’s Supply Chain Management (SCM) has been awarded the ISO 9001:2015 certification by Bureau Veritas under UKAS accreditation, with certificate number IND17.4532 U/Q. ISO 9001:2015 is the latest internationally recognised standard for quality management, ensuring that organisations have proven processes in place to meet customer requirements.

Vista Rooms continues Sri Lanka expansion, 1000 properties by 2018

Vista Rooms, South Asia’s largest chain of affordable stays, is on track to onboard 1000 properties with over 10,000 rooms by the end of 2018.

Emirates and flydubai partnership announces first codeshare routes

Following the commencement of their partnership, Emirates and flydubai announced that Emirates will expand its network to 29 flydubai destinations across  three continents.

Sri Lanka hosts inaugural IATO Outbound Convention

The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) held its inaugural Outbound Convention from 2nd to 4th October 2017 in Sri Lanka. This was also the first time the association had a convention outside of India.

Role of corporate banking in national development

Banks have been the cornerstone of economic growth and national development for over eight centuries. Their contribution towards the promotion of economic activity within a nation and across borders is unparalleled. 

Laying solid financial footing with NDB Wealth Kid’s Saver plans

On Children’s Day 2017, celebrated in Sri Lanka on October 1st, don’t just spend money on toys or treats, instead take a serious decision to invest in your children’s dreams, and enable them to take a significant step forward in achieving a financially independent future for themselves. 

Fitch affirms five small and mid-sized Lankan banks

Fitch Ratings Lanka has affirmed the national long-term ratings on five small and mid-sized Sri Lankan banks. The banks are Nations Trust Bank PLC (NTB), Pan Asia Banking Corporation PLC (PABC), Union Bank of Colombo PLC (UB), SANASA Development Bank PLC (SDB) and Amana Bank PLC (Amana).   

Half of Iran’s banks should close or merge, top banker says

REUTERS: The number of banks in Iran should at least halve over the next six years, with closures and mergers needed to modernise an industry laden with toxic loans, one of the country’s top bankers said.

DFCC Bank launches special workshop series for MSMEs

DFCC Bank has initiated a special series of workshops named ‘Vardhana Sahaya Hamuwa’ to nurture the growth of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Sri Lanka. 

People’s Bank reaffirms commitment in driving SME sector

As per its vision to propel the expansion and expertise of Small and Medium Businesses, People’s Bank held its ‘Entrepreneurial Glory’ programme at the Pavilian Restaurant Monaragala.

HNB to offer doubled rewards throughout October

Sri Lanka’s most customer-centric bank, HNB PLC, announced the return of its extremely popular Singithi Savings Month that will give children across the island a chance to save and receive valuable gifts from 21st September to 31st October.

Rajive Dissanayake appointed to HNBA, HNBGI boards

HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) announced the appointment of Rajive Dissanayake as a Non-Executive, Non-Independent Director to the boards of HNBA and its fully-owned subsidiary HNB General Insurance Limited (HNBGI) by the vote of Hatton National Bank PLC (HNB), the parent shareholder of HNBA. 

HNB serves Anuradhapura entrepreneurs under Citi-CCC programme

Citi Bank in collaboration with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and Hatton National Bank initiated the ‘Rural Economic Empowerment Programme’ in June 2015 with the objective of empowering rural entrepreneurs through improving their financial literacy and business management skills as well as facilitating micro financing through mainstream banks.

Will govt.’s FDI plans flounder on corruption and bureaucratic apathy?

Sri Lanka today carries a huge foreign debt burden. Sri Lanka’s external debt has averaged US $ 42632.32 million from 2012 until 2017, reaching an all-time high of US $ 47302.10 million in the third quarter of 2016. During the first quarter of 2017, according to Trading Economics, the external debt decreased to US $ 46514 million from US $ 46585.7 million in the last quarter of 2016.

Gendered face of NCDs: Can Sri Lanka beat the odds?

The death toll from non-communicable diseases or NCDs (diseases of long duration and generally slow progression) is on the rise and accounts for more than a half of total deaths globally. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), NCDs kill 38 million every year around the world and around 75 percent of these deaths are reported from low and middle-income countries, such as Sri Lanka. 

Auxenta looks to expand global footprint; forays into APAC region

Having its roots in Sri Lanka, the fast-growing boutique technology solutions firm Auxenta is currently poised for dramatic expansion to the APAC region having bagged new clients in APAC countries Singapore and Australia. 

CodeGen unveils success of Sri Lanka’s first Smart Classroom

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe together with Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Deputy Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva, Western Province Education Minister Ranjit Somawansa, visited the XOLO Cloud Smart Classroom powered by CodeGen, at the Sri Jayawardenepura Maha Vidyalaya Kotte, recently. 

Go Phygital with SAP Business One unveiled

Pristine Solution (Pvt) Ltd unveiled ‘Go Phygital with SAP Business One’ in Kingsbury Hotel Colombo recently with the aim to demonstrate how corporate organizations can benefit from going beyond the traditional ERP with the SAP Business One software.

ICTA sets record straight on National Payment Platform

In todays’ digital world, the public perform a variety of tasks using their smart phones, tablets, and computers. 

Mitra Innovation to host first ever hackathon tomorrow

Mitra Innovation, based in Sri Lanka and the UK, will be hosting its first ever hackathon event, which will take place this weekend (7th) in Moratuwa. 

Sri Lanka to hold its own PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards

Sri Lanka will once again be showcased on an international platform with PropertyGuru, Asia’s foremost online property company, announcing the local development space having a standalone event to project its capabilities.

Fair Lands brings Templers Court from Homagama

Fair Lands, heading with the prime objective to entrust ownership to a land, incorporating value that exceeds the expense you bear, has been able to win the people’s trust in the country’s lands trading. Fair Lands espouses another fascinating set of plots titled  Templers Court. 

Gnanam Academy holds certificate awarding ceremony

The eighth Certificate Awarding Ceremony of the A.Y.S. Gnanam Construction Training Academy was held recently in Dambulla.  

Over 80% industry leaders doubt accuracy of tourism statistics

Over 80 percent of local tourism industry leaders do not trust the tourism research statistics, and the country’s tourism earnings figures published by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), which is following erroneous methodology for its research, according to a Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) report.

Sampath Bank’s off-shore banking unit funds hotel project in Myanmar

Sampath Bank PLC this week announced that it had successfully concluded a loan transaction with Yango-based hotel developer Family Business Group Hotel Limited (FBGHL), Myanmar.