Airbus beats goal with 863 jet deliveries in 2019, ousts Boeing from top spot

(Paris) REUTERS: Airbus has become the world’s largest planemaker for the first time since 2011 after delivering a forecast-beating 863 aircraft in 2019, seizing the crown from embattled U.S. rival Boeing, airport and tracking sources said yesterday.

China to cut reserve requirement for banks as economy slows

(Beijing) AFP: China’s central bank announced yesterday it was cutting the reserve requirements for banks, freeing up about US $ 114 billion to boost lending and spur the slowing economy.

Japan media blasts ‘cowardly’ Ghosn after escape

(Tokyo) AFP: The usually staid Japanese media lambasted the “cowardly” Carlos Ghosn yesterday, after the tycoon jumped bail and fled to Lebanon to avoid trial in Japan.

Government bans ethanol imports

The government yesterday announced a ban on ethanol imports to the country with immediate effect.

UK’s Lloyds Banking Group reports disruption to online services

(London) REUTERS: Britain’s Lloyds Banking Group suffered an outage yesterday that left customers of its Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland operations unable to access their accounts online.

Now is the time to invest in South Asia’s future

A few years ago, Binita Biswokarma’s life took a sharp turn for the worse.

CICT ends 2019 with 2.9mn TEUs; 40% of Colombo Port’s volume

The Colombo International Container Terminals (CICT) announced that it handled a total of 2.9 million TEUs in 2019, achieving an 8.6 percent increase in its throughput, accounting for 40 percent of the volume of the Port of Colombo in the 12 months ending 31st December 2019.

Bourse concludes 2019 on mixed note

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) concluded 2019, which was marked by political and economic uncertainty, on a mixed note yesterday with the benchmark index gaining ground for the year but with foreigners as net sellers.

Significant unutilized labour potential in SL’s economically inactive group: survey

Sri Lanka had estimated over 200,000 unutilised labour potential in economically inactive group,that showed ‘some interest’ in employment in 2018, according to Department of Census and Statistics (DCS).

Inflation shoots up in Dec. on higher food prices

Inflation measured by Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI) surged to 4.8 percent in the 12 months to December from 4.4 percent in November amid sharp rise in food prices, the data released by the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS), showed. The index number grew from 131.7 in November to 132.4 in December.

Pubudu De Silva appointed Teejay Lanka new CEO

Teejay Lanka PLC yesterday announced that Shiran Perera, who was appointed as CEO in 2018 had resigned from the post with effect from December 31, 2019.

Tesla delivers first China-made Model 3 sedans in just under a year

(Shanghai) REUTERS: Tesla has started delivering Model 3 electric cars built at its Shanghai factory in just under a year since it began work on the US$2 billion plant, a record for global automakers in China, and said it would ramp up deliveries from next month.

Sampath Bank, DFCC say complied with CB lending caps

Sampath Bank and DFCC Bank yesterday said they have complied with the Central Bank (CB) directives to bring down the Average Weighted Prime Lending Rate (AWPR) by 250 basis points, by the end of last week.

O’ Sri Lanka … the long and short of it

For long, our nation’s tourism authorities have considered figuring out a way to justify the return on investment to politicians and policymakers as key to serving the interests of the industry.

Wellness tourism industry gets own association

The practitioners in the wellness tourism industry endorsed the formation of the Sri Lanka Wellness Tourism Association (SLWTA), seen as a long-felt need by those actively involved in the industry.

Super-luxury Marella Discovery calls on Colombo Port

Boosting the revival of the tourism industry in Sri Lanka, Aitken Spence Maritime-facilitated Marella Cruises sailed its largest super-luxury cruise ship, Marella Discovery of the Marella fleet, to the Port of Colombo.

Tourism authorities to take stern action against ‘foreigners only’ outfits

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLDA) yesterday cautioned the licensed establishments, which adopt discriminatory practices against local tourists with a ‘foreigners only’ policy, with stern actions.

CB to liquidate 2 finance firms; grants additional time to The Finance

The Central Bank plans to move ahead with the liquidation of the two troubled non-banking financial institutions, ETI Finance Limited (ETIFL) and Swarnamahal Financial Services, formerly owned by the Edirisinghe family, while allowing one last opportunity to The Finance Company PLC (TFC) to find a prospective investor to restructure the firm.

Non-bank sector NPLs edge up; banks’ stable

The non-performing loan (NPL) ratio of the licensed finance company sector has edged up to 9.8 percent in October while the ratio for the licensed commercial banks stood steady at 4.9 percent amid the pick up in private credit.

Govt. mulls central database for citizen information

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has paid his attention to setting up a central database for citizens’ data, his office said in a media communiqué.

Seven banks fail to comply with CB order to bring down prime lending rates

The financial sector regulator, the Central Bank (CB), will initiate ‘appropriate measures’ against seven banks, which have failed to comply with the regulator’s order to bring down the Average Weighted Prime Lending Rate (AWPR) by 250 basis points, by the end of last week.

SriLankan Airlines concludes an award-winning year

SriLankan Airlines, the national carrier and a member of the oneworld alliance, reaffirming the success of its marketing communication endeavours, concludes 2019 with seven global awards.

Experience Centre Asia: Showcasing new future of work, today

According to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, our industry does not respect tradition - it only respects innovation.

A Block to be unchained? –Blockchain implementation in Sri Lanka

The Fortune Business Insight estimated that the global blockchain technology market size is expected to reach US$ 21,070 million by the end of 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of 38.4 percent, showing a promising start for the upcoming technology.

Hydropower still the largest renewable energy source for electricity generation in Sri Lanka

From ancient times, humans have used the force of water flowing in streams and rivers to produce motivepower. However, such use is not very evident in the history of Sri Lanka.

CB forecasts growth to pick up to 4-4.5% next year

The Central Bank (CB) has forecast 4 to 4.5 percent economic growth and below 4 percent inflation for next year, backed by the new government’s economic revival programme while meeting estimated US$ 4.8 billion external debt servicing for the year.

Korean lender to buy LOLC’s stake in Prasac for US$ 603mn

South Korea’s KB Kookmin Bank has said its board has agreed to acquire 70 percent stake in Cambodia’s Prasac Microfinance Institution for US$ 603.4 million from Sri Lanka’s LOLC Holdings, subject to regulatory approval.

Sriyan De Silva Wijeyeratne quits Abans

Sriyan De Silva Wijeyeratne has resigned from the post of Chief Executive Officer of Abans PLC with effect from December 16, 2019.

Government may consider re-introducing banking sector consolidation under new approach: Cabraal

Sri Lanka’s new government headed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa may re-introduce the banking and financial sector consolidation if the need arises, a top government official said.

Govt. gets first foreign investment; land lease to generate US$ 43mn

The government is set to receive US$ 43 million by leasing a plot of land located between Beira Lake and Shangri-La hotel on the Baladaksha Mawatha.