There is a controversy with regard to the alleged upward revision of the growth rate of quarterly GDP by 0.5 per cent from 5.5 per cent to 6.0 per cent. This has created some doubt in the public mind as to the accuracy and reliability of estimates o

A recent article by Gail Tvreberg from a think tank on “Our Future World”, reproduced in “Oil Voice” Magazine of 4 February 2014 highlights that solutions to our energy dilemma will not work if we do not understand that the pr

Providing satisfaction to customers is an intuitively sensible route to running a profitable business. But we have not been very good at measuring whether or not businesses are doing a right job in delivering satisfaction to their customers. Part of

Because you plan to spend the money you set aside for short-term goals relatively quickly, you’ll want to focus on safety and liquidity rather than growth in your short-term portfolio. Treasury bills (T-bill) backed by the government’s pr

The Fourth Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) took place from January 18-19, 2014 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), attended by more than 1200 participants including heads of state and ministers from over 150 countr

Volunteering is in – whether in reaching out to communities, helping street children or simply doing something for someone who cannot afford you or pay you back, it is not only fashionable but also extremely relevant in the world we live in tod

There are many problems have arisen with regard to condominium corporations and the management. As a result there are many unhappy buyers and they do not know where to go to get these problems satisfactorily resolved.  Therefore it is necessary

When I book a hotel I look for one that provides comfort and a secure environment. In a hotel environment, safety and security are two sides of the same coin. Let’s examine this on an imaginary – but not totally unreal series of incidents

We had a big debate on emerging markets’ growth prospects at our Annual Meetings in October 2013. We lowered our 2013 growth forecast for emerging markets and developing economies by a whopping 0.5 percentage points compared to our earlier fore

For some time now it has been quite clear to economists that assessments of economic performance cannot be solely focused on overall income growth, but must also take into account income distribution. This is because a growing body of research has es

A very timely seminar on the ‘Debacle of Finance Companies’ was held recently at The Kingsbury. Human Rights Commission Chairman Justice P.R.P. Perera chaired, whilst presentations were made by banker, lawyer cum accountant, Ranjith Ferna

Is the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) finally putting aside its losing streaks? With the first month of 2014 just over, signs are surely encouraging with the All Share Price Index (ASPI) having gained around 250 points representing a YTD gain of 4.2 pe

Ben Bernanke’s eight-year term as chairperson of the United States Federal Reserve Board came to an end last week, with successor Janet Yellen taking over from February 1.

One of the most crucial decisions for a marketing function of any company is the mix of elements that will be used to achieve sales within a target market. This concept of “Marketing Mix” is a fundamental part of marketing theory. Given t

Like every investor, you want to choose investments that will provide the growth and income you need to meet your financial goals. To do that, it’s important to understand yourself as an investor. That’s because a portfolio that’s r

Sri Lanka’s financial sector has experienced significant developments since partial liberalization in the post-77 era. To move from a highly protected environment to a liberalized economy may have required some shock treatment such as the openi

In many ways, Sri Lanka is a development success story. Its economy has been growing steadily and this has lifted millions of people out of poverty and boosted shared prosperity. Moving higher up on the economic ladder, however, will require addressi

Some women know the art of wearing their laurels well.For Weili Dai, as the only female co-founder of a cutting-edge semiconductor company, Marvell, the laurels never came easy but she knows how to wear them well. In fact, too well.

The rapid change in the market place, due to globalization, growth in outsourcing, the need to speed up growth and the shortening of product cycles and the rapid pace of technological innovation, has forced companies to look to mergers and acquisitio

The past year was certainly a ‘mixed bag’ for Sri Lanka tourism with possibly the ‘highs’ slightly outweighing the ‘lows’. A quick overview of the past year, albeit weighted towards the hotels sector, is as follow

January 26th was International Customs Day. The theme for this year is, “Communication: Sharing Information for Better Cooperation”. Trade facilitation measures are important means of achieving improved communication and.........

Product Portfolio Analysis (PPA) is a process where managers study the profitability of the various products and services a business offers. It is designed to help optimize the allocation of resources between those products and services.

The Sri Lankan equity market experienced certain developments during the past few years and is currently poised for growth. The daily average turnover for the current year is Rs.1,132 million, while the net foreign inflow is Rs.826.6 million.

Samasource. Kind of sounds familiar. Sama in Sanskrit and in Sinhala means ‘all’ and that’s exactly what Samasource founder, Leila Janah, is confident it will be - giving equal opportunities for all.....

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) officially launched its small and medium Enterprise (SME) toolkit for 2014 recently. The audit manual, which is targeted at Small and

Following are excerpts of the panel discussion held as part of the ‘Invest Sri Lanka’ Investor Forum, that concluded in Singapore this week. Ferial Ashraff, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka...........

Growth rate figures  are often highlighted  in the  media  by Central Bankers and others  especially when they are  estimated at  say 6 to 7 per cent; Some say we are  experiencing  an economic  boom,

Not even governments can perpetually spend more than they earn, without jeopardising the economy. Therefore, the fiscal targets of the present government – to systematically reduce the budget deficit over a......

It is necessary for Condominium unit owners to actively participate in running the complex through the Condominium Management Corporation. You cannot buy a Condominium and feel that this is one way to have a peaceful life without getting involved in

We may not be aware of them, but we use standards every day, in all aspects of our daily lives – in communications, education, healthcare, food, transport, construction, furniture, customer service and in many others.