Qatar Airways Launches Latest Global Sale at Midnight

Doha, QATAR – Qatar Airways is offering customers in Qatar and around the world great savings to more than 100 destinations during its latest three-day global sale starting at midnight.

Buy tickets for Cricket Matches on your Mobitel phone – for the First Time in Sri Lanka

For the first time in Sri Lanka, Mobitel gives you the opportunity to purchase tickets for cricket matches via your Mobitel phone. This special service, offered via the National Mobile Service Provider’s mTicketing platform, is available by simply dialing 365 from any Mobitel connection.

Lanka’s internet and email subscribers grow

The number of internet and email subscribers in Sri Lanka increased by 77.3% Year-on-Year (YOY) during the second quarter of this year reaching approximately 1.15 million subscribers according to the latest economic indicators report from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

Elephant House net declines 4%; Keells Super still in red

John Keells group's, Ceylon Cold Stores, popularly known as Elephant House, saw a 4 percent year-on-year (YoY) decline in net profits to Rs.179.3 million for the September quarter (2Q13), with its Keells Super supermarket chain still in the red, the interim financial accounts released to the Colombo Stock Exchange showed

Sri Lanka amongst ideal frontier markets - HSBC

Sri Lanka was highlighted alongside the frontier markets Vietnam and Bangladesh, as being ideal investments for foreign investors with a high risk appetite seeking to diversify their equity portfolios, in an equity strategy report from HSBC.

Lankan Angel Network launched

The Lankan Angel Network (LAN), the first of its kind in Sri Lanka is launched with the purpose of bringing together the Sri Lankan investor and mentor community and to scale the startup ecosystem.

New vehicle registrations slump 39% in August

New motor vehicle registration during the month of August fell 38.7 percent Year-on-Year (YoY) to 27, 766 amidst import duty increase on motor vehicles, the official data issued by the Central Bank showed.

Mobitel opens second Contact Centre in Mullativu

In its continuous mission to lead Sri Lanka’s ICT transformation across the island, the National Mobile Service Provider, Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel opened its second regional contact centre in Mullaitivu recently.

Treasury Official Says: Too Much Transparency

Addressing a forum and panel discussion on the topic of ‘Capital Markets, Integrity and Development’ organized by the European Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka, Dr Batagoda voiced his opinion on the right of information in Sri Lanka.

G20 leaders begin talks to tackle eurozone crisis

G20 finance chiefs yesterday began two days of talks aimed at quelling fears of a global economic downturn amid a persistent Eurozone debt crisis and a looming fiscal crunch in the United States.

Avirate opens at UB City Mall Bangalore

Avirate, a truly Sri Lankan brand is not only expanding locally, but internationally as well. They are proud to announce that they have expanded in India as of recent in UB City Bangalore, India’s first Luxury Mall.

Long-term T-bill yields up

Treasury yields rose across all maturities at yesterday auction with 12-month longterm yields rising most, the Public Debt Department of the Central Bank said.

NTB gets new Chairman

The banking unit of John Keells group, Nations Trust Bank (NTB) has appointed Arjuna Gunaratne as its new Chairman with effect from today

Mobitel lauded for Engineering Excellence at IESL Awards 2012

For the third consecutive year, Sri Lanka’s National Mobile Service Provider, Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel won the coveted ‘Excellence in Engineering’ award, under the category ‘Infrastructure – Service Sector: Large” at the Annual Engineering Excellence Awards 2012 presented by the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL).

Fortune 500 car maker enters SL

Geely, the Fortune 500 Chinese automotive multinational that now owns 100% of Sweden’s Volvo and part produces the famed London’s black taxi cabs, is entering Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel held its Business Partner Awards Convention

The National Mobile Service Provider, Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel held its Business Partner Awards Convention recently at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute in Colombo.

MURALI’S MAGIC HELPS CANCER TREATMENT UNIT

The Kandy Cancer Treatment Unit Fund signed a M.O.U. with Sri Lanka’s famous son, Muthiah Muralidaran, appointing him as Brand Ambassador, on the 18th of October.

Venture Capital scope should be broadened to help innovators: Prof. Vitarana

Sri Lanka must break its colonial chains of being a follower and facilitate an environment where innovation and invention can lead the economy out of ‘Third World’ status’, Senior Minister of Scientific Affairs Prof. Tissa Vitarana stated at the Ray Awards ceremony held on Wednesday.

EPF mgt has to be independent – Harsha

The management of the Employee’s Provident Fund (EPF) must be removed from the control of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka in order to prevent conflicts of interest, according to Opposition Member, Dr. Harsha de Silva.

Segregation of EPF essential to ensure retirement benefits - Experts

Meaningful reforms targeted at retirement funding, including the possible segregation of Sri Lanka’s largest social security scheme, the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), is urgently required in order to ensure that retirees have access to a pension in future, according to a panel of experts on the subject at the recently held LBO LBR CEO Forum.

Kuwait for anti-poverty Asian fund

Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah yesterday proposed setting up a $2 billion fund to fight poverty in Asia and said the Gulf state will donate $300 million to its corpus

Hemas - Mercantile Shipping launch ‘Mercmas’ crew boats

H & M Shipping Services (Pvt.) Ltd., a joint venture between Hemas Transportation ( Pvt.) Ltd. and Mercantile Shipping Company PLC launched its brand new crew boats ‘MercMas I’ and ‘MercMas II’ at a colourful ceremony in Galle.

Eurozone affecting Asian ratings - S&P

Deterioration of Euro-zone economies could have a negative impact on the sovereign credit ratings of countries in the Asia Pacific region, including Sri Lanka, according to a report from Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Ratings Services.

C’wealth Biz Forum in Colombo next year

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has announced its support to the next Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF ‘13) to be held in November 2013 in Colombo, and the campaign is scheduled to be launched by President Mahinda Rajapaksa today.

Krrish Group to Develop Four Acres in Pettah

A four-acre land in Pettah has been leased out to the Krrish Group of India for commercial purposes under a lease payment of Rs. five billion for 99 years, the Urban Development Authority (UDA) said yesterday.

Supreme Court issues landmark order on Intellectual Property law

Making a landmark order in an Intellectual Property Law case, Supreme Court ruled that importing of genuine HP products through alternative sources on a prima facie basis sustain the specific provisions of the Intellectual Property Law of permitting parallel imports.

Sri Lanka Tourism to spice - up Spice Food Festival

Following the success of the World Spice Food Festival since 2005, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority has once again made arrangements to conduct the World Spice Food Festival 2012, with the aim of showcasing culinary expertise from around the world with added Sri Lankan flavour.

Active credit cards surge over 50,000 by end - July

The total active credit cards within Sri Lanka increased by 55,864 between December 2011 and July of this year, according to provisional figures from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

ONGC to partner Cairn India in Mannar Basin oil explorations

ONGC Videsh (OVL), the overseas arm of the state oil explorer has held initial talks with Cairn India for a partnership in Sri Lanka, where Cairn drilled successfully to announce the island’s first hydrocarbons discovery, Indian media reports said quoting unnamed sources.

Maliban Lemon Puff re-launched with a new look and refined taste

Maliban Biscuit Manufactories (Pvt) Ltd. re-launched one of their most popular and sought after brands 'Lemon Puff' that has been a favourite biscuit among Sri Lankan youth for more than 40 years.