99x installs Ocean Strainer to address plastic pollution

99x recently installed an Ocean Strainer to address the issue of ocean plastic pollution as part of the company’s sustainability initiatives. This 80-foot strainer was installed in the Lunawa Lagoon in Moratuwa, in collaboration with the MAS Foundation for Change. The Ocean Strainer is a floating trap designed by MAS Holdings to collect and remove plastic waste from waterways and preventing plastics reaching the ocean. The Lunawa Lagoon ecosyst

Acuity Knowledge Partners ranked in Top 20 Employer list by AICPA

Acuity Knowledge Partners, a provider of bespoke research in the financial services industry was recognised as one of the Top 20 Employers by the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA & CIMA) in 2024. This award highlights Acuity’s significant contribution as a prominent employer of AICPA&CIMA members which underscores our commitment to nurturing talent within the financial services sector and showcases our appea

Malaysian delegation visits Oceanpick Sustainable Seafood Farm

Oceanpick sustainable seafood farms were recently visited by YB Datuk Seri Mohamad bin Sabu, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Badli Hisham Adam, High Commissioner for Malaysia and other officials from the Malaysian High Commission along with representatives of Amana bank Mohamed Azmeer, Managing Director/CEO Dilshan Hettiaratchi, Senior Director, Board Credit Committee Chairman and other members of Amana bank. Oceanpick is apioneer i

Unilever and IDB partner to uplift SMEs and livelihoods

Unilever Sri Lanka and the Industrial Development Board (IDB) signed a three-year memorandum of understanding recently to uplift SMEs in Sri Lanka. This is a public private partnership between Unilever and the IDB to jointly support the growth and development of 20 Micro Small & Medium Scale entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka every year through the Industrial Development Fund (IDF). The IDF, under the supervision of the Industrial Development Board, an

NEO Security unleashes new vistas in domestic security industry

NEO Security has already made a niche in the domestic security industry in Sri Lanka with a new concept that professes a unique boutique-style security establishment. The company celebrated its fifth anniversary with by shifting to a new state-of-the-art office in Battaramulla, Sri Jayawardenepura-Kottey. The occasion was marked by a religious ceremony and cultural rituals. Many guests including Retired Justice Buwaneka Aluwihare, General Milin

President hints at vehicle import resumption; importers warn of possible cost increase

President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday hinted at a possible gradual resumption of private vehicle imports starting next year.

CCC urges collaborative approach to address parate suspension concerns

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) yesterday expressed “deep concerns” about the government’s move to suspend parate execution, and called for a collaborative solution to address this growing issue.

Govt. forgoes Rs. 23.94bn in taxes for BOI companies

The Treasury’s tax expenditure statement revealed that the government has foregone over Rs. 23 billion in corporate tax revenue in 2022 due to concessions granted to Board of Investment (BOI) approved companies.

Sri Lankans still reluctant to embrace non-cash transactions

Despite high ownership of debit cards and mobile penetration, Sri Lankans are still reluctant to embrace non-cash transactions, industry experts said, which indicate that more work remains to be done to build confidence in this space.

Suzuki recalls over 32,000 Wagon R vehicles

Suzuki Motor Corporation Japan has announced a safety recall related to the fuel system of the Japanese Suzuki Wagon R model range.

Vanithabhimana 2023 celebrates remarkable achievements of women

NDB Bank, in collaboration with Sirasa News 1st, marked the grand finale of the prestigious Sri Lanka Vanithabhimana Awards, a celebration of the remarkable achievements of Sri Lankan women for the fourth consecutive

OUSL’s Enospire 24 to nurture entrepreneurs

The Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL)’s Enospire 24, a programme embodying entrepreneurship, innovation and inspiration, is for aspiring entrepreneurs. Organised by

IIHS-DFCC Bank partner for educational loans

The International Institute of Health Sciences (IIHS), the country’s leading institute for health education, recently announced a landmark partnership with DFCC Bank, through which the IIHS students will be provided with loans at attractive rate

Atlas empowers schoolchildren to conquer their dreams

Inspiring education for over 60 years, Atlas has been a cherished foundation in turning students’ dreams into vibrant realities by infusing joy into their learning experiences. Atlas has gone beyo

Study UK Alumni Awards announces winners

The winners of Study UK Alumni Awards 2023-24 in Sri Lanka were announced at a ceremony, hosted by the British Council in C

Would halting parate execution be a relief to construction industry?

Since 2019, the construction industry has gone through a very difficult and destructive journey, declining from a 21 percent growth rate to almost completely cutting down our contribution to gross domestic product (GDP). During this time, d

IFC-CSE Ring the Bell for Gender Equality

For the ninth consecutive year, IFC partnered with the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and global partners to ‘Ring the Bell for Gen

SriLankan-Korean Air announce new codeshare partnership

SriLankan Airlines and Korean Air have officially activated a new codeshare partnership effective March 15, 2024, presenting enhanced travel options and connections for customers of both airlines travelling between Colombo and Seoul.

CEAT opens 3rd flagship store in Mirihana

CEAT Kelani Holdings has opened its third company-invested dealer operated (CIDO) outlet in Sri Lanka in Mirihana, pro

Chiranthi, Thushari to head SEC’s HR function

The capital market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC), has appointed two experienced and talented professionals to head its HR function and drive the institution’s organisation transformation

Lankan’s Groovy among Australian Small Business Awards finalists

Groovy Graphics and Signs, a company owned by Sri Lankan entrepreneur Lalantha De Silva, was selected as a finalist for the prestigious Australian Small Business Champion Awards 2024, in the Retail Sole Operator category, at a cerem

Expert committee to help construction sector tackle challenges

The struggling construction sector, which showed signs of increased activity last month, will have an expert committee to investigate and propose solutions for the issues faced due to economic conditions. According to a stat

First Lady stresses need for women empowerment for economic growth

At a time where repeated global calls are made towards women’s inclusivity for economic success, First Lady Prof. Maithree Wickremesinghe called for women economic empowerment, highlighting its pivotal role in driving inclusive growth and prosperity.

Loan defaulters push for extended parate suspension

The loan defaulters, who were recently successful in putting the parate rights on hold, yesterday made a fresh appeal to the authorities, urging them to extend the suspension for three years.

Sri Lanka grappling with severe clove production decline

Sri Lanka is currently experiencing a severe decline in clove production, Mirror Business learns. The experts attribute the downfall to the heavy rainfall towards the end of August last year, causing premature shedding of the clove buds. Consequently, the seasonal cultivation cycle, which was anticipated to commence between December and January, has been adversely affected.

Consumer confidence marks slight improvement in February

The consumer confidence in Sri Lanka saw a slight improvement in February. According to the Institute for Health Policy (IHP), this is driven by a recovery of the public expectations of the country’s situation in the next 12 months, coupled with the recovery of the buying conditions.

AICPA and CIMA recognise Sri Lanka’s 20 Top Employers

AICPA & CIMA, together as the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, revealed the names of the most attractive companies for accounting and finance professionals in Sri Lanka in their 2024 Top Employers list. AICPA & CIMA’s Top Employers list was created to recognise companies, which proactively support the development of the accounting and finance profession in Sri Lanka and help them build thriving careers. They were r

People’s Bank-IFC strengthen MSMEs, women entrepreneurs

People’s Bank, in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), is working towards strengthening the financial awareness and financial literacy of the micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and women entrepreneurs by coordinating a series of special customer awareness programmes and women entrepreneurship development programmes. These programmes were conducted in areas, including Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kegalle, P

Business conditions improve to highest levels in 4Q23 since 1Q22: CB

Sri Lanka’s business conditions improved to the highest levels in the fourth quarter of last year, since the first quarter of 2022, according to the Central Bank’s (CB) Business Outlook Survey for 4Q 2023. However, the index remained below 100, at 93, reflecting the subdued business conditions. In the quarter, demand and sales revenue is expected to have improved in 4Q 2023, while capacity utilisation and investment has also increased. In terms o

Yeezy fiasco helps push Adidas into loss as US sales continue to fall

CNN: Adidas has slumped to a rare annual loss, hit by the fallout from its costly break-up with rapper Ye, falling sales in North America and a huge tax bill. The German sportswear giant posted a net loss of 58 million euros (US $ 63 million) in its core business in 2023, as revenue was hurt by lower sales of Yeezy-branded clothing and sneakers, while its tax burden shot up. “We didn’t have a great year in 2023,” Chief Financial Officer Harm Ohlm