Non-state actors in higher education in Sri Lanka: Issues and challenges

Following is the synopsis of the 27th J.E. Jayasuriya Memorial Lecture delivered by Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka Executive Director Dr. Saman Kelegama.

China’s neighbours and quest for regional community

China’s meteoric rise has put the spotlight on the relationships it shares with its neighbours. Distinct national interests and the substantial social and political diversity in the region make the development of a regional community a complex and delicate task.

National Chamber calls for national trade policy

I am honoured to be elected as the 32nd President of this prestigious chamber, the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka, and I assure with confidence and pride that I will take forward the good work done by my predecessors to take the chamber to greater heights. 

MTI releases 2017 Business Outlook Survey

For the sixth consecutive year, MTI Consulting in partnership with Daily FT, Daily Mirror and Sunday Times, has concluded the MTI CEO Business Outlook Survey, collectively outlining the Sri Lankan business community’s perception for the state of business in 2017. 

Prof. Hausmann highlights importance of technology for economic development

Prof. Ricardo Hausmann of Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, who visited Sri Lanka to follow-up on a programme to build capacity among senior officials at the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, the Export Development Board and Tourism Authority, held a lecture at the BMICH recently.  

Pakistan Single Country Exhibition

The second edition of Pakistan Single Country Exhibition took place at the BMICH conference hall last weekend in a bid to further bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The two countries already have a free trade agreement (FTA) operational since 2005 Pix by Nisal Baduge

Fairway Galle Literary Festival

The Fairway Galle Literary Festival, since first launching in 2007, has become one of the most anticipated literary events in Southeast Asia for both authors and literary enthusiasts around the world. The festival is celebrated annually

Reforms key to meeting govt.’s development goals, says WB Country Director

Mirror Business recently met with World Bank Country Director for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Idah Pswarayi-Riddihough for a brief interview over the World Bank’s new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Sri Lanka and her take on the country’s development agenda. Following are the excerpts from the interview.  

Central Bank unveils monetary and financial sector policy road map for 2017 and beyond

Following is the part covering the monetary policy, financial sector and economic strategies of Central Bank Governor Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy’s speech at the launch of ‘Central Bank Road Map for 2017 and Beyond’ on Tuesday.

Central Bank says Sri Lanka’s prosperity level improved in 2015

The prosperity, measured by the Sri Lanka Prosperity Index (SLPI), which is a composite indicator that measures and compares the level of prosperity of the country and across its provinces, has improved to 0.864 in 2015 from 0.804 in the previous year. 

Colombo Christmas Street concludes on high note

The first ever Colombo Christmas Street (CCS) on Green Path which was inaugurated by Tourist Minister John Amaratunga on December 22nd concluded on a high note on December 24th. The event was organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Christian Religious Affairs and Lands and Sri Lanka Retailers Association. Dinesh Weerakkody chaired the committee that organized the festivities. 

CL Synergy Group holds ‘Cleasal Ball 2016’

 The CL Synergy Group of Companies that consist of CL Synergy (Pvt) Ltd, Eagle Logistics Colombo (Pvt) Ltd , ASB Freight (Pvt) Ltd and Salota International (Pvt) Ltd organized their annual dinner dance named ‘Cleasal Ball 2016’ on December 16th at The Kingsbury Hotel.

Policy challenges in agriculture sector and way forward

 Following is the keynote address (edited version) delivered by Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) Executive Director Dr. Saman Kelegama at the 10th Annual Research Forum of the Sri Lanka Agricultural Economics Association, organised in partnership with the Primary Industries and Agriculture Ministries, National Science Foundation and IPS recently.

The journey: Wheat into flour

A simple product that needs a great deal of skill, effort, time, knowledge and technical capacities is how Serendib Flour Mills (SFML), a leader in manufacturing wheat flour products in Sri Lanka, described its flagship brand Seven Star Flour.

Soft loans as ‘gateway drug’?

Sri Lanka may be sliding into a trap due to over-reliance on public financing for infrastructure development and concomitant overuse of ‘soft loans’ in the process. 

Sri Lanka will continue to be vital access point to South Asia: Hemas Group CEO

This is the sixth of the interview series titled ‘Mirror Business S&P SL20 Insights’ conducted in collaboration with the Colombo Stock Exchange.   Following are excerpts of an interview with Hemas Holdings PLC Group CEO Steven Enderby

Commercial Bank seeking greater exposure to overseas markets

Sri Lanka’s largest private bank, the Commercial Bank of Ceylon is actively looking at opportunities to venture overseas, with a view to establishing itself in developing economies with high growth potential.  

Sri Lanka’s capital markets will attract regional interest: MTI investment expert

MTI Consulting, as part of an initiative to scale up their corporate finance and investment advisory practice, recently announced the appointment of Naushervan “Naush” Beg, a Canadian-Pakistani with formidable international experience in financial services, capital markets, private equity and investment facilitation. 

The fascinating world of artificial intelligence!

While many would imagine living in a popular science fiction narrative when they hear the word artificial intelligence (AI), the recently held Colombo AI Meetup highlighted how most people are now coming into contact with AI on a daily or even an hourly basis.

SL’s immediate policy priority should be on export-oriented industrialisation: top economist

While giving a tacit seal of approval for the Sri Lankan government’s plan to promote export industries through economic zones, Australian National University Arndt-Corden Department of Economics, Crawford School of Public Policy Economics Prof. Prema-chandra Athukorala, who was speaking at the second Advocata Public Lecture last week, warned that the government must ensure policy consistency and ease of doing business for global production

Pessimism on policy performance; strong support for PPPs, freeing up trade, logistics

The participants at the recently concluded Sri Lanka Economic Summit are optimistic about the government’s ability to deliver economic results in the next four years, but are critical of the progress made so far and have mixed views about Budget 2017, according to a survey conducted at the event. 

For Megapolis plans, rules matter more than infrastructure : expert

Dr Reuben Abraham is the CEO of IDFC Institute, a Mumbai-based think and do tank working on the political economy of public policy and reform. He is also part of a number of influential think tanks and Institutes around the world including New York University, Legatum Institute and Council for Foreign relations. Dr Abraham spoke to Advocata Institute’s monthly podcast on the challenge of urbanization in the developing world as well as ideas

South China Sea ruling won’t improve regional security

The Permanent Court of Arbitration’s (PCA) ruling in the South China Sea case filed by the Philippines has been labelled a ‘sweeping victory’ against China. It concluded that China has no legal basis to claim historic rights within the nine-dash line in the South China Sea and that none of the land features in the Spratlys meet the criteria for an island that China — or any other country — can use to claim a 200-naut

Plenty of opportunity ahead to be part of economy’s growth story: Sampath COO

Opportunities for growth are many in the coming years, was the key message delivered when Mirror Business sat down with Sampath Bank Chief Operating Officer (COO) for an interview recently.

Alcohol ‘riskier’ for South Asians than Europeans

Alcohol consumption results in more cases of stroke in Asia than in Western Europe and North America, according to a new study on risk factors for a medical event, described as a ‘brain attack’ following the blockage of a blood vessel (ischaemic) or leakage from it (haemorrhagic).

Time to walk the talk for both government and private sector

Sri Lanka’s growth potential has always been acknowledged across all segments of the economy, but its translation to real terms is yet to be seized. 

SL can’t sit on the sidelines: We must join the race for trade and jobs

The Prime Minister’s move to fast track the Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Singapore and China and a revised ETCA is a good move. 

ASEAN and the economic dimension of Asian security

The role of ASEAN in underpinning Asian security is vastly underestimated. To the security hard-heads this may seem a peculiar claim, especially in Washington where ASEAN is often seen as some kind of wishy-washy construct which needs stiffening in its resolve against the rising economic and political power of China.

Brazilian restaurants turn waste back into food

AFP - There’s not a lot of green in the urban jungle of Sao Paulo, but thanks to Fernanda Danelon, restaurants in the Brazilian mega-city are turning their waste back into food at innovative gardens tucked amid the skyscrapers.

Benefits of a potential Singapore-Sri Lanka FTA

Singapore and Sri Lanka officially launched negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) by the respective trade ministers on July 18, 2016. The event was witnessed by Prime Ministers Lee Hsien Loon and Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was in Singapore on a two-day visit. This follows Singapore Trade and Industry Minister S. Iswaran’s visit to Sri Lanka in June, who stated, “The potential for a good quality bilateral free trade agreement be