Developments in rubber diseases management

Most of the major diseases of Hevea brasiliensis are of worldwide distribution (with the notable exception of South American leaf blight, against which strict quarantine regulations are enforced by rubber-growing countries outside the........

Igniting customer service with a spark

One morning on the way home after my regular walk at the park, I stopped as I regularly do, at the nearest branch of a supermarket chain, endorsed by a ‘celebrity’ of cricketing fame and his wife

Sri Lanka’s trade liberalisation: What you see is NOT what you get

Sri Lanka’s 2014 Budget claims a continuous commitment by the government to maintain a liberal, consistent and simple trade regime. The budget speech puts it this way: “A four band tariff structure presently in place is further consolidated aligned with simplicity to facilitate production and trade.”

Your taxes, your enterprises and the politician

Universally, parliaments are tasked with the role of making laws, approving taxation, and holding the executive arm of government accountable. That accountability extends to the performance of Public Enterprises that are often funded by or enjoy the patronage of,   the government.

Manager’s essential power-toolbox Organisational culture could be changed if only leadership agrees

Competing Values Framework (CVF), which we discussed last week, has been applied to a host of situations where organisational culture is a critical ingredient – leadership, management development and strategy implementation. But it is first and foremost known as ‘culture change’ tool.

Unravelling stock market jargon

The year 2013 has brought promising returns to individuals who invested in the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE). The impressive growth in the market might encourage further investment.

Has your idea come of age in 2014?

Another year dawns - as always, 2014 gives us the opportunity to look at the world with fresh perspectives. It will offer many new challenges along with new opportunities but just how will you make use of those opportunities?

Changes to Condo Act will offer greater protection for residents Condominium concept should not be o

When this concept is oversimplified so much, a distorted impression of it can be given to the buyers. This will be disastrous to condominium owners and to the industry in general.

Five trends that will shape IT decisions in 2014

What’s the next big IT trend? Customers want to know how they can leverage these trends, as well as how they can address any challenges. These trends, including the explosion of data,

Plantations should go for multicropping systems

Multiple cropping is not a new subject, although it is not popular in the plantation areas. It is the practice of growing two or more crops in the same space during a single growing season.

A sweet Asian fruit tempts the troubled soft drink industry

An obscure melon once cultivated by Buddhist monks in China to sweeten tea could give the US $ 8 billion U.S. diet soda industry a shot at winning back consumers concerned about artificial ingredients.

Governance of financial institutions, key to governance architecture

A few public policy issues have moved from the wings to centre stage as quickly and decisively as corporate governance. The regulators all over have made efforts in recent years to refine their views on how financial institutions should be organised and governed.

Nurturing ethnic harmony for sustainable development

Sri Lanka’s National Program for Ethnic Harmony, the most active program in Sri Lanka working towards nurturing harmony between ethnic groups launched a program on Sinhala –Muslim harmony recently.

Backlash over India-US diplomat row fuels investment fears

AFP: A furious anti-US backlash in India over the arrest and strip-search of one of its diplomats threatens to further scare off foreign investors already baulking at what they see as a hostile climate, analysts say.

Understanding what makes ‘a good guest experience’

The most recent probe on planet Mars by NASA reveals the existence of a dry lake that possibly held water thousands of years ago. Describing the findings as ‘extremely exciting’, a biologist when interviewed on.........

Integrated tourism development is the way forward: CCI President

Following are excerpts of  the speech made by Chamber of Construction Industry President Dr Surath Wickramasinghe  during the launch of the Build Sri Lanka 2014 and the Construction Industry Trade and Business Directory 2014 /2015 at Hotel Taj Samudra.

US Federal Reserve tapering: A soft landing?

The buying program (QE3) following a meeting of its Federal Open Markets Committee (FOMC) last week. Its purchase of US bonds ($40 billion) and mortgage-backed securities ($35 billion) has been reduced by $10 billion from $85 billion to $75 billion a month.

Labour crisis in apparel industry Is costly technology or humane HR best practices the solution?

The era of the closed economy of the left oriented state of 1970- 1977 saw only the domestic garments under the Brand names of Hentley, Maxim, Benhur and later the Duro products of Dasa Industries.

Reimagining and simplifying landscapes – SAP AG

“Software is like rivers; the world has been transformed by software, flowing and connecting, much like the rivers that have acted as great connectors of society,” says premier Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions provider - SAP AG’s Executive Board Member (Products and Innovations), Dr. Vishal Sikka.

First female CEO of an automaker set to lead GM

 General Motors (GM), America’s iconic automaker, has been one to stick to tradition, in typical Detroit fashion. Yet, it broke new ground recently when it announced the appointment of Mary Barra as its CEO – the first woman to head one of the world’s largest automakers.

Coconut industry needs long-term development plan

Sri Lanka’s coconut production during the year 2010 fell down by 536 million nuts Year-on-Year to stand at 2317 million nuts, marking the lowest annual production recorded in nearly 15 years.

Bali Declaration: Breathing life into Doha Round corpse

Two years ago, it was officially announced that the Doha Round had reached an impasse after 10 years of negotiations. Pascal Lamy, who was then Director-General of the WTO, admitted this publicly.

Sri Lankans and irregular migration: A journey to die for?

On December 3, 2013, the Australian government announced a new policy that aimed to further discourage the arrival of irregular migrants in Australia. Immigration Minister Scott Morrison announced that effective immediately, the government has put a cap on permanent protection visas for asylum seekers arriving by boat.

Driving Sri Lanka’s tourism industry vision

Peer-to-peer market needs accommodations, cars/parking, eating and experiences. Sri Lanka is well represented in the accommodations with rooms and houses across the country and rates ranging from US $ 10 to US $ 695 per night.

Getting back into MSCI Emerging Market Index, top priority: Rajeeva

Mirror Business met with Rajeeva Bandaranaike who assumed duties as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) last month. Bandaranaike is no stranger to the CSE as he worked at the place for 19 years holding various senior capacities.

Shrinking the financial fallout of natural disasters

IRIN: Relief will be more easily and quickly available, and the economic fallout much more manageable, if governments project and plan fiscally for potential natural disasters and their human and economic toll well in advance, experts say.

JAAF commends government’s balanced approach to shipping economy

There have been extensive discussions in various forums and in the media recently for and against the budget proposals made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in respect of the shipping economy and more particularly on the terminal handling charges (THC) issue.

Why ‘I’ is important in successful entrepreneurial matrix

Busy lives often means tight careers and even tighter personal spaces. It’s a tough battle to keep everything on the burners all at once but that’s the standard formula for today’s busy woman – whether she is powering a rewarding career or is an entrepreneur who must put in an insane amount of hours per day.

Bids high in quality despite the number: Saliya

Sri Lanka carried out her second licencing round for 13 blocks in the Mannar and Cauvery basins and the deadline for bids ended November 29. Mirror Business met with Saliya Wickramasuriya........

WORLD COMPETITION DAY Fighting for the poor: Strengthening antitrust regulations

In 2013, it was found that brand-name drug manufacturers in the United States were paying their competitors - generic drug manufacturers, to keep their products off the market shelves.