Should we rate the rating agencies?

This writer is by no means an expert on credit ratings or even financial affairs and therefore not in any position to give an expert opinion in this area.

Out-grower schemes for rubber smallholder development

Although the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the rubber industry are very keen to extend rubber growing to non-traditional rubber growing areas in the Uva, Northern and Eastern Provinces, where land and labour are assumed to be non-limiting factors, there are several constraints to successful implementation of such plans.

Valuation dynamics: Real estate prices in Sri Lanka

Property valuation is a key area of interest and an important consideration in almost every real estate transaction. The following interview with W. Seniviratne, Former Chief Valuer, Valuation Department shares insights on the subject.

Govindasamy appointed Tata Communications Chairman

Tata Communications Lanka Limited, a subsidiary of Tata Communications Limited, yesterday announced the appointment of Vish Govindasamy as the company’s new Chairman. He takes over from S.K. Gupta, who retired on March 31, 2012. The TCLL board approved the decision on the appointment at its 54th board meeting held on May 31, 2012.

Where have all the tourists gone?

All newspapers carried headlines a few days ago stating that May 2012 tourist arrivals have increased by 17.5% from last year. It is reported that the May arrivals of 57,506, were higher than even that of April, which showed only a 9% increase YOY. So far, the total arrivals for 2012 up to end May is 327,627, which is almost an 18.2% increase over last year.

Investment wisdom and intelligent investor

There is no doubt that some people simply are better at playing the role of a stock market investor than others. When talking about somebody who has successfully worked his way through investing in the stock market,

Don’t let negative co-worker drag you down

Ajith, working as the sales manager in a small company wrote to me recently. He said, “There is a person I work with in my team who is really negative and constantly complaining. I find this very draining and it’s affecting me. How do I break the cycle?”

NTB at the forefront in recognizing blood donors

The National Blood Transfusion Service of Sri Lanka has been in existence since 1960 and has contributed immensely towards saving lives. In 1967 the service introduced the Red Donor Book that was given to all donors so that they could maintain a record of their voluntary donations, which would in turn be invaluable in the event the donors themselves required blood transfusion.

Microsoft Sri Lanka, Tharunyata Hetak partner to build youth leaders in North

Microsoft Sri Lanka came another step closer to their mission of being an organisation of value to the nation when they joined hands with Tharunyata Hetak to provide IT and Leadership Training to 200 youth from the Killinochchi, Mullaitivu and Thunukkai areas, in the North of Sri Lanka.

Skills base needed to “future proof” emerging economies

Mature markets today are stagnating and are looking to little or no growth over the next few years; the Euro crisis has made it worse. Then, there are relatively fast growth economies like the BRICS or the CIVETS and others. Each market is different but, they share a common problem – skills. There is a serious global skills shortage in three areas: the skills to run core businesses; the skills to upgrade current performance and, the skills

US exempts India, Korea from Iran oil sanctions

Washington: The US added seven economies to the list of nations qualifying for an exemption from financial sanctions on Iranian oil imports, penalties intended to pressure Iran’s leaders to abandon any nuclear weapons ambitions.

Education can become top forex earner – SLIM Head

Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM), which is the national body for Marketing in the country, has taken educational products, training programs and consultancies options for the first time beyond the boundaries of Sri Lanka. In an interview with Mirror Business, SLIM President Tilan Wijeyasekera spoke about the historical initiative, social media marketing, marketing research, future plans and much more. Excerpts:

‘When’ and ‘when not’ to invest in stock market

Is there a right time to invest in the stock market? That’s the magic question people have asked for as long as the stock market has been around. The simplest answer is that there is no right time to invest in the stock market. But, it may seem as if some people have figured it out,

Empowerment brings out the best in your workforce

Are you a manager, supervisor or any type of leader in a business organisation and your goal is to create a work environment in which your team members are productive, contributing and happy? This brief article will offer you a few simple guidelines.

Signal celebrates five-decade caring for oral hygiene

Signal, the oral care expert of Sri Lanka, who pioneered initiatives to inculcate hygienic oral care habits among Sri Lankans for five decades, has once again come forward to reiterate their commitment to protect the world famous Sri Lankan smile for the future.

World’s best known CEO celebrates 60 years on the job

She has withstood the test of time, has emerged dignified and composed in the face of tragedy and has been a symbol of strength and resilience for the entire world. She is Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s second longest reigning monarch after her great grandmother Queen Victoria. As she celebrated her diamond jubilee in her own, unsurpassed style, she reminds the world that only the good things last – be it in business, in life or in mon

Enhancing confidence in Sri Lankan economy

The government of Sri Lanka introduced a number of bold macroeconomic stabilization measures in February/March 2012. These were necessary as the country was on a trajectory to a very destructive balance of payments crisis. It is still too early to determine whether enough has been done to stabilize the balance of payments, particularly the trade deficit. As the Pathfinder Foundation has pointed out in several previous articles, the trade deficit

Greening your business

Introduced in 1992 in the book Changing Course: A Global Business Perspective on Development and the Environment, by industrialist Stephan Schmidheiny and the world Business Council for Sustainable Development, eco-efficiency was a natural extension of the concepts of cleaner and leaner production.

Greening your business

Today, there is no doubt that we are facing an array of profound environmental problems impacting humans, which are already beginning to affect the very foundation of our lives on our planet negatively. Species are becoming extinct at an alarming rate, climate change is quite dramatically impacting us and the Earth’s natural resources are dwindling exponentially.

Recruiting Gen-Y: Rewards outweigh the risks

With each fresh batch of graduates entering the workforce, there are now four distinct generations vying for vacancy spots. The young recruits are known as Generation Y. They were born between 1981 and 1999. The other three types are: Generation X (1965 to 1980), Baby Boomers (1946 – 1964) and Traditionalists (pre 1945).

Dos and don’ts in Secondary Market

The Secondary Market is a market in which an investor purchases a security from another investor rather than the issuer, subsequent to the original issuance in the Primary Market. In Sri Lanka, it is the function of the Colombo Stock Exchange.

LOLC net up to 2bn in 4Q; records Rs.6.3bn for FY 12

Lanka Orix Leasing Company PLC (LOLC) posted a net profit of Rs.2 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 largely assisted by the drop in payable income tax and the positive change in fair value of investment properties.

Does it matter to be a woman in Sri Lankan workforce?

A question we have all been tempted to ask at one time or another – how does it play out in the country’s economic scenario when it comes to gender equality? Certainly, in the boardrooms and plush offices of Sri Lanka’s burgeoning private sector, there is no glass ceiling for women in most aspects.

Natural rubber production policies to meet the challengers

The rubber industry of the country, like all other natural rubber (NR) producing countries, is currently enjoying a bonanza in the form of record rubber prices. The key factor for such performance is the extent of the demand-supply gap. Both the demand and supply depend on large number of factors, many of which are easy to identify. Potential challengers

Two decades after Rio Summit

Rio + 20 is short name for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) due to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -20 years after the landmark 1992 Earth Summit in Rio. This event will provide us with an opportunity to look ahead to the world we want for the next 20 years.

Resurging European debt woes and risks for Asia

Global equities have in the recent days fallen due to chain-fear spread over from the euro debt crisis. Investors have once more moved back into buying US dollar as a safe haven while the euro has tumbled to a four month low. Market attention is now focused on Greece forming a new government through coming mid June while the European Central Bank (ECB) have according to news papers stopped lending to some Greek banks.

Valuer’s role in property investment

Valuer is the master of property market and jack of all trades who deals with the pool of property investment. The task of a property valuer is to give advice on value in money term of an interest of landed property. Further he considers personal preferences of the investor such as Security of Capital, Security and regularity of income, Liquidity of Capital, Cost of Transfer (Stamp duty, Legal Charges) to choose the best investment among the alte

Bad to the bone: Battling with a bullying boss

Ruwini, an ex-employee of mine, recently sent me an email. “I have a bullying boss. No, not one of those bad ordinary bosses who fails to give direction and recognition. This is the type of bad boss who really bullies, insults, lies, changes direction, blames others and verbally assaults your self-esteem – every day.”

Advertising industry embraces young talent moulded at AOD

Graphic design is one of today’s most versatile careers making up the backbone of the global advertising industry. Sri Lanka’s blooming advertising industry is taking in young graphic designers who are equipped with international knowledge to cater to the new and global challenges faced by the industry.

Does Sri Lankan tourism have a sustainable market mix?

Despite all the hype about our tourist figures sky rocketing, some big tour operators are not happy about current tourist arrivals. They have used words like ‘it was a challenging year…’