Leading ICT veteran Chrishan Fernando joins Netsys Solutions board

Leading ICT veteran Chrishan Fernando joins the board of Netsys Solutions from February. Fernando is an experienced IT leader, with over 25 years of experience working for leading global IT companies. He started his internat

Edtech for marginalised children in Sri Lanka: Insights from MENA and other Asian countries

The COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing economic crisis have resulted in over two years of learning loss in Sri Lanka, wit

Sri Lanka’s female migrant workers: Flying abroad on borrowed time

In a small roadside hut in Nattandiya, Asoka Malini, a returnee migrant worker, spends her days with a handful of vegetables. She worked for six years in Saudi Arabia as a housemaid and a care worker, earning a monthly salary of Rs.20,000. As a m

ComBank and Daraz spark shopping fever with series of year-end promotions

As shopping begins to occupy thoughts with the year drawing to a close, the Commercial Bank of Ceylon has unveiled a series of exciting discount opportunities in November and December in partnership with Daraz, South Asia’s largest ecommerce platform. From Saturday, 11th to Friday 17th November, all purchases by Commercial Bank Credit Card holders will be eligible for a site-wide 10% discount under the Daraz 11.11 promotion. Simultaneously, Comme

Achieving consensus to sustain reforms and growth in focus at Sri Lanka Economic Summit 2023

The fourth session of Sri Lanka Economic Summit 2023, conducted by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce on November 28 and 29, will explore the most effective means to achieving consensus to sustain reforms and growth. Session 4 will delve i

Sithaka tea sets record at weekly auction with Rs.4,800 per kg

In a remarkable event at this week’s tea auction on November 7 and 8, 2023, Avissawella Tea Factory, trading its produce under the

Udara Cumaratunga appointed as SLANZBC President

The Sri Lanka-Australia-New Zealand Business Council (SLANZBC), an associated business council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce

BMICH launches corporate anthem in celebration of 50th anniversary

The BMICH, Sri Lanka’s most recognisable and iconic landmark, launched the corporate anthem in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the BMICH, which was celebrated recently

CA Sri Lanka-CIMA ink membership pathway agreement to reinforce standing of members

Two renowned professional organisations, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)

CMA invites businesses for CMA Excellence in Integrated Reporting Awards 2023

The Institute of Certified Management Accountants of Sri Lanka (CMA) has invited all the Sri Lankan business institutions

Facets Sri Lanka international gem and jewellery show in Jan. 2024

Asia’s premier gem and jewellery show is back for the 30th consecutive year

Think of children in Sri Lanka’s economic crisis

Sri Lanka hangs on the precipice of losing its much-lauded educational achievements after two and a half years of interrupted learning from COVID-19 and now an economic collapse

Cracking the Code: Why women’s innovations are lagging behind in SL

“I do not intend to get a patent right for my invention as I do not want to disclose my research findings and methodologies to the public domain”, stated a female researcher who has discovered a solution for dengue fever.

Central Bank Independence; how far should we go?

Well known Economics Professor Howard Nicholas said at a recent webinar that “CBSL cannot be independent of the government”.

COPE and corporate planning for SOEs

Many SOEs were found wanting at recent Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) meetings, mainly because they had no corporate plans. Strategic organisation-wide planning or Corporate Planning is essential for an organisation to succeed in business or deliver services to the citizens.

Lessons for Central Banks from Credit Suisse collapse

An international news agency asked me this; what are the lessons for Sri Lanka from the Credit Suisse collapse? I responded by saying 2 lessons.

Ranilnomics, Cryptos, and Currency Boards

I can’t imagine how challenging it would be to understand and tackle the current economic catastrophe in Sri Lanka, but I do know that Dr. W.A. Wijewardena has done it with finesse only a very senior expert like him possibly could.

IMF Programme #17: It takes two to tango

Countries never learn from others’ mistakes; they only learn from their own. Sri Lanka is an exception: we don’t even learn from our folly.

Colombo Port City Economic Commission releases semi-annual progress report for FY2022

The Colombo Port City Economic Commission, the Single Window Investment Facilitator authorised to assist investors,

Concerns sparked over US Defence Delegation Visit

The recent visit of a 20-member US delegation team comprising high-level defence officials, grabbed the headlines and came under the spotlight due to the classified information about the visit and the government’s failure to articulate the define objective behind the visit.

Why promoting decent work matters more than just any job for Lankan women

Sri Lanka’s low female labour force participation rate (FLFP) has received intense policy attention over the past several decades for many reasons. It is widely assumed that improving FLFP will not only empower women and reduce gender disparities but will also promote productivity and economic growth.

Are Sri Lankan women abandoned in digital transformation?

Technology plays an important role in modern society. It connects, innovates, and transforms economies and societies at large. Yet, women and girls continue to have limited access to technology. This gender bias is also present in Sri Lanka, where women comprise of over 50 percent of the population.

‘Mathaka’ by SriLankan Airlines creates new trend in global sustainability efforts

As the world plunges into the crisis stemming from climate change, efforts are explored across diverse sectors to minimise the carbon footprint. And one such industry that is making a significant impact in this regard is the global aviation sector.

Ten resolutions for your professional success

Following are ten such learnings that I have realised through my experience which I believe would help individuals to be successful in their professional careers.

Review of Dr. W.A. Wijewardena’s book ‘A Child’s Guide to Ranilnomics, Cryptos and Currency Boards’

Dr. W.A. Wijewardena (author), a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank and presently an independent economic analyst,

Upholding spirit of privatisation essential to unlocking true potential of RPCs

Despite the remarkable resilience of our people, industries and enterprises, Sri Lanka’s economic outlook in 2023 – along with approximately one-third of all countries according to the IMF – appears bleak.

Foreign direct investment: The bridge to prosperity

Many developing countries including Singapore/Malaysia /South Korea and more recently Vietnam and Thailand have succeeded in attracting Foreign Direct Investment (mainly through firm level integration with global MNEs : Multi National Enterprises) to grow their economies exponentially and propel them to the top of the industrialized nations.

The economic case to support social sector

Successive Sri Lankan governments have attempted to villainize the non-profit and civil society sector as agents of foreign interference.

Understanding link between debt, excessive money printing and fiscal deficit

In simple terms, money printing is issuing new money to the economy by a Central Bank- also known as “reserve money”.

History repeating itself: Sri Lanka’s electricity crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic crisis revealed vulnerabilities in the Sri Lankan economy and weakened its economic state. Given the severity of the challenges faced, the economy is now at a fragile state, with many crises at hand. One such crisis is the electricity crisis, where sporadic power cuts even extending to 13 hours a day were experienced by the country this year.