Shutdowns need not be curfews

On March 12, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the new coronavirus, COVID-19, to be a pandemic. With cases in Sri Lanka reaching over a 100, the government of Sri Lanka has taken several measures to prevent the spread of this disease. One such measure was enforcing an islandwide curfew.

Surely, your customer data hasn’t caught the virus?

Lockdowns, curfews and the call for self-isolation have all challenged those traders in essential goods, who have to get their product to the consumer through this maze of new regulations and restrictions.

Playing nice – Need for collaboration for successful IT/OT convergence

As organisations make their operations more agile in response to a quickly evolving marketplace, many operational technology (OT) systems are being connected to the outside world for the first time. This trend promises great benefits for organisations but also directly exposes OT systems to cyberthreats they were never prepared to address.

Access Motors gearing up for thrilling future with Jaguar Land Rover in Sri Lanka

In an increasingly fast-paced world, disruption can be caused by an ever-growing number of sources. A brand’s ability to navigate this shifting landscape is often contingent on its agility, and its ability not just to respond but effectively drive disruptive innovation.

Can tech education be the great equalizer this decade?

As the role of smart tech in people’s lives expands even further, developers have become a driving force for software innovation. At Microsoft, we are working to enable even greater developer opportunity and innovation by providing the best experiences to all developers, on any device, with powerful tools, an open platform and a global cloud.

MCC grant dilemma - The Pathfinder compromise

The Pathfinder Foundation from its inception has been an active contributor and participant in the economic policy and the development dialogue in the country. When the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) was established in 2004, we were keen to assess whether Sri Lanka could meet the stringent criteria and qualify for an outright grant that would send a strong signal beyond borders that Sri Lanka is moving in the right direction.

Jack Welch’s leadership legacy

Jack Welch, who was described by the Fortune magazine in 1999 as the ‘Manager of the Century’, died this week, at the age of 84.

More women in power please

Headlines from global summits have one thing in common: the overwhelming presence of men and few, if any, women taking centre stage in those photo ops. The glass ceiling for leadership roles remains thick and impenetrable to women.

Women in night and shift work in Sri Lanka: Policies to facilitate more participation

Labour markets are undergoing rapid changes, while technological advances, income growth and urbanisation are transforming lifestyles. Traditionally, most employees worked regular work hours, from morning to evening and went home to be with their families. But, with lifestyle changes, people do not spend as much time at home. Such behaviour is making inroads into labour markets, as businesses stay open late to provide services.

NCE encourages Lankan exporters to fill current void in int’l value chains

Production disruptions in China have adversely affected international value chains that have been increasingly dependent on inputs from China, in recent years. Where Sri Lanka is concerned, China is an important source for raw materials and other inputs for manufactured exports.

Is China’s Belt Road Initiative start of a new Cold War?

Whilst there has been much commentary around the Belt Road Initiative (BRI) and its geopolitical intentions, not much has been said about the way the Digital Silk Road is seen as being essential to deliver the BRI outcomes.

Why we drink our own champagne

Both service providers as well as their customers rely on technology to help their operations and business growth. Technology can be used to break down regional barriers and to enhance the ability to operate as one global team. Many service providers have acknowledged the need to modernise business operations and get onto the latest solutions.

Charting Sri Lanka’s aging population

In a few decades, nearly a fourth of the people in Sri Lanka will be over 60 with the vulnerable 80-year-old and above population increasing quickly.

Ceylon Tea - In search of ‘unique selling proposition’

Coca-Cola was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1886, exactly 19 years after James Taylor planted tea in Loolecondura estate, Deltota in Kandy district.

False narrative of demonising fiscal deficits – Whose interests does it serve?

As the cacophony of noise predicting economic implosion from the bloated fiscal deficit and public debt pile up is getting louder every day, it is important to put the things into correct perspective for the benefit of everyone.

Tea industry overview – January to December 2019

Sri Lanka tea industry witnessed a ‘mediocre’ year with decline in production, averages and a growth in exports in comparison to year 2018. The industry’s export revenue depicted a growth from year 2018 backed by a weakened rupee.

Best Buy CEO proved bricks and mortar retailers can prosper with online retailing

Hubert Joly (born August 11, 1959) is a businessman, currently serving as Executive Chairman of Best Buy. He was the former President, CEO and Director of Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT). It is a privately held international conglomerate in the hotel, travel and restaurant franchise industries, employing more than 175,000 people in more than 160 countries and territories.

Buddhism, sustainability and Sri Lanka

Today, sustainability is fast becoming a very relevant and essential aspect of our lives. This has come about as a response to the high degree of consumerism that prevails in the world today and the resulting large use of fast depleting natural resources, giving rise to global warming and climate change.

Experts suggest blue ocean strategy for Ceylon Tea

Strategy experts suggest that Sri Lanka’s tea industry should consider adopting the blue ocean strategy for profitably and sustainability.

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Girls in STEM: How is Sri Lanka faring?

Sri Lanka is well recognised as a leader in gender-equal education in the developing world; the World Bank statistics show that the primary and secondary school enrolments and completion rates are similar for girls and boys, while girls have higher enrolment and retention rates in upper secondary and tertiary education.

Ten billion tourism earnings: will Sri Lanka have adequate capacity?

Recently emerging markets investment expert Mark Mobius said that Sri Lanka should target 10 million tourists in response to new government’s target to attract 4 million tourists, and to earn 10 billion dollars from tourism by 2025.

Pitfalls of Sri Lanka’s remittance economy

The post-millennium surge in global remittances — amounting to a net transfer of US$ 689 billion to the global south in 2019 has courted significant policy attention around prospects for ‘migration-development’.

Addressing the gap between the Haves and Have-Nots

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa speaking at the 72nd Independence Day ceremony at Independence Square said “The public will only achieve true freedom when social and economic inequalities are minimized”.

Coconut shell: An extraordinary globe-trotter

Which of the following would you associate coconut shells with: fuel, ladles, salt-container, dental care, gold extraction, respirators, cabin air treatment, chemical industry, drinking water purification, industrial air treatment, pharmaceutical industry, super capacitors, ‘kon pittu’?

Measuring poverty within Sri Lanka’s new reality as an upper-middle-income country

Sri Lanka achieved the ‘upper-middle-income country’ (UMIC) status in July 2019, as the country’s gross national income (GNI) increased from US $ 3,840 per capita in 2018 to US $ 4,060 per capita in 2019. The World Bank’s (WB) new threshold for UMICs is US $ 3,996–US $ 12,375 GNI per capita.

Post-independence reflections: Gaps in our freedoms

Seventy two years ago, Sri Lanka gained independence from the shackles of British rule. This meant the autonomy to govern our people, the freedom to create and maintain our institutions and the ability to carve our own political narrative. Beyond political liberty, independence also restored our control over land, resources and Sri Lanka’s economy; we obtained the prerogative to our prosperity.

Asia will have to brace for a tough year ahead

The World Health Organisation has warned all governments to ‘take action’ over the SARS-like virus that originated in Hubei China. Top economists estimate that 90 percent of the economic impact from health epidemics stems from people’s fear of the unknown. If that’s right, the world economy should brace itself for the full impact of the Wuhan coronavirus.

CCC-Pathfinder Foundation discuss Belt and Road Initiative’s challenges and way forward

The Chinese approach to a better future of humankind is based on the Chinese historical and cultural values with two fundamental ideas: community sharing and mutual connectivity. Prof. Wang Yiwei from China mentioned this in his keynote speech on ‘Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): Challenges and Way Forward’ delivered recently, at the auditorium of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), in Colombo.

Sri Lanka’s post-war defence budget: A systematic review

A systematic review of Sri Lanka’s post-war defence budget reveals that Sri Lanka spends too much on defence and the defence budget is spent inefficiently.