China’s ‘Silk Road’ project runs into debt jam

China’s massive and expanding ‘Belt and Road’ trade infrastructure project is running into speed bumps as some countries begin to grumble about being buried under Chinese debt.

Pulling back the curtain on privatization of Sri Lanka’s plantation sector

With the fate of Sri Lanka’s plantation industry continuing to remain a hot-button issue of debate in the media, numerous views have been aired on the rationale behind the privatization of State plantations in 1992. 

Why increase in salaries will not resolve economic problems?

Naturally, humans are willing to receive higher wages and salaries with the hope that it will lead to a better living standard. That is why; they stage strikes and demonstrations demanding higher salaries. 

Singapore-Sri Lanka FTA: Myths and reality

The world around us is increasingly moving forward with regional and bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) as the multilateral trade liberalization process led by the World Trade Organisation has come to a standstill. There are now 419 regional trade agreements in the world. 

You need to know what customers really want to create ideal customer experience

If you have followed carefully throughout the previous instalments, by now, you would be able to create a good CRM strategy. 

Explore all options! Single Window operational models for Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is committed to establishing a National Single Window (NSW) for international trade as a policy priority, with the support of the private sector. A NSW allows exporters and importers to submit documents at a single location or entry point, to fulfil all trade-related regulatory requirements, thereby facilitating cross-border trade.

How Legal Entity Identifiers will transform small business in Asia

Even within the financial sector, few are familiar with the term Legal Entity Identifier (LEI). Understandable, given that it’s hard to associate a directory of legal entities with high-quality information flows that meet regulatory requirements, increase the availability of credit, reduce costs and help businesses grow.

Lankan firms encouraged to explore opportunities in Bangladesh

Sri Lankan firms are encouraged to explore opportunities in Bangladesh’s growing 160 million market for long-term growth prospects, which has also been termed as next China, due to the low cost and high return in manufacturing, as Sri Lanka’s little over 21 million market becomes saturated.

#StrikeSL: A call for rail privatization?

The railway strikes are over – at least for now. On August 8, several railway unions called a sudden strike in the afternoon hours, right before the tired office commuters would flock the Fort railway station to head home after a long day’s work. For the rest of the week, the railway trade unions crippled a key part of the transportation system in the country. The headline ‘Railway strike continues’ overwhelmed the papers,

San Francisco court verdict on glyphosate: Should govt. be swayed by it?

Dewayne Johnson, a groundskeeper who had been spraying glyphosate in some school premises in California and afflicted with a cancer condition called  non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), won a court case a few days ago claiming that the cancer was caused by regular exposure to glyphosate, a product of Monsanto.

Drastic decline in coconut farm gate price requires authorities’ immediate action

Commencing from around the third week of July, the farm gate price of coconuts has dropped from a high of around Rs.45 to Rs.28 by August 15.

FTAs must not endanger Sri Lanka’s vital interests: MR

Following is a speech delivered by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa recently at the graduation ceremony of Oxford College of Business Colombo.

Trade union strikes causing a stroke in economy

Sri Lanka has been a country repeatedly hit by trade union strikes and street protests for past few years. Labor is one of the key factors that drive economic growth, in addition to capital. There are more labour-intensive industries than capital-intensive industries in Sri Lanka. Hence, the country cannot bear any kind of shock in its workforce.

Silent diminishing and demise of wildlife species in Sri Lanka

Having decided a few years ago to make my permanent home in the remote village of Samagipura in the Anuradhapura District, I have been reawakened too much. The intention to seek village life and roots of my ancestors has been rewarded in many ways. Shedding trivia of city social life has led to among other things great contentment with all around and life itself.

What kinky neoliberals they are: Reply to Advocata

Avocado’s analysis (‘What kind of liberals are these?’ –June 29) inspired retort from “Fellows of the Advocata Institute” (“The kind of ‘liberals’ we are”, July 24). These Fellows accuse us of “casting aspersions on their motives”. 

In search of an alternative economic development model

By One of the objectives of the open economic policy as articulated by President J.R. Jayewardene in 1977 was to have an export-led growth strategy and to accelerate international trade and investments. This would enable the country to eventually have a positive trade balance (exports to exceed imports) and a surplus in the current account of the balance of payments.

Broader policies to enhance social health, revenues and combat tobacco abuse

Last week’s excise increase on cigarettes demonstrate the government’s continued commitment to controlling smoking-related harm, whilst ensuring a steady inflow of revenue to state coffers from smokers. 

Remembering a management sage: Three years later

Time has passed by. Three years have gone after the sad demise of my mentor. A lot has been said by now about this legendary marketing sage, since his untimely departure in August 2015. 

Strengthen board at CSE empowering SMEs in economy

A country can be truly developed only by producing quality goods and services, which would be sold at higher prices locally as well as globally, beating the competition. The main problem identified in developing economies like ours has been how to increase the production, given the limited capital and poor technology. 

Mines Bureau to map radioactive minerals in Sri Lanka – A critical review

A news item under the above heading in Daily Mirror on July 27, 2018 has reported that the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) is to launch a systematic field investigation under the “guidance” of the present chairman whom I believe is not a professional geologist. With due respects to this officer, I would like to categorically state that this effort of the GSMB is definitely an exercise of “reinventing the wheel”.

Govt. should take a cue from Trump economics

Trump victory in 2016 was powered by economically downtrodden voters who were driven by their fears of insecurity about their and their children’s economic future. For those people after several years, America’s economy is finally showing great promise to them. 

Water footprints: A guide for efficient water use in plantation industry

The World Economic Forum in 2016 has ranked the water crisis as the highest concern over the next decade. We, in Sri Lanka, are beginning to sense this crisis and the uncertainties in weather pattern further aggravate this issue.

Understanding Sri Lanka-Singapore FTA

Sri Lanka and Singapore have recently signed a bilateral free trade agreement – the Sri Lanka-Singapore FTA (SLSFTA). Apart from being a comprehensive and modern free trade agreement (FTA) in scope and coverage, the SLSFTA paves the way for Sri Lanka’s greater integration with ASEAN and possible future entry in RCEP. Reflecting on the challenges for optimising the benefits of the SLSFTA, this article argues a successful SLSFTA would v

Killing aspirations by regulating tuk-tuks

What does the regulations enforced after August 1 mean for tuk-tuks?  I live in Moratuwa, down Diggala Road, a two-kilometre by-road from Keselwaata Junction on Old Galle Road. In my little hamlet, there are only two mini Lanka Ashok Leyland busses that operate in synchronization with the train time table from the Moratuwa railway station to Diggala Road. 

Letter from Sri Lanka: A bond market opportunity?

Mention Sri Lanka and tea, cricket, sea and safari typically come to mind. These are the more positive perceptions of the country. But political turmoil, policy confusion, currency depreciation and a bond scandal remain some of the negatives that the nation has yet to shake off.

Strong Chinese economy good news for whole world

According to the statistics released by China’s National Bureau of Statistics, China’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate in the first half of 2018 reached 6.8 percent. The national economy sustained the momentum of steady and sound development with its inner stability and coordination strengthened,

Leviathan in an island democracy

India is concerned by the growing Chinese influence in the North and East of Sri Lanka. Some of this concern stems from a housing project recently awarded by the Sri Lankan Resettlement, 

Need to examine possible response of South Asian countries for collective security architecture

The seventh World Peace Forum, organised by the Tsinghua University in association with the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs, was held in Beijing from July 14 to 15. The theme selected for this year’s event was ‘Constructing a security community: Equality, equity and justice’.

Bringing Sri Lanka’s traders one step closer to global market

Sri Lanka’s traditional lacework famously known as Beeralu is slowly moving into the spotlight of the global fashion industry. Udeni, who is a traditional Beeralu lace maker from Galle, learned the technique from her mother and developed it into a part-time business. 

It’s not only manufacturing – trade services also take workers out of poverty

Asia and the Pacific has enjoyed robust economic growth and experienced large reductions in poverty in the past few decades. Nevertheless, with the region home to 1.2 billion people living on less than US $ 1.9 per day (in 2011 PPPs), the international poverty line for extreme poverty, poverty reduction remains a key challenge.