Pvt. sector can do much more for reconciliation: Northern Governor

The private sector can take great steps towards reconciliation and empowerment in the past conflict stricken areas, according to Northern Province Governor H M G S Palihakkara, who spoke at the 176tth Annual General Meeting of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce yesterday.

Employment for graduates at state banks, Customs Dept.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe presented over 1,200 letters of appointment to openings at the three state banks and Sri Lanka Customs to young graduates, under his promise to create one million jobs within five years.

New recruitments to state banks

The Ceylon Bank Employees’ Union (CBEU) yesterday staged a protest opposite People’s Bank head office against the proposed recruitment of employees by the new government to the 3 state banks namely, Bank of Ceylon, People’s Bank and National Savings Banks.

Up in arms over Port City

A body consisting of general public, clergy and environmental activists called the People’s Campaign against Port City carried out a campaign in Negombo to educate fisher folk in the area about the possible negative impact the Port City project could have on their livelihoods. 

Private sector voices problems at second  Doing Business Forum

The second Doing Business Forum was held yesterday, during which, in addition to finding solutions for problems faced by the private sector, the Finance Minister reiterated the need for state institutions to have a public relations section to make the government more business-friendly.

Next 5 years’ economic policy in the making: Harsha

After months of hiatus, a new economic policy is currently being developed..

Consolidation bounces back

Even before the dust gets settled on the regulator-forced banking sector consolidation

Economy grows 6.4% in 1Q 2015

Sri Lanka’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew 6.4 percent in the first quarter of 2015...

Tourism expert urges need for proper marketing strategy

Sri Lanka tourism needs to develop a comprehensive marketing strategy to attract the ideal tourists, and establish a think-tank for the sector, according to a leading tourism consultant in the country.  

Gas to the masses

?At the end of 2013, the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) consumption by household and commercial segments accounted for 86 percent of the total LPG consumption in Sri Lanka.

More British firms eying Sri Lanka

An increasing number of British companies are looking to operate in Sri Lanka following the change of regime, according the new British envoy in Colombo. 

ComBank begins Myanmar operations with Yangon office opening

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon opened its representative office in Yangon this week (June 8th), formally launching its operations in Myanmar, initially to offer advisory services to Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi businesses wishing to enter that country,...

Miss Earth visits Sri Lanka Tourism

Sri Lanka Tourism welcomed Miss Earth Jamie Harrel on the World Environment Day. The board of directors of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau (SLTPB) Vasantha Leelananda, Mahen Kariyawasam, Tissa Devindra, Asoka Hettigoda, ...

G7 summit

?US President Barack Obama (2nd R) is greeted by a girl and a boy in traditional Bavarian costume next to Bavarian State Premier Horst Seehofer (R) and the US ambassador to Germany John B Emerson...

Commercial Bank opens trading at CSE

?Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC opened trading on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) yesterday. This event was yet another in a series of market opening ceremonies, featuring the companies from the S&P SL20 index. 

Biz community renews calls for revised Land Act

Sri Lanka’s business community renewed their calls to revisit the controversial Land Act enacted...

Future IPOs will focus on quality, not quantity: CSE Chief

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) will focus on quality over quantity for future Initial Public Offerings, unlike the past, according to a top official.

May inflation increases to 0.2% over higher food prices

During the 12 months to May 2015, Sri Lanka’s headline inflation measured by the Colombo....

Importers told to get tough on Customs

Experts asked importers to not give Sri Lanka Customs any room to make excuses, to push the potential of Customs officials to the limit, and to speak up against foul play during a recent forum organized by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

Think tank renews call for major economic reforms

Colombo-based think tank, the Pathfinder Foundation, yesterday renewed its call for sweeping economic reforms and cautioned that otherwise Sri Lanka would inevitably have to face successive crises in the near future. 

Higher interest income boosts JKH FY15 profits

John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH), the company with the highest market capitalization in the Colombo bourse,...

SL to follow Maldives with ‘open skies’ policy

Sri Lanka will be adopting the ‘open skies’ policy practised by the Maldives to develop tourism in the future, according to a Cabinet minister.

Inflationary trends to determine further rate cuts

?Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran says further cuts in policy rates will depend on how the country’s inflation behaves in the coming months.

Construction, reason behind false growth figures: Prof . Sally

Renowned Sri Lankan-born economist Professor Razeen Sally says Sri Lanka’s real growth would be much lower than 7 percent which has been forecasted by the Central Bank and other multilateral agencies.

Huawei unveils Honor range

From left: Huawei Device Sri Lanka Country Head Henry Liu, Singer Sri Lanka PLC Group CEO Asoka Pieris, Huawei Sri Lanka CEO Daniel Sun and Huawei Singer Sri Lanka PLC Brand Manager...

Remembrance Day

?‘Remembrance Day’ to commemorate all those who died in the war, was held in Matara under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena. 

CB, FinMin undertake to submit due diligence on Golden Key assets

The Central Bank and Finance Ministry yesterday undertook to submit a due diligence...

Strengthening influence in China’s backyard

?Mongolian Prime Minister Chimed Saikhanbileg (R) looks on as India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi (2nd L) receives a bouquet of flowers from a Mongolian child during a welcoming ceremony at the Chinggis Square in Ulan Bator on May 17.

UN-ESCAP forecasts 7.5% growth for Sri Lanka in 2015

The United Nations Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP) 2015 predicts that the Sri Lankan economy would grow at 7.5 percent, a figure much higher than forecasted by other multilateral agencies.

CB ready to repay GK depositors if court cases dropped: Ravi K

The Central Bank (CB) will be repaying the 7,000 depositors of the Ceylinco group’s Golden Key...