It was August 26, 2000. The Central Bank’s new state-of-the-art building was to be declared open by Finance Deputy Minister Prof. G.L. Pieris. Governor A.S. Jayawardena, Deputy Governor Manik Nagahawatte and I were standing under the foyer of t

Sri Lanka is being slapped with a number of significant challenges in its growth agenda and in that list, what it didn’t expect is to receive a blow from the impacts from climate change.

China’s South Asian ambitions for its Maritime Silk Road (MSR) have hit foul waters. On the one hand, the MSR must navigate the strategic competition between India and China and on the other, it needs to satisfy the divergent interests of Bangl

Industries worldwide unlike ever before are experiencing systemic failure as a result of the digital disruption, coupled with an economy stuck in reverse. Therefore, when we look at successful CEOs and what distinguishes them from the rest, it is goo

Asian Hotels & Properties PLC (AHPL), the owners and operators of the two city hotels under the Cinnamon brand, appears to have started to feel the intensity of the competition in the city hotel sector in Colombo, as the g

Bithumb, the largest crypto exchange in South Korea and the fifth largest in the world, has announced a ban on virtual asset trading transactions of Sri Lankan residents along with 10 other countries, which were identified as having lenient policies

Indian Express: With zero customs duty on exports to India and Europe from Sri Lanka, Hero Cycles is planning to increase its stake in its Colombo-based bicycle unit this quarter.

Healthcare, agri, consumer and renewable energy businesses performed well over the previo

Panasian Power PLC (PAP) said it intends to further increase its installed capacity through solar and mini-hydro projects in FY19 while looking for opportunities in Africa and South East Asia, as the firm aspires to become the largest listed renewabl

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) yesterday said investment flows from the Scandinavian region to Sri L

The world’s black tea production is projected to increase by an annual growth rate of 2.2 percent, to reach 4.42 million tonnes, as a result of major production increases in Sri Lanka, China and Kenya.

REUTERS: The Sri Lankan rupee ended slightly firmer in light trade yesterday, helped by inward remittances and a lack of demand for dollars from importers due to a holiday in New York.

The Brown & Company PLC director board has resolved to raise Rs.7.08 billion through a rights issue, subject to the approval of its shareholders and the Colombo Stock Exchange, with regards to the listing of the rights shares. 

AFP: Coca-Cola launched its first-ever alcoholic drink yesterday in Japan— a fizzy, lemon-flavoured concoction laced with spirits that seeks to capitalise on the growing popularity of “chuhai” alcopops enjoyed especially by young wo

REUTERS: The New Development Bank (NDB), set up by the BRICS group of major emerging economies, said yesterday it plans to raise 5 billion yuan (US $ 782 million) through a yuan-denominated bond issue 

REUTERS: Sri Lankan shares marked their lowest close in two weeks yesterday with investors mostly keeping to the sidelines awaiting cues about the real impact of the floods that hit the island-nation over the past week.

The Public Debt Department (PDB) of the Central Bank yesterday sold Rs.90 billion worth of five-year and 10-year bonds, the press notice issued by the Central Bank indicated.

Sri Lanka is to amend the archaic customs law shortly to facilitate paperless trade and pre-arrival clearances at the Customs, Sri Lanka Customs Director General and National Trade Facilitation Committee Chairman P.S.M. Charles said.

Despite significantly higher profits recorded by the Sri Lanka’s premier blue chip John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH) due to one-off gains stemming from the group’s financial services sector, the interim financial accounts released to the Col

Higher inflation and lower disposable incomes have hit the core consumer business of Hemas Holdings PLC while the recent investment in Atlas Axillia and other business expansions in both home and abroad are weighing on the group’s overall busi

Ceylinco Insurance PLC announced an incomparable dividend of Rs.31.50 per share to its shareholders for the year 2017, which constitutes a 315 percent dividend of the original share price.

Higher depreciation, interest and energy costs and slowdown in domestic business have impacted the performance Piramal Glass PLC, the only glass bottle maker in Sri Lanka.

REUTERS: Sri Lanka has accepted an eight-year China Development Bank US$1 billion syndicated loan to repay loans maturing this year, two top Finance Ministry officials said on Friday.

Harry Jayawardena-controlled Melstacorp PLC has entered into a cement business forming a joint venture company with Indonesia’s Gama Corp.

Sri Lanka stands mostly at risk among frontier markets from a persistent rupee depreciation against the U.S. dollar as it will present fiscal troubles from bloating debt servicing needs, Moody’s Investors Service said in a special report on imp

REUTERS: Sri Lankan shares closed slightly weaker yesterday as investors sold diversified stocks such as John Keells Holdings Plc, while block deals boosted turnover. 

The Sri Lankan government has identified the importance of having competent human capital to compete with the rapidly changing global economy as the country is geared to take off and advance as a fast growing middle-income country. 

The Primary Industries Ministry has already started numerous projects under the agriculture sector, specially value-added and export-oriented programmes, to achieve the country’s national objectives.  Workshops are being currently conducte

The Auto Vision Motor Show 2018, that brings together motor-related products and services under one roof, opened at the  BMICH yesterday. It showcases an array of passenger cars, off-road vehicles, concept cars, luxury vehicles, custom-built veh

The Chinese ambassador to Sri Lanka Cheng Xueyuan paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama recently. The meeting took place at the ministry was meant to discuss ways to promote invest