Sri Lanka’s fuel bill has been spiralling as of late. According to a recent Central Bank press release on the external sector performance, the petroleum purchases for the first four months of 2017 were estimated at US $ 1.2 billion. This repres

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are two countries that continue their friendly relationship for a long time in the economic and political areas, especially as members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) dedicated to South Asian c

One of the key aspects of the spatial leadership approach lies in the creation of shared meaning amongst the group being led. Although this would seem like a very obvious and straightforward thing to do, it seems to be done rather poorly in most orga

The development of a country is undeniably a broader concept and a long-term process underpinned by key strategies in numerous domains in a country. Sri Lanka will be commemorating its 70th Independence Day by February 4, 2018 and it will be imperati

It is not very difficult to explain our nation’s mentality. We are a country misled by wrong definitions and misperceptions. Our definition for patriotism, friendship, love, religion, education, sports and many other perspectives of life has be

The Hindu: People in Batticaloa, one of the poorest districts in Sri Lanka, are badly hit by ‘predatory’ microfinance loans with exorbitant interest rates.

Last week, a TV channel and a newspaper highlighted that a project that had been submitted for approval to the Board of Investment (BOI) had been approved without proper assessments being done. This type of negative publicity can result in the credib

The Oscar-winning film, ‘The King’s Speech’, is a treat to watch. England’s Prince Albert must ascend the throne as King George VI, but he has a speech impediment. Knowing that the country needs her husband to be able to commu

Imagine reading this in your daily newspaper: Since 1970, when France reached the high-income status, its per capita income has been sandwiched between those of the Republic of Korea and Switzerland. 

Commercial cultivation of passion fruits in dry rural villages around Sri Lanka’s North-Central Province of Anuradhapura is fast turning into an economic ‘game changer’ transforming the livelihoods of hundreds of poor families in ov

We, as Sri Lankans, can boast of the high literacy rate mainly achieved through free education prevalent in the country, amidst so many setbacks, so long as the employers seek literacy only from their employees. Unfortunately, that era has gone long

We all know that if global warming continues unchecked, there will be dire consequences for the environment. But economies will also be severely affected.

President Maithripala Sirisena this week said that anyone watching TV would feel there is no government. While some people may argue that it is a creation of some sections of the media and opposition, some others would say it is the actual state of t

When it comes to personal finance and the accumulation of wealth, few subjects are more talked about than stocks. It’s easy to understand why: investing in the stock market is thrilling. But on this financial roller-coaster ride, we all want to

I was teaching leadership at a French telecom company several years ago, and the CEO visited on the last day of the programme to take presentations from participants focused on a question he had provided them earlier in the week. The question was, &l

In the 21st century, those who are changing the world aren’t just leaders; they’re engagers. The same theory applies to the corporate sector. 

Nearly 60 years ago, a little-known band called the Beatles arrived in Hamburg, got a haircut, recorded their first song and found their sound.

We, Sri Lankans, are a capable, talented and hard-working lot. Yes, we are, in selective 

Sri Lanka, though a developing country, has been performing well with regard to human development

The Great Place to Work Institute for the fifth consecutive time recognized some of the best workplaces in the country recently. The keynote speaker, bestselling author Bob Lee, expressed his surprise at the extent to which the best workplaces in Sri

Everyone needs to earn money to lead a happy life, getting their needs and wants fulfilled. Therefore, no one can live without money. They either earn or depend on someone who earns money. People are allowed to earn and gather wealth aplenty, as per

Equity markets in Asia ex-Japan have had their best start to the year since 2009, rising almost 20 percent in US dollar terms. China and Korea – our preferred markets – have led the pack, posting gains of 25 percent and 21 percent, respec

Nimal Tillakeratne took over as Pan Asia Banking Corporation PLC (PABC) CEO earlier this year. A 40-year veteran of the banking industry and a proponent of information technology, he is tasked with growing the young bank under the current challenging

It has been over sixty years since IBM introduced the first disk, the IBM 350, which was the size of a large wardrobe, with a capacity for storage of 3.75MB. 

What does it mean to be a visionary business leader? Vision in business requires that you clearly see where you choose to be in future and formulate the necessary steps to get your organisation there. Creating and sustaining a vision for an organisat

Over the years, people have pursued the acquisition of all kinds of skills towards success. It is still a commendable and a relevant thing to do;

Asia’s cities are the engines of incredible economic growth. For many countries, they generate over 80 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and improve the lives of millions of people.

The dawn of the Fourth Industrial Revolution brings with the promise of further human advancement. And yet, while humanity should be aspiring for a better life, disturbing events like the terrorist attacks in Manchester, London and the Philippines an

Sri Lanka’s overall exports to the European Union (EU) can increase by US $ 480 million – almost 15 percent on average – from the current earnings of US $ 3,275 million to US $ 3,756 million, as a result of regaining the Generalized

There is now a commitment to increase the number of students entering universities by 2020 and also to allocate more funds for vocational training. The current intake to government universities is around 25,000 per year. Nearly 60 percent (150,000) o