Vesak is a time to revisit and refocus on the core of Buddhism. It is also the time to see how Buddhist principles of truth, peace, honesty and kindness can be promoted in the country. At the start of the week, just a cursory glance at the newspapers reveals many things that could do with ...

SriLankan Airlines expands its operations in the North of Sri Lanka, opening its newest Sales Office in the heart of the Jaffna Peninsula yesterday. The branch office will facilitate travel formalities to a large clientele in the Jaffna and Kilinochchi areas, being fully equipped to handle reservations, ticketing, Prepaid Ticket Advices (PTAs), requests for special ...

Commercial ties offer many profitable opportunities, says Pakistan’s High CommissionerFollowing is the statement of the High Commissioner of Pakistan Seema Ilahi Baloch, on the occasion of the ‘Made in Pakistan’ exhibition 2012 Pakistan and Sri Lanka have traditionally enjoyed excellent relations.  We also need to strive to add more substance to our economic cooperation and ...

The Singer Group, with revenue of Rs. 6.2 billion for the first quarter of 2012, expressed confidence in its continued growth. The growth was on top of very high growth in prior year. Noting that group revenue rose by Rs. 1.1 billion in absolute terms and by 22% in percentage terms over the first quarter ...

President Mahinda Rajapaksa along with his officials early this week held a meeting with the senior management of SriLankan Airlines to discuss the progress and future plans of the national carrier. As per the Central Bank 2011 Annual Report, revenue of SriLankan Airlines had increased by 16.3% to Rs. 78.9 billion, while operating expenditure increased ...

American Express card members stand a chance to win Rs. 25,000 daily this May. They simply need to spend Rs. 2,500 to win. Every Rs. 2,500 spent per day through the American Express Credit Card entitles the card member to one entry for the daily draw. Multiples of Rs. 2,500 spent will entitle the card ...

The name ‘Jetwing’ has long been associated with caring, and a commitment to hospitality as well as the environment. For almost 40 years, the family owned company has grown tremendously, from humble beginnings in Negombo in 1963. Future projects, planned to bear fruit in the next three years, include the doubling of the current room ...

Further highlighting its strong position as one of Sri Lanka’s fastest growing banks, Union Bank reported a noticeable upturn in its performance for the period ended 31 March 2012. The bank’s operating profit before VAT and corporate tax improved by 21.4 %, recording Rs 142.7 m up from Rs. 117.5 m for the period ended ...

Much has been spoken of the Sri Lankan economy by different bodies including the guardians of the economy (the Central Bank and Government Treasury). There is constant backlash to the Government bringing out historical events while portraying a very bleak future, although the Government has taken corrective action to address any major economic catastrophe. The ...

Reuters: Sri Lanka’s annual inflation rate accelerated to a seven-month high of 6.1% in April from a year earlier mainly due to expensive imports after rupee depreciation and price hikes in fuel and electricity to reflect rising oil prices. Inflation rose to 6.1%, above the 6.0% expected by analysts and up from 5.5% in March, ...

SINGAPORE (Reuters): The Ceylon Petroleum Co (Ceypetco) has unexpectedly shut a unit at its 50,000 barrels-per-day refinery, reducing its jet fuel production, a company source said on Monday. The shutdown is expected to last a week, said the source who was speaking on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the ...

SINGAPORE (Reuters): Asian gasoil and jet fuel margins slipped on Monday as refineries returned from maintenance, adding to supply, while demand remained steady. The gasoil crack for May slipped 30 cents to $16.47 a barrel over Dubai crude, while the jet fuel crack fell 32 cents to $16.79 a barrel, Reuters data showed. Japan’s Cosmo ...

VESAK is the festival of light. Yet this year it seems that the lights will have to be dimmed to reflect the reduced lustre of the country’s economy. As the Power and Energy Ministry organisers raffle draws for people who save electricity during the upcoming religious season there are many other efforts happening behind the ...

Reuters: Indian Oil Corp is ready to help Sri Lanka cut its heavy dependence on Iranian crude imports, as tighter Western sanctions hit supplies from Tehran, IOC subsidiary Lanka IOC told Reuters on Thursday. A top Lanka official said it was ready to help in a $ 2-billion upgrade of Sri Lanka’s 50,000 barrels per ...

HNB Pathum Vimana, the biggest deposit draw in Sri Lanka, has rewarded countless Sri Lankans with amazing prizes over the last twenty years. The lucky winners of the Pathum Vimana 2011 draw received their prizes at a ceremony organized by Hatton National Bank. The prize presentation for the winners was held at HNB Towers on ...

The Department of Railways has imported 15 oil tank carriages from Pakistan to expand transportation of fuel through the railways. These oil tank carriages have been imported under the Pakistani Aid Program. Each tank has the capacity of storing eleven thousand gallons. The General Manager of Railways B.A.P Ariyarathna said that transport of fuel to ...

Colombo Dockyard PLC on Friday laid the keel, to mark the commencement of construction of the largest vessel in its history of Shipbuilding, a 400 Passenger cum 250 Ton Cargo Vessel for the Administration of Union Territory of Lakshadweep, India. This is the first vessel of a series of two vessels that has been ordered ...

The rupee edged down on Friday due to importer dollar demand despite the Central Bank saying $ 574 million inflows are expected within a month. The rupee ended at 120.20/30 against the dollar, weaker than Thursday’s close of 129.70/90. It fell to 130.60 intraday, but a State-owned bank sold dollars at 130.40, helping the currency ...

The release of the annual Central Bank report is a time for many to take a second look at the economy, particularly the performance of State-Owned Enterprises. It was reported that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) alone have made a combined loss of Rs. 119.5 billion in 2011 on ...

The 2012 race season started with Team NGK DSL joining hands with more qualified and high performance drivers with proven records in the race tracks. The team comprises of Upulwan Serasinghe, Janaka Dias, Lakmal Wijayarathne, Ajith Keerthi and Lalin Kirinda. From left: Janaka Dias,  Upulwan Serasinghe,  Lakmal Wijayarathne,  Lalin Kirinda and  Ajith Keerthi The market ...

Mackwoods Energy Ltd. has launched high powered DV gensets for both local and export markets. The DV Series has been designed and developed by Kirloskar to deliver reliable high power in the ranges of 320 to 625 KVA. The Kirloskar Green DV engines are environmentally friendly and proven for their durability and reliability and are ...

The all-new Boxer BM 150 is a more powerful, newly-designed and overall even more high-performing bike than its former model. High on reputation and trusted as the best-performing bike for any workload, the new Boxer BM 150 with its 150 cc four-stroke Engine has a wide array of new features that makes it the Number ...

Importers secure increase in age limit for cars and commercial vehicles; higher duty to stay President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday stepped up the accelerator for re-conditioned vehicles agreeing to revise the recently imposed age limit rules at a meeting with importers. Responding to pleas by motorists as well as Vehicle Importers Association, the President has agreed ...

ASIA’S rapid growth is leaving millions behind, causing a widening gap between rich and poor that threatens to undermine the region’s stability, according to a new report from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The report points out that as many as 240 million more people could have been lifted out of poverty in the last ...

Reuters: Sri Lanka will face a challenge in meeting this year’s budget deficit target as the recent monetary and fiscal tightening measures may hurt revenue growth, the island nation’s central bank chief told Reuters on Monday. The $59 billion economy has agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to target a budget deficit of 6.2 ...

Unfolding new chapter in the construction industry LAUGFS Engineering Limited (LEL), subsidiary of the LAUGFS Holdings Limited was ranked as ‘EM 1 for steel fabrication’ activities by Institute of Construction Training and Development (ICTAD), the governing body of the Ministry of Housing and Construction. EM1 is the highest level rank for this sector and LEL is ...

HONG KONG, CHINA: Asia’s rapid growth is leaving millions behind, causing a widening gap between rich and poor that threatens to undermine the region’s stability, according to a new report from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). “Another 240 million people could have been lifted out of poverty over the past 20 years if inequality had ...

Times of India: CHENNAI: The Madras high court on Wednesday reserved orders on petitions seeking lof ifting the ban on LTTE in India. The MDMK leader Vaiko, who had moved the high court against the ban, told newspersons later even though the statue of Mahatma Gandhi had been vandalized and desecrated in Sri Lanka, the ...

Sri Lanka will continue Iran crude, but will have to reduce Sri Lanka indirectly penalised by US sanction – Basil Reuters: Sri Lanka could trim Iran crude imports up to 20 per cent in the face of US sanctions, the island nation’s economic development minister said on Tuesday as it had taken strong measures to ...

With ending of the Maha season paddy harvesting, newspapers and TV have been highlighting problems encountered by farmers in disposing of their harvest. Due excellent weather, free from drought, flood and disease, farmers have received a bumper crop but the problem is to convert the harvest into cash, in order to settle debts incurred in ...