Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajpaksa declared open the newly built Green Paradise Agro Eco Hotel in Dambulla on 29 April. Total investment for Green Paradise Agro Eco Hotel is Rs. 1,200 million.       The Green Paradise Resort is located in Dambulla, in the central province of Sri Lanka. Nestled in the jungles of the cultural triangle, the re...

By Cheranka Mendis Postgraduate Institute of Management Alumni (PIMA) Platinum Honours 2011 held on Friday recognised the contributions of Ramal Jasinghe, Anura Siriwardene and Dr. L.J.A. Peiris for their outstanding performance in their respective careers. Jasinnghe is the Director/CEO of Asian Alliance Insurance, and Peiris is the Managing Director of Royal Fernwood Porcelain whilst Siriwardene ...

By EMMA STONEY New York Times: WELLINGTON — When you think of Sri Lanka, rugby is not generally something that springs readily to mind. The island nation is certainly better known for cricket, tea exports and its recently ended civil war. But Sri Lanka’s British colonial forefathers left behind more than cricket as a sporting ...

By Marianne David HSBC and the British Council launched ‘HSBC Youth Enterprise Awards 2012’ yesterday, a business plan contest aimed at recognising young entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka. Open to Sri Lankan undergraduates, postgraduates and students aged 16 to 26 representing universities, private higher education institutions, technical and vocational institutions and professional training ...

Less than a year after starting up on its own, the company prepares to replicate its Indian success in Sri LankaJubilant FoodWorks, the master franchisee of Dominos Pizza for South Asia, last year set up its own subsidiary company in Sri Lanka, moving away from the franchisee partnership which held the fort for the Group ...

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 ...

Wins four coveted metalsLeo Burnett Solutions Inc., the Sri Lankan office of the globally recognised network dominated the Goa Fest advertising award festival by winning four coveted metals in a cross section of categories, for its clients Cargills Ceylon, Akzo Nobel – Dulux and the Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society (SLEDS) last weekend in Goa. ...

Emirates customers travelling to the United States will soon enjoy seamless connections to a dozen U.S. cities, after the airline announced the start of a one-way codeshare with JetBlue. The codeshare will further strengthen the relationship between Emirates and JetBlue. The two airlines have been interline partners since 2010, enabling customers to enjoy the convenience ...

HSBC Signature cardholders, an exclusive circle of customers, have been offered a 10 per cent discount on Emirates First and Business Class travel from Colombo to ten popular destinations. The exciting promotion valid from 1 April to 30 June is applicable for both return and one-way tickets purchased on-line via www.emirates.com/lk from 1 April to ...

Emmanuel Ray, winner of Fashions Finest’s Fashion Icon of the Year award (2011), has been asked to officially open Gibraltar Fashion Week commencing 19 April 2012. Emmanuel will meet with fashion designers, press and a selection of important members of the Gibraltarian government. Reene Weston, designer and organiser had the following to say about why she chose ...

Takes delivery of first aircraft with new premium economy product and long haul economy class seats Cathay Pacific Airways has taken delivery of a new Boeing 777-300ER that is the first aircraft to feature its Premium Economy Class product and new long-haul Economy Class seats. At the same time, the airline also received its fifth ...

Last Sunday when the unknown Ajinkya Rahane scored 103 runs off just 60 balls at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, which helped the Rajasthan Royals to score a massive 195 runs at IPL season five, my mind went to just one ethos the IPL is all about – highlighting performance. It is how IPL ...

PYONGYANG,(Reuters) : North Korea’s new leader delivered his first major public speech on Sunday as the impoverished state celebrated the centenary of its founder’s birth, calling for a push to “final victory” despite a failed rocket launch two days earlier. A jowly Kim Jong-un, clad in black and the third of his line to rule ...

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 ...

THE Sri Lankan office of the global advertising agency Leo Burnett  has once again made history with its award winning short film, “Pass it on when you’re done with it“ making it into the prestigious Gunn “Showreel of the year” Report. The commercial has made an appearance in the “Top 100 Creative Ideas of 2011” ...

Reuters: U.S. employers hired far fewer workers in March than in previous months, keeping the door open for the Federal Reserve to provide more monetary support for a still sluggish economy. The report was seized upon by Republicans hoping to make the weak economy the centerpiece of their campaign for November’s presidential and congressional elections. ...

In Sri Lanka, a joyous festive celebration is not complete without a loud blast of firecrackers. The auspicious times celebrated during Sinhala and Tamil New Year are traditionally marked by ear-splitting sounds that reverberate across the length and breadth of the country. How did firecrackers and fireworks become popular? How did it all start?   ...

News Butterfly, the unique TV programme from the US’ FOX news network, is now filming in Colombo for an exclusive segment on Sri Lanka’s new upswing. News Butterfly Market Place (NBMP) is described as a ‘unique women’s movement on TV’. According to NBMP, ‘the programme is a TV Channel venture for beautiful and talented women ...

nAward-winning carrier spends Rs. 200 m on plush dedicated facility for First and Business Class passengers and Skywards Gold members Emirates has opened its own dedicated passenger lounge at the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake (BIA), becoming the first international airline to invest in such a facility at the BIA. Completed at a cost of Rs. ...

The challenges Sri Lanka has to face in its march towards development are manifold. Although the war has ended the wrong political ideologies, the proposals and timetables it created are still in operation. By Government Information Department Additional Director General Chandrapala Liyanage Similarly, various social activity groups and individuals and organisations operating under the advice ...

The appointment of tycoon Harry Jayawardena’s daughter to the Board of Hatton National Bank (HNB) on Friday has brought with it several interesting developments. Harry J resigned from the HNB Board in December 2011 after being on it for over 20 years. Harry-controlled companies own 18.3% voting shares and 15% of total capital. A nominee ...

Seylan Bank has already awarded a total of 7890 winners in its blockbuster ‘Thagi Pita Thagi’ draw since its grand launch in October last year. Hailing from different parts of Sri Lanka, the lucky customers have won from an array of prizes such as monthly Rs. 1 million, motor bikes, LCD TVs, refrigerators, home entertainment ...

Reuters: Federal Reserve policymakers on Monday signaled little appetite for further monetary steps to stimulate U.S. growth in an economy that is gradually strengthening. “With my current outlook, I think our policy stance is still the one best suited to foster steady gains in output and employment and to maintain stable prices,” Cleveland Fed President ...

The Platinum Honours is an annual event that is held by the Alumni of the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM) in order to recognise the PIM graduates who perform exceptionally well in their careers. This is a prestigious recognition that motivates graduates to continue with significant growth and performance. This year’s ceremony will be held ...

Mohamed Reyaz Mihular took the helm of KPMG Sri Lanka with effect from 1 April 2012 with his appointment as the Managing Partner and Country Head of the Firm. Reyaz has been with KPMG Sri Lanka for over 30 years and during this time his contribution, both to the firm and the field of accountancy, ...

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children, as the Native American proverb goes. It is with this philosophy in mind that Jetwing Hotels will be participating in the Earth Hour campaign on 31 March. Jetwing will be the first Sri Lankan hotel chain to do so and ...

HSBC has partnered the Export Development Board (EDB) to be the Principal Sponsor – Banking Sector of the Sri Lanka Expo 2012, which began yesterday at the BMICH. It is on until Saturday from 10.a.m. to 8.p.m. The premier international trade fair aptly themed ‘Partnering with the Hub of Asia’ is expected to attract over ...

With the recent relaxing of the rupee exchange rate and subsequent increase in fuel prices, trade unions and the opposition parties are conducting protest campaigns against the Government, demanding a reduction in oil prices and the cost of living. This article investigates the living conditions of citizens in the recent past and present, quality and ...

Sri Lanka Expo 2012 will kick off from 28 to 31 March at Sirimavo Bandaranayke Memorial Exhibition Centre of BMICH, under the theme ‘Partnering with the Hub of Asia.’ This event will be organised by the Export Development Board. Having foreseen the importance of Expo 2012 to promote Sri Lanka as a destination, Sri Lanka ...

Titan Fleet Management, France a specialist yacht management company places confidence in Colombo for their repair requirements on super luxury yacht Lauren L. This seven star category 90 meter long yacht called in for repairs on 1 February. The luxury yacht called in for her 10 year class survey repairs coupled with hull surface preparation ...