The Range Rover Evoque, Land Rover’s sensational new SUV – a car that won 34 international awards in the three months after its first production model came off the line in September 2011 – has arrived in Sri Lanka. The smallest, lightest, most fuel-efficient Range Rover ever produced, the Evoque has been described as ‘one ...

Expects 2012 to continue 2011 success despite anticipating slow year By Cheranka Mendis Kia Motors is geared to embrace a phenomenal year in 2012, riding high on the extraordinary success of 2011. Launching the final model that was to be introduced to the local market in 2011, the all new fourth generation Kia Rio, Kia ...

As projected in the beginning of the year the rate of year-on-year inflation, as measured by the Colombo Consumers’ Price Index (CCPI) (2006/07=100), computed by the Department of Census and Statistics, decreased to 4.9%in December 2011 from 6.2%in January 2011 and the annual average rate of inflation recorded as 6.7%in December 2011 thus stabilising the ...

A survey conducted last week on the health of the Sri Lankan economy revealed that almost 64% said that the Government had done its task but only 43% had said that there had been growth in the economy. Whilst some can say that this data is strange, a similar set of information was shared at ...

Haycarb PLC, the world’s largest coconut shell based activated carbon producer, has become one of the first companies in Sri Lanka to successfully register and trade-in carbon credits under the Kyoto Protocol. The Hayleys Group company has announced that it has obtained approval to receive the first block of payment for over 4, 000 CER ...

After the recent Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India, critics found three new words for the acronym ‘CWG’ – Corruption, Waste and lack of Governance. The Chairman of the Indian National Olympic Committee, who was Chairman of the Organising Committee, is presently in Tihar Jail, in Delhi with many of his acolytes, on charges regarding ...

Says depreciation by Budget only a one off, admits other sectors will suffer but notes growth will offset negatives By Uditha Jayasinghe The detriments of depreciation must be countered by aggressive growth in exports, the Central Bank Governor said yesterday, insisting that impediments to the industry had been removed by the latest Budget. Speaking for ...

1. The President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance and Planning delivered the seventh consecutive Budget of the present Government for the year 2012 to the Parliament on 21 November. Prior to the preparation of the Budget, the President himself, Secretary, Minister of Finance and Planning and most of the line ministries conducted ...

Arrenga Capital Research takes a deeper look at Budget 2012 and impact on select listed companies 1. A challenging deficit target – 6.2% of GDP in 2012 I. Government revenue targeted to grow by 20.2% YoY to Rs. 1,126.1 b (14.7% of GDP) II. Total Government expenditure to rise 14.1% YoY to Rs. 1,594.9 b ...

Exports, imports up in Sept; Healthy financial inflows Two commercial banks infuse $ 250 m capital from overseas sources; corporate offshore debt capital raising tops $260 m Private sector borrowing averages Rs. 37 b per month in 2011 CB leaves policy rates unchanged for 10th straight month despite benign inflation and the inflation outlook Urges ...

Wella, the world’s leader in hair care, was re-launched in Sri Lanka today with plans to take the country’s hair care industry by storm. Adding significance to this milestone event was the parallel launch of the exclusive Wella Studio (Training Centre) at 630, Kotte Road in Kotte.  Authorised dealer for Wella in Sri Lanka is ...

Dialog Enterprise, the corporate business solutions arm of Dialog Axiata has opened a state-of-the-art demonstration and interaction center named as Dialog Enterprise Discovery Centre which will be a conduit to showcase the latest enterprise services and solutions provided to corporate customers. Also it acts as an incubation gallery where latest communication technologies are introduced with ...

Discussion on the validity of non-military engagements of the military The war or internal armed conflict in the north and east is over; the Emergency is no more; but still the military is everywhere. The military is now engaged in peacetime police-work, whale watching, selling vegetables, agriculture, cleaning, constructions and many other non-military activities. Yet, ...

MJF Group Director Operations Malik J. Fernando has called for a Master Plan for the plantation sector. In a press statement issued this week, Fernando says an industry-wide Master Plan is required for Sri Lanka’s 150-year-old plantation industry to realign itself with internal and external changes and to remain competitive. “We need to develop a ...

The biggest ever IPO by a home grown entity People’s Leasing Ltd., (PLC) officially opens today aiming to raise Rs. 7 billion to boost its growing business in post-war Sri Lanka. The IPO involves 390 million ordinary voting shares at Rs. 18 each. Top brokerages have already recommended the IPO as ‘Buy’. PLC is 100% ...

Following is the address delivered by Senior Minister for International Monetary Cooperation Dr. Sarath Amunugama at the fourth South Asia Economic Summit (SAES IV) Plenary Session: In the aftermath of the global economic crisis, there has been a noticeable shift in economic clout, moving from the USA and the debt-plagued countries of the Eurozone, to ...

Annual inflation surprises with higher-than-expected fall Improved food supply cool inflation-cenbank Cenbank says Nov inflation to rise By Shihar Aneez  (Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s annual inflation slowed far faster than forecast to a 14-month low in October from a year earlier, government data showed on Monday, due to a better local food supply and easing ...

Parliamentarians for Global Action, a non-profit, non-partisan international network of over 1,000 legislators in 131 elected parliaments around the globe, aims to promote peace, democracy, the rule of law, human rights, sustainable development and population issues by informing, convening, and mobilising parliamentarians to realise these goals will start their three day deliberations in Colombo o...

Sri Lanka Seals supported the recently concluded first South Asian Beach Games in Hambantota as an event sponsor for the water sports events. Sri Lanka Seals was seen launching the Sea Jet Suzuki 1400CC Jet Skis in the high waters of Hambantota for pilot, rescue, media and support operations. The four stroke engines with a ...

The passenger sales operations of Emirates in Sri Lanka have been recognised for outstanding performance in 2010/11 with an award for sales excellence, presented at a recent regional conference of the award-winning Dubai-based international airline. The award is in acknowledgement of revenue growth that has exceeded budgeted levels and reflected a 31 per cent improvement ...

Global banking giant HSBC is upbeat on Sri Lanka’s external trade, predicting exponential growth above global average over the next 15 years. In its October 2011 dated HSBC Trade Connections Trade Forecast Quarterly Update, HSBC said Sri Lanka’s external trade would grow in volume terms by 105% by 2025 and value wise by 83% to ...

Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), the national standard body in the country, awarded ISO 9001-2008 certificate to LAUGSF Eco Sri Private Limited, a subsidiary of the LAUGFS Gas PLC, one of the dynamic public quoted energy company in Sri Lanka. Chairman of the SLSI, Kanchana Ratwatte, presenting the certificate to Chairman of LAUGFS Gas PLC ...

In business the most difficult part is finding, servicing and retaining markets and market share. In exports, this is even more challenging. The ultimate in value addition is brand marketing. The optimum return in global business is achieved by the growth and development of brands. The national economy where the brand is owned has a ...

1. Section 2 is of prime importance to an understanding of the scope of the income tax. Unless a person can be brought within the charge imposed by Section 2, he cannot be taxed, subject to the exception mentioned in paragraph 8 below. The power to tax which is implicit in Section 2, is a ...

By Engineer P.G. Joseph An official website about the life and vision of the late Dr. Ray Wijewardene, one of the most accomplished and innovative engineers and scientists produced by Sri Lanka, will be launched on 28 September and will be located at www.raywijewardene.net. In this article, one of several available on the website, a ...

With the World Bank announcing that the world economy is teetering on “a new danger zone,” it is of paramount importance for governments and financial power-houses to restore confidence through concrete policies and systematic financial planning. This is the order of the day, given the recent pessimistic report on the world economy delivered by Morgan ...

Union Bank of Colombo PLC (UBC) held the ‘Mega Dinum’ promotion grand draw prize awarding ceremony on Tuesday at its Colpetty Branch. The winner of the super prize of a brand new Suzuki A Star motor car and two years free fuel was produced by the UBC Old Moor Street branch. The winner, M. Yoganathan, ...

Since 1948, we have been planning for economic prosperity, but six decades have gone by without a semblance of anything to claim as our own. India has superseded all Asian countries and has reached a pinnacle of an economic power and it has even more potential to be a super power. It would be of ...

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has cut its 2011 and 2012 growth forecasts for developing Asia amid ongoing worries about weak external demand from its key trading partners. In its Asian Development Outlook Update 2011, released yesterday, ADB trimmed its full year forecast to 7.5% from 7.8% seen in April. The 2012 projection is also ...

MetalFactor teamed up with the International Advertising Association’s (IAA) Sri Lanka Chapter yet again to host the Young Spikes contest for young advertising professionals. The winning team, consisting of two members each from the following categories – Integrated communication and Media, will represent Sri Lanka at the Young Spikes contest at Spikes Asia 2011 in ...