By Cheranka Mendis Construction work for the 350 metre iconic Lotus Tower commenced yesterday following the foundation laying ceremony at the auspicious time of 10:28 a.m. The tower, which will be the tallest tower in South Asia, is located down D.R. Wijewardene Mawatha, overlooking the Beira Lake and is budgeted at an estimated cost of ...

Heralding a new trend in the business world, the Rotary Alumni of Sri Lanka will be staging the first ever Corporate Athletism programme on 17 January at Hilton Residencies from 4.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. featuring some the best in the corporate world. If there is one quality that high performing corporate executives seek for ...

By Manoj Ridimahaliyadda espncricinfo.com: Sidath Wettimuny, the former Sri Lanka batsman, has suggested a radical restructuring of the country’s domestic cricket structure, which involves promoting provinces over clubs. The financial uncertainty surrounding Sri Lankan cricket and the upcoming board elections could, however, overshadow Wettimuny’s proposal. As a member of Sri Lanka Cri...

Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, one of the world’s largest logistics providers, became an integral part of the South Asian Apparel Leadership Forum 2011. The prestigious forum where global and local apparel heavyweights gathered to discuss the future of Sri Lanka’s apparel industry was organised as a part of SL design festival. Hellmann, an international logistics giant ...

Wide ranging and strong participation at ‘Sri Lanka Expo 2012’ by Indian industries and businesses have now been confirmed. Meanwhile, leading Indian investors are planning to pioneer rural BPO in Sri Lanka and are also eyeing Sri Lanka’s mini hydro power, pharmaceutical manufacturing and infrastructure sectors, including Colombo’s upcoming MRTS (Mass Rapid Transit System),...

A delegation led by S. Gopalakrishnan, Vice President, Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) met Export Development Board (EDB) Chairman and CEO Janaka Ratnayake yesterday. The delegation comprised 13 members of CII and among them there were high powered person of renowned brands in Sri Lanka, ICICI Bank, TVS and Sons Ltd., etc. The main business ...

By Ian The President in his speech at the opening of the Southern Expressway said that this could be the beginning of building a modern society. He also mentioned that had there been such an expressway linking the north with the south the extremists would not have succeeded in capitalising on the mistrust among communities. ...

The best way to make the benefits of ICT to reach all the people, especially the disadvantaged as envisaged by the President is to develop local e-content talent, said President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga. The Presidential Secretary said so while participating as the Guest of Honour at the e-Swabhimani Awards 2011 held in Colombo recently. Speaking ...

Eco-labels get special platform at SLDF 2011 Apparel showSri Lanka’s apparel industry has long been established as a visionary garment maker, through its responsible practices and campaigns like ‘Garments without Guilt’. A key point stressed at the recently concluded ‘South Asian Apparel Leadership Forum’ that affects the future of this influential industry, is the co...

This is the week of Budget bashing for some and for others it is the week for inventing cute ways to meet the bashes. As is usual for most, it is looking at this all in the ‘what’s in it for me?’ mode. For some, it is also about ‘who said what’ and not ‘what’s ...

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 ...

A leader in Sri Lanka’s hospitality trade, the Mount Lavinia Hotel (MLH) is known throughout the world for its scenic beauty and first-rate services. Although a historic hotel aged beyond two centuries, MLH moves parallel to the 21st century hospitality trade practices and innovations, and its values are very much in par with ethical practices ...

Offering epic safari adventures, Chaaya Wild transcends expectations and enthrals nature enthusiastsBy Marianne David If there’s one message that Yala reinforces, it’s the fact Sri Lanka is so abundantly blessed – a miracle in many ways. Despite its rising position as a hotspot for leopards being temporarily halted in its tracks during the latter stages ...

By Chamitha Kuruppu The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna claims spending Rs. 265 billion on an 11-day extravaganza is intolerable for an economically ailing country like Sri Lanka. Addressing a media briefing the JVP warned that the aftermath of hosting the 2018 Commonwealth Games would not be rosy as the Rajapaksa administration predicts According to JVP Propaganda ...

Coats, which has raised the bar and set industry standards in the area of sewing solutions, has joined hands with Sri Lanka Design Festival to project the many capabilities of the local apparel and fashion industry to the world. In order to share Coats’ global expertise in the apparel vertical integration sector, the company has ...

Range of exhibitions, forums and workshops for students and general public For the third consecutive year, the Sri Lanka Design Festival is preparing to provide South-Asian region with a rare opportunity to witness and learn from the creative talent and expertise of globally renowned creative industry professionals. SLDF 2011 has invited a group of elite ...

nSriLankan Airlines partners with Sri Lanka Design Festival: launches luxuriously designed flatbed at SLDF this November SriLankan Airlines, Sri Lanka’s national airline, in a bold attempt to enhance its products and services to drive the country’s ongoing boom in tourism and economic development will launch its latest addition: The luxury flatbed on Business Class. Partnering ...

The forum will be held on 18 NovemberThe South Asian Apparel Leadership Forum, conceptualised by Sri Lanka Design Festival (SLDF) as one of its main highlights of 2011, is already participated by apparel manufacturing leaders and their key partners promising to be a great platform and networking opportunity for apparel industry’s backward integration sector and ...

The South Asian Apparel Leadership Forum, conceptualised by SLDF as one of its main highlights of 2011, is to be held on 18 November and will see many key apparel experts and high profile international press gather to provide their insights on topics that are crucial for Sri Lanka’s campaign to lead South Asian apparel ...

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU Ravinatha Aryasinha has said  “Belgian tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka grew by 114.5 per cent during the first nine months of 2011” and that “Sri Lanka has become one of the most preferred destinations in Asia for Belgian tourists”. The Ambassador added that: “The number of ...

The Galle Fort first built in 1588 by the Portugese, and extensively renovated by the Dutch from 1649 onwards, has now become an icon of Sri Lanka. Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Fort and its inner properties have become synonymous with history and adventure. Perfect for Jetwing Hotels, as they introduce their ...

Bollywood cinema’s latest female sensation Ms.Sonakshi Sinha arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday via Sri Lankan Airlines UL 142 at 5.44 a.m. from Mumbai –India for a four- day special promotional assignment in the country. The Bollywood beauty was given a very warm reception on arrival at the BIA, with a traditional welcome dance and greeted ...

CBL-Ritzbury is partnering with the Central Environment Authority (CEA) to spearhead an awareness campaign on the importance of conserving ‘wetlands’ in Sri Lanka. This is the first time a Sri Lankan company has extended its corporate social responsibility assistance towards this cause. CBL-Ritzbury has always gone beyond its regular business practices and got in social ...

I like to be an optimist. No matter what may happen around us, I would like to retain feelings of hope I have for all human-kind and on a more intimate level for you, for me, the newborn and the to-be-born. Yet, what has already happened around me, happening now and may happen in the ...

The mobile phone as the pitch goes could be the most powerful marketing tool ever invented. Until recently, however, the cell phone has been mostly about talking the talk (or texting the text). Now, from an advertising perspective, there are signs that they may be starting to walk the walk. Worldwide, there are twice as ...

By Sally McLaren On 11 September, the world marked the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack on the United States, and Japan marked sixth months since the triple disasters of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power plant accident. On the same weekend, one corner of the vast Yoyogi Park in central Tokyo was transformed into ...

Reuters: England piled more misery on India with a thrilling six-wicket victory in a one-off Twenty20 match at Old Trafford on Wednesday. After losing the test series 4-0, India started brightly in the shortest version of the game and racked up 165 all out, only to see England reach their target with three balls to ...

Asia Capital recently sold its 53% stake in Asian Alliance Insurance and a 40% stake in Asia Siyaka, realising Rs. 2.3 billion. It now plans to forge ahead with a new portfolio of investments in films, hotels and IT. Asia Capital’s senior management outlined these plans and its forthcoming Initial Public Offering, plans to float ...

By Devin Jayasundera Siedles Ltd., Sri Lanka’s leading electronic appliances supplier yesterday launched the new Sony Bravia high definition televisions to excite local customers. Sony the forerunner of innovative technology has being one of the leading brands in consumer electronics, which has spread its wings in providing 3D entertainment for televisions. Sony Bravia LCD HDTV ...

The ‘Lanka Challenge 2011’ trishaw race started off in grand style on Saturday 20 August 2011 at 8:30 a.m. from the premises of Tangerine Tree Hotel, Minuwangoda. The competitors kicked off to a solid start, with the official flag-off given by the Acting Director General of Sri Lanka Tourism Vipula Wanigasekara along with the presence ...