By Cheranka Mendis With a membership of 107 top entrepreneurs of the country – among which close to 200 leading organisations is managed providing employment close to 250,000 people – the Chamber of Young Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE) is a unique and highly valuable organisation to the country. Taking the mantle of the Chamber from K.H. ...

The 46th ITB Berlin, which gets underway today, is a more political event than ever before: the European debt crisis, turmoil in certain countries within the Middle East, climate protection and sustainability, as well as EU emissions trading. All these topics will be discussed at the ITB Convention by leading figures from the travel industry.  ...

Port of Spain, March 5 (IANS) West Indies cricketer Runako Morton was killed in a car crash here Sunday night. The 33-year-old, one of the few cricketers to emerge from the island of Nevis, lost control of the car he was driving and hit a pole, according to reports. He died on the spot. Morton ...

Cape Town (South Africa),(ANI): Cricket South Africa (CSA) will pay a special tribute to Jacques Kallis on March 30 during the New Age Cup T20 International match between the Proteas and India at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium. “We want to make this a Jacques Kallis evening in which we acknowledge his huge contribution to the ...

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa will be the Chief Guest at the Colombo University MBA Alumni Association annual management conference titled ‘Beyond Traditional Boundaries’ on 16 March at the Cinnamon Lakeside, Colombo. This year’s focus on the conference is ‘Mastering Your Game’ and Rajapaksa, whose Ministry also includes the Urban Development, as Chief Guest is...

The gap between the rich and poor used to be the province of Third World countries. Why is it an issue in developed countries these days? INSEAD Knowledge: Gaping disparity between the rich and the poor used to be the hallmark of Third World or developing countries – places without a “middle class” or an ...

The NDB Group’s profit after tax for the year was Rs. 2.94 billion, an impressive growth of 35% over the previous year. The profit attributable to shareholders for the year was 2.70 billion and compares with Rs. 2.1 billion for 2010, a growth of 29%. This significant increase in group profits was attributable to the ...

Ceylinco Insurance has embarked on a grand enterprise: Miss Ceylinco VIP 2012:  the biggest ever beauty pageant, covering the length and breadth of Sri Lanka.  This unique competition will undoubtedly enable the dazzling damsels, living in the outstations, to be a part of a truly mega event.   With its Ceylinco Miss VIP beauty pageant, ...

Sino Lanka Hotels Holdings yesterday announced a Rs. 4.5 billion investment plan for Sri Lanka at the ground breaking ceremony of its first ever hotel in Sri Lanka, OZO Colombo. Located down Marine Drive, OZO Colombo will be the first of a series of hotels that will come up under the brand name ‘OZO.’ OZO, ...

Reuters: Manchester United scraped into the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday, narrowly avoiding a humiliating elimination after being outplayed and losing 2-1 at home to Ajax Amsterdam. Not even a sixth minute opener from Javier Hernandez could inspire United as Aras Ozbiliz levelled eight minutes before the break and Toby Aldeweireld’s late ...

GR Visions Singapore is proud to present ‘Harmony,’ an exhilarating concert of dance and music featuring lead artiste Sharmila Gunasingham, accomplished exponent of classical Indian Odissi dance, and Guy Manoukian, the award winning Lebanese Armenian musician. Sharmila will be partnered by Ramli Ibrahim, her Guru and the world’s leading male Odissi exponent.  Accompanying th...

By Cheranka Mendis Tucked away on the southern coastal belt, Avani Bentota Resort and Spa is the perfect epicentre for rest and relaxation. From the moment you walk in, a sense of peace settles in, heightened by the bright white walls, the simple sketches that hang almost rhythmically from the walls and the calming blues ...

Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo said this week it will now on host special events at 8° On The Lake, providing discerning diners the opportunity to enjoy the hotel’s newest experience. The floating venue was officially opened on 19 December 2011 by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.   During its first stage of operations, 8° On The Lake functioned ...

Safety and food hygiene of Colombo eating houses quite poor, says CMC’s Chief Medical Officer By Cheranka Mendis Even though Colombo has over 750 eating houses (from five-star hotels to roadside ‘bath kades’), only 290 obtained trade licenses last year, CMC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam said. Speaking at the Indexpo food and management ...

Abu Dhabi (AFP): He is the rugged face of Afghan cricket with a story fit for the big screen, and he embodies not only his nation’s turbulent past, but its hopes for a brighter future. When Nawroz Mangal led Afghanistan against Pakistan last week, it was the end of a long journey which started with ...

Laugfs Leisure Ltd., a fully own subsidiary of the Laugfs Gas Plc in its strive to become  one of the dominant  players in the hospitality industry has acquired Mag Consultants and Agents Pvt Ltd., (MCAPL) and its assets, comprising 1 5 acres of prime sea front beach property at Waskaduwa Kalutara with an investment of ...

Yala is the undisputed home of the Sri Lankan leopard, the star attraction of the Yala National Park. With Sri Lanka claiming the highest density of leopard in Yala within 140 kilometres, the newest phenomenon in these illusive cats is the rapidly growing population, which has naturally seen them venture out of the park and ...

ADELAIDE (AFP)  – India and Sri Lanka finished in a sensational tie in their tri one-day series international at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday. India skipper M.S. Dhoni needed to hit four runs off the last ball by Lasith Malinga but he only managed to scamper through for three runs to level the scores. Both ...

Blue chip conglomerate Aitken Spence PLC has reported its interim results to the Colombo Stock Exchange on Monday, showing Rs. 3.02 billion as pre-tax profit and Rs. 1.95 billion as profit attributable to shareholders for the nine months ended 31 December 2011; an increase of 24% and 20% respectively over the previous year. For the ...

By Cheranka Mendis Billy Ocean has sold over 30 million records in his lifetime. Beginning his career in the 1970s, Billy Ocean has a collection of Gold and Platinum records from across the world, one Grammy and has hit number one spot worldwide on pop charts including the USA, Australia, Germany, Holland, and the UK. ...

American golfer Jessica Korda completed one of sport’s most extraordinary doubles when she claimed the Women’s Australian Open at Royal Melbourne. The 18-year-old blonde beat off five of the best players on the LPGA Tour to emerge at the top of a six-way play-off. Korda rolled in a six-metre birdie putt on the second extra ...

Special offers for Sampath Bank credit card holdersDiamond Dreams, the diamond jeweller with a difference, presents a specially designed valentine   heart shape diamond pendant design to surprise and capture your loved ones during this season of love. Aptly called ‘The Gift That Speaks the Language of Love,’ crafted in both 18kt white gold and yellow ...

By Jyoti Malhotra Business Standard (New Delhi): India’s promise to sell two Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) to Sri Lanka, during their first-ever defence dialogue in New Delhi last week, as well as the recent agreement to build an electricity transmission line from Madurai to Trincomalee and connect the electricity grids of the two countries, is ...

Following are some responses from three economists to the guest column by Chandra Jayaratne titled ‘Important issues’ for Sri Lankan legislators, the Executive, policymakers, Central Bankers, economists and thought leaders to ponder over published on 2 February 1) I disagree with the Stiglitz-Krugman line. My diagnosis is that Europe is in this mess for two ...

New Delhi (AFP): India’s cancer-stricken World Cup hero Yuvraj Singh has vowed to return “stronger than ever” to competitive cricket, saying he was responding well to treatment in the United States. The ace all-rounder, named man of the tournament after India’s World Cup win in April last year, is currently undergoing chemotherapy for a rare ...

Park Street Mews came alive with music on 29 January as it presented another unique, once in lifetime experience by hosting two international greats – Ken Stringfellow (of R.E.M fame) and Dr. Eugene Draw – a Canadian electric violinist; along with brilliant local artists Out of Time and the Beat Drummers. Ken Stringfellow – a ...

GEOFF Marsh still has not been given a reason as to why he was sacked as coach of Sri Lanka. After a hectic month in which his younger son Mitchell blitzed the Big Bash, elder son Shaun was dumped from the Australian one-day squad and he was sacked, the former Test selector and coach says ...

Some important issues for Sri Lankan legislators, the Executive, policymakers, Central Bankers, economists and thought leaders to ponder over: Stiglitz believes that the austerity plans in the EU nations, especially by the debt ridden poorer nations of the group is akin to a collective suicide pact and is an act madness promoted and enforced by ...

Preliminary results released by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) show a collective increase of 6% year-on-year for international arrivals into Asia/Pacific1 destinations during each of the months of October and November 2011. For the first 11 months of the year, South Asia was the star growth performer, followed by Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia and ...

Opening batsman Upul Tharanga will lead Sri Lanka in a one-day tour match against a Victorian 2nd XI at Junction Oval on Wednesday. Tharanga has been named as skipper for the tourists in their first match in Australia ahead of the triangular one-day international series next month. Regular captain Mahela Jayawardene as well as former ...