Leo Burnett Solutions Inc. commercial titled, ‘Pass it on when you’re done with it’ created for the Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society (SLEDS) continues its winning streak with a metal win in the Film Lotus category under the sub category Single Best of Social Engagement at Adfest 2012. The film made its mark in the ...

When one saw recent pictures of a fit and energetic Chief Executive of Sri Lanka Inc. dashing downfield with a football, for a moment many would have wondered if football in Sri Lanka had indeed found a new sponsor, the State itself! But with the Minister of Sports watching intently, we were soon to realise ...

Reuters: Dun & Bradstreet, a global business information firm, said some of its local employees in China may have violated U.S. anti-bribery laws and it has suspended operations at one of its local units pending an inquiry. Dun & Bradstreet, formed from a 1933 merger of two rival credit reporting agencies, said it is investigating ...

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), the nation’s telecommunications powerhouse, launched a new Technology Experience Centre, a platform where enterprise and SME customers can experience first-hand the company’s enhanced services provided through state-of-the-art technology. The one-of-a-kind SLT Technology Experience Centre is located at the Company’s head office premises at Fort, Colombo. ...

ATHENS (Reuters): Greece’s cabinet unanimously approved the terms of its international bailout on Wednesday, hours after euro zone countries formally approved the 130 billion euro financial package that Athens needs to stay afloat. The deal to keep Greece funded until 2014 will now be sent for approval to the Greek parliament, which is expected to ...

The MBA Alumni Association of the University of Colombo presents the Management Conference 2012, themed ‘Beyond Traditional Boundaries,’ which promises to bring together a diverse group of individuals, each of whom has dared to go beyond conventional limits and as a result, excelled in their respective fields. The conference will be held today at the ...

Hong Kong: Nafi Tuitavake has been included in a strong HSBC Penguins squad for next week’s GFI HKFC Tens in Hong Kong, where he could come up against his elder brother Anthony, the tough-tackling former All Black. The 16-team tournament will be held at Hong Kong Football Club from March 21-22. The younger Tuitavake, a ...

Business class passengers, departing Bandaranaike International Airport on SriLankan Airlines, to any of its 34 online destinations, could avail of a unique ‘Silk Route’ offer which streamlines check-in, customs, immigration and security formalities. The ‘Silk Route’ experience is the latest addition to SriLankan’s premium Business class product, commen...

A top line up of specialists will be the key attraction of the annual management conference organised by the Colombo University MBA Alumni Association on Friday 16 March from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Cinnamon Lakeside, Colombo. Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa will be the Chief Guest at the conference titled ‘Beyond Traditional Boundaries,’ ...

Sri Lanka’s first television channel dedicated to sports, Carlton Sports Network (CSN) last week completed its first year of successful operations. CSN which started its journey broadcasting only in Colombo has within the year reached islandwide status by launching seven transmission channels a few months after the start of operations. The channel, which features premier ...

Reuters: Greece claimed a major success for its bond swap offer to private creditors on Friday after it won heavy acceptance for a deal that averts the immediate risk of an uncontrolled default on its massive public debt.  The finance ministry said 85.8 percent of its 177 billion euros in bonds regulated under Greek law ...

Reuters: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) suspended Kingfisher Airlines(KING.NS) from its clearing house effective Wednesday due to non-payment of fees, dealing a fresh blow to the ailing carrier as it seeks funds to stay aloft.  The industry group's clearing house, ICH, settles accounts between the world's airlines, airline-associated companies and travel agencies. ...

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 ...

Reuters) – Seydou Keita and Xavi struck in the last 11 minutes to earn 10-man Barcelona a nervy 3-1 home win over lowly Sporting Gijon that kept their La Liga title hopes alive on Saturday.  With leading scorer Lionel Messi suspended for the first time in his career, the champions lacked a cutting edge until ...

Intel Corporation President and CEO Paul Otellini last week detailed a number of announcements and plans aimed at expanding the company’s smartphone product portfolio and customer ecosystem, including strategic new engagements with Orange, Lava International Ltd., ZTE, and Visa.   ”We are very pleased to add new, important customers and capabilities to our phone offerings ...

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 number one chocolate brand in Sri Lanka, Ritzbury will continue to support protection and awareness programs among school children to educate them on the unique beauty and biodiversity of wetlands. Manufacturer of Ritzbury chocolate, CBL Foods International (Pvt.) Ltd’s Managing Director Imal Fonseka made this statement while addressing the national celebration to mark World ...

Chef Geir Skeie the award winning Norwegian chef and winner of the 2008 Bocuse d’OrEurope, and the 2009 Bocuse d’Or world final, takes helm at Spoons, Hilton Colombo’s contemporary fine dining restaurant from 9 to 12 March 2012. Winning the biennial world chef championship- the Bocuse d’Or (the Concours mondial de la    cuis...

The LLRC is not only “good for Sri Lanka, but it is actually a model that the other countries who have had internal strife to follow.” Congressman Jack Kingston of Georgia observes that the international community should respond positively to Sri Lanka’s reconciliation process than suggesting punitive measures against the Island nation recovering from three ...

Reuters: A planned referendum in Ireland and a German court ruling cast new uncertainty on Tuesday over efforts to overcome the euro zone’s debt crisis, just when a flood of central bank money appeared to be calming financial markets.  Ireland’s prickly electorate, which has twice voted “No” to European Union treaties before reversing itself, will ...

The Galle Music Festival 2012 being held over the weekend of 3 to 4 March offers a unique opportunity to see local and international folk and contemporary music groups. The Samanala Grounds in Galle will be transformed into a traditional village setting where the folk music groups will share, exchange, and interact with other performers ...

ISLAMABAD (Reuters): Pakistani filmmaker and first-time Oscar nominee Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy won an Academy Award on Monday for her documentary about acid attack victims, a first for a Pakistani director. Her victory shines a spotlight on a subject which affects thousands of women in Pakistan and elsewhere, but is seldom discussed at home. Speaking exclusively ...

The Asia Capital Group today announced that construction of a 30 room hotel property, Taprobana, has begun in Balapitiya and is expected to be completed in time for summer 2013. Work has also begun on another 30 room property in Wadduwa, situated in a prime beachfront location which will be opened simultaneously. Asia Leisure owns ...

Benito Mussolini, the fascist ruler of Italy, during World War II, said that his brand of fascism ‘should be more appropriately called Corporatism, because it is a merger of state and corporate power’. Compare this with the dictionary definition of capitalism: ‘A system in which a country’s business and industry are controlled and run for ...

Subsidies? Well yes, but make them smart subsidiesNigeria: Subsidising the neighbours Nigeria’s Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamidi Sanusi, had a problem. In a recent live interview with the Aljazeera TV, he said that his country had to raise the retail prices of all petroleum products to match the rising international prices, despite the violent and ...

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 ...

To commemorate the bicentenary of Charles Dickens, the Prefects’ Guild and senior students of the Colombo International School present ‘Smike: The Musical’ on 9 and 10 March. ‘Smike’, a pop musical based on Dickens’ novel ‘Nicholas Nickleby’, was created by composer Simon May, in collaboration with Roger Holman and Clive Barnett in 1973. It follows ....

To commemorate the bicentenary of Charles Dickens, the Prefects’ Guild and senior students of the Colombo International School present ‘Smike: The Musical’ on 9 and 10 March. ‘Smike’, a pop musical based on Dickens’ novel ‘Nicholas Nickleby’, was created by composer Simon May, in collaboration with Roger Holman and Clive Barnett in 1973. It follows ....

Dialog Axiata Plc has ended the 2011 financial year ringing a Rs. 5.4 billion profit, up by 6% over the previous year. The full year results were supported by a Group net profit of Rs. 1.4 billion in the fourth quarter, up by 2% from a year earlier. The Group recorded strong revenue growth across ...

Reuters: Iran ordered a halt to its oil sales to Britain and France on Sunday in a move seen as retaliation against tightening EU sanctions, as a team of U.N. inspectors flew to Tehran to press the Islamic Republic over its disputed nuclear programme. The European Union enraged Tehran last month when it decided to ...