In June 2007, the US and the Republic of Korea signed a Free Trade Agreement (KORUSFTA). In December 2010, they concluded new agreements reflected in letters signed in December 2011, providing market access to US auto manufacturers and workers. Once the agreement comes into force on 15 March 2012, nearly 95% of bilateral trade in ...

The first Government University of Australia that has set up in the country, the Ballarat University, staged an interesting evening last week under the banner ‘The Ballarat Debate,’ to a select club of professionals at the City Campus that discussed some interesting ideas on Sri Lanka’s economy. One of Sri Lanka’s award-winning marketers and former ...

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 ...

At a time when some major global apparel buyers are shifting their sourcing to low-cost countries like Cambodia, Bangladesh and Vietnam, Sri Lankan garment manufacturers are not only able to retain their current buyers but have also succeeded in luring new buyers. In fact, the Sri Lankan apparel industry has crossed its US$ 4 billion ...

The United States  has said it expected the Sri Lankan government to announce a detailed action plan to address the reconciliation and accountability issues when the report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission was released but to date it has not seen any plan from the government on how the recommendations made by the ...

Popularly known as the father of insurance in Sri Lanka, Chandra Schaffter is a multi-dimensional person with disarming humility and an outspoken view of life. His 60-odd years in the profession has defined the entire industry and the outspoken risk-taking dynamism of Schaffter in many ways epitomises the home grown entrepreneurial spirit.   He describes himself ...

The Sri Lankan ministerial delegation attending the 19th sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council beginning later this month has left for Geneva, Switzerland yesterday. The ministerial delegation led by the External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris includes Plantation Minister and President’s Special Human Rights Envoy Mahinda Samarasinghe, Ministers Nimal Siripala De Silva and ...

Reuters: Iran, facing sanctions that could cripple its oil exports, has told world powers it wants to resume long-stalled talks with “new initiatives”, and France said it might be open to addressing suspicions about its nuclear programme. Tehran made the offer in a letter to the EU’s foreign policy chief obtained by Reuters on Thursday, ...

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), the foremost business chamber in Sri Lanka, caters to the business needs of over 3,000 establishments through its direct and indirect membership.  The service needs of these organisations are met by the CCC in numerous ways. They include, introduction of local and overseas business links, facilitation of export/import procedures, ...

  By Cheranka Mendis The much anticipated HSBC Colombo Fashion Week is now all set to open three days of glamour and fashion related business to the local community starting 24 February. With fashion weeks around the world being identified as the most glamorous business meetings, HSBC CFW will aim at promoting and encouraging local ...

The Daily FT spoke to the Immediate Past President of Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) and Chairman and Managing Director of Conniassance de Ceylan Ltd., on the state of post-war Sri Lanka tourism industry, the progress and key challenges as well as future prospects and how best they could be harnessed. Here ...

Born at Moscow in 1961, Valeriy Belenikin is a graduate of the Moscow Academy of Fine Arts named after V.I Surikov. The artist’s conception of his work is based upon truth and the mystery of this life. He is in awe of all that takes place in this world. Not only human banality, but all ...

Colombo Music Festival gathers momentum; to be held on 23, 24, 25, and 26 August 2012As Senses and Soul, Colombo Music Festival 2012 to be held from 23 to 26 August gathers momentum behind the scenes, this festival, the first ever of its kind to be held in the region, promises to deliver a superlative ...

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 ...

Colombo International Tea Convention discusses trade and marketing of the beverage By Cheranka Mendis Nestled in the dynamic Asian region with a hot beverage to its name, Sri Lanka could benefit well from becoming a ‘tea hub’ in the future, Commonwealth Secretariat Economic Affairs Division Former Director Indrajit Coomaraswamy said. Addressing the Colombo International Tea ...

The Visible Hand of the government ‘The Visible Hand’ was the title which the famed London-based economics weekly, The Economist, used when it published a special report in its issue on 21 January 2012 on the rise of state capitalism in the modern era. The title has a pun: The governments do not care to ...

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 ...

Etihad Airways is offering complimentary 96-hour tourist visas to guests transiting through the UAE, effective immediately. The visas, ideal for travellers making stopover visits en route to their final destination, are being offered in cooperation with Radisson Blu hotel on Yas Island. The offer is valid for travellers previously eligible for Etihad Airways’ paid-for visa ...

Following is the keynote address delivered by Senior Minister of Human Resources D.E.W. Gunasekera at the South Asian Regional Consultative Seminar on Human Development and Measurement of Human Development Progress, held at the IPS Auditorium from 30-31 January 2012 Public understanding of human development was galvanised by the appearance of the first Human Development Report ...

 Indonesia, Thailand, ‘high up on list’; Vietnam looks cheap  Bottom-up manager favours oil and coal stocks, consumer firms  Says can buy indirectly in Myanmar-related companies BANGKOK (Reuters): Emerging market stocks in Southeast Asia, notably in Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, will be good bets this year, Franklin Templeton’s Mark Mobius said, adding that whil...

At a press briefing held adjunct to the inauguration, Sri Lanka Tea Board Promotions Director Hasitha De Alwis noted that Sri Lanka as a high quality producer does not prioritise on volume. “If you look at value, Sri Lanka despite exporting 300 million kilos and becoming a main exporter has earned much more foreign exchange ...

The inauguration of the 20th Session of the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Inter-Governmental Group on Tea hosted by Sri Lanka was held last night in Colombo. The sessions proper will begin today and go on until 1 February with the participation of delegates from over 25 countries.   Hosted by Sri Lanka ...

MUMBAI (Reuters): Tea prices in India, the world’s second biggest producer, fell at an auction held last week on a seasonal decline in the quality of leaf on offer, though demand was good from local buyers, dealers and industry officials said on Tuesday. The average price of CTC (crush-tear-curl) tea stood at 116.16 rupees per ...

To focus on skills development, trade, investment, sustainable development and business excellence to sustain GDP growth rate of 8%Following is the address delivered by National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka President Asoka Hettigoda at the NCCSL’s 53rd Annual General Meeting Ayubowan, good evening. Let me extend a warm welcome to all of you to ...

The Sri Lanka Tea Board, the apex authority of the tea industry in Sri Lanka, will be hosting the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) 20th Session of the Inter-Governmental Group (IGG) on tea from 30 January to 1 February 2012 in Colombo. At the 19th session held in May 2010 in New Delhi, Sri ...

Sri Lanka businesses and their leaders are optimistic of prospects for 2012 whilst they are also confident the country will progress in the New Year according to key findings of a CEOs survey done by MTI Market Research. “Despite concerns about the global economic outlook, Sri Lankan businesses seem confident that the local economy and ...

(Reuters): General Motors Co regained its title as the world’s top-selling automaker from Japanese rival Toyota Motor Corp in 2011, but the U.S. company faces a challenge to stay on top this year as Toyota rebuilds its disaster-struck business. GM, bouncing back from bankruptcy less than three years ago, said last week it sold 9.026 ...

By Aruni Amarasinghe The newly-appointed Sri Lankan Envoy to Sweden Oshadhi Alahapperuma presented his Credentials to the King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf recently at the Royal Palace in Stockholm. Representing the Sweden Government, the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps called at the Sri Lankan Embassy which is located in the heart of Stockholm and ...

How the key industry progressed last yearBy Cheranka Mendis Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, which saw a 30.8% growth over the previous year in 2011, has been driven by key markets India, UK and Germany and is likely to be the foremost contributor in 2012 as well. Named as ‘Visit Sri Lanka year,’ 2011 saw the ...

Reuters: Sri Lanka may be a minnow in the oil world, but a near total reliance on Iranian crude imports means it has more reason than most to find a way to avoid being caught in the clutches of US sanctions. The island’s only refinery – the 50,000 barrels-a-day Sapugaskanda refinery – is almost entirely ...