As we approach VESAK I am readying myself to witness first hand the hypocrisy of this nation. Led by the government of Sri Lanka and the totally abhorrent laws concerning alcohol its sale and consumption the public led by those with ecclesiastical authority pay scant regard for the laws of Sri Lanka. On the one ...

Sri Lanka spent Rs. 56 b on above-the-line advertising in 2011 Taking wing to India for meetings is a usual routine for any business leader attached to a multinational in Sri Lanka as most such organisations have their regional offices in India. During a recent visit to India, the hype surrounding IPL – 5th edition ...

The need for an integrated program on a war footingIn 2008, eight prizewinning economists were asked to list the type of projects which would do the most good for the most number of poor people, if they had an imaginary $ 75 million to spend. Half of their proposed projects involved nutrition. There has been ...

By Marianne David HSBC and the British Council launched ‘HSBC Youth Enterprise Awards 2012’ yesterday, a business plan contest aimed at recognising young entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka. Open to Sri Lankan undergraduates, postgraduates and students aged 16 to 26 representing universities, private higher education institutions, technical and vocational institutions and professional training ...

HNB Pathum Vimana, the biggest deposit draw in Sri Lanka, has rewarded countless Sri Lankans with amazing prizes over the last twenty years. The lucky winners of the Pathum Vimana 2011 draw received their prizes at a ceremony organized by Hatton National Bank. The prize presentation for the winners was held at HNB Towers on ...

By Faraz Shauketaly The National New Year celebrations – Sinhalese and Tamil New Year – provides an unparalleled opportunity each year to visit friends, relax and simply do nothing. It is also an opportunity to make all the politically correct sound bites and assure anyone and everyone including pedantic outlaws (read in-laws) how very much ...

With ending of the Maha season paddy harvesting, newspapers and TV have been highlighting problems encountered by farmers in disposing of their harvest. Due excellent weather, free from drought, flood and disease, farmers have received a bumper crop but the problem is to convert the harvest into cash, in order to settle debts incurred in ...

The challenges Sri Lanka has to face in its march towards development are manifold. Although the war has ended the wrong political ideologies, the proposals and timetables it created are still in operation. By Government Information Department Additional Director General Chandrapala Liyanage Similarly, various social activity groups and individuals and organisations operating under the advice ...

The appointment of tycoon Harry Jayawardena’s daughter to the Board of Hatton National Bank (HNB) on Friday has brought with it several interesting developments. Harry J resigned from the HNB Board in December 2011 after being on it for over 20 years. Harry-controlled companies own 18.3% voting shares and 15% of total capital. A nominee ...

Seylan Bank has already awarded a total of 7890 winners in its blockbuster ‘Thagi Pita Thagi’ draw since its grand launch in October last year. Hailing from different parts of Sri Lanka, the lucky customers have won from an array of prizes such as monthly Rs. 1 million, motor bikes, LCD TVs, refrigerators, home entertainment ...

The Platinum Honours is an annual event that is held by the Alumni of the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM) in order to recognise the PIM graduates who perform exceptionally well in their careers. This is a prestigious recognition that motivates graduates to continue with significant growth and performance. This year’s ceremony will be held ...

HSBC has partnered the Export Development Board (EDB) to be the Principal Sponsor – Banking Sector of the Sri Lanka Expo 2012, which began yesterday at the BMICH. It is on until Saturday from 10.a.m. to 8.p.m. The premier international trade fair aptly themed ‘Partnering with the Hub of Asia’ is expected to attract over ...

With the recent relaxing of the rupee exchange rate and subsequent increase in fuel prices, trade unions and the opposition parties are conducting protest campaigns against the Government, demanding a reduction in oil prices and the cost of living. This article investigates the living conditions of citizens in the recent past and present, quality and ...

aHSBC has partnered Asia Exhibition and Conventions to hold the biggest exclusive lifestyle fair, ‘The Big Deal,’ scheduled to be held from 23-25 March at the BMICH. This comes in the wake of the bank’s latest campaign, ‘Wake Up!’ which inspires customers to live their unspoken dreams with the assistance of a Lifestyle Loan.   ...

To encourage the habit of saving among the women of Sri Lanka and further strengthen their financial capacity, People’s Bank has named the period between 8 March and 8 April as ‘Vanitha Vasana Month in commemorating International Women’s Day. People’s Bank CEO/GM N. Vasantha Kumar accepting a ‘Vanitha Vasana’ deposit as Head Office Branch Manager ...

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 ...

Sri Lanka’s most popular deposit draw scheme ‘HNB Pathum Vimana 2012’ was launched recently for the 20th year, offering   prizes worth millions of rupees and many more. In an interview, HNB Assistant General Manager, Personal Financial Services R.M.P Dayawansa said HNB Pathum Vimana is the most attractive rewarding scheme in the country that has been ...

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 ...

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 ...

Sri Lanka’s Nations Trust Bank has launched a promotional campaign in a bid to reward its existing savings account holders. Under the campaign which will be held every quarter of the year, the Bank is planning to offer an array of electrical household appliances for its customers. Customers who maintain a minimum balance of Rs. 5000 continuously ...

Sri Lanka’s benchmark stock index, the world’s worst performer this year, may extend its slump as the central bank raises interest rates to curb inflation, according to HSBC Holdings Plc’s private banking unit. HSBC Private Bank, which oversees about $499 billion, will wait for stock valuations to fall to “single digit” multiples before it considers ...

Secretary to the Secretary to the Ministry of Coconut Development and Janatha Estate Development has been appointed to the Board of Aviva NDB Insurance Plc with effect from 8 February 2012. Siriwardena already serves on the Board of NDB Bank Plc., on to which he was appointed in June 2010. He has been appointed to ...

The People’s Bank ‘Jaya Sri 2012’ draw was unveiled on 1 February with a view of presenting everyone an opportunity to grab the prizes they always wanted. To mark the opening of this programme, a special ceremony was held on 1 February at the Headquarters Branch under the patronage of People’s Bank CEO and General ...

“It is unlikely that in making his overstatement on development that the President was seeking to downplay the achievements of the past by his illustrious predecessors in the governance of the country. In the 1950s there was the Gal Oya development scheme that opened up the vast territories of thick jungle land in the east ...

Independent Television Network which has been feted with many Awards is again crowned as the Peoples channel. It has again won the highest number of Awards at the People’s Awards Festival. The Peoples Awards Night was held at Water’s Edge in Battaramulla last night under the patronage of Minister Patalie Champika Ranawaka. This unique event ...