With just 12 days to go, Sri Lanka’s largest mega trade, investment and tourism promotion initiative ‘Expo 2012’ has attracted close to 1,200 people, exceeding the expected 1,000 mark, EDB Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said yesterday. Speaking to the Daily FT, he asserted

The inaugural Future Marketers Conference of The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), Sri Lanka Region, will be held on 17 March 2012 at the Grand Ballroom, Galadari Hotel Colombo from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Student Committee of CIM Sri Lanka Region, comprising of 17 members who are students and practicing marketershave taken great ...

With its seventh birthday coming up this May, The Commons continues to keep diners and coming back for more with new menus and a maintained standard that’s hard to meet. Chic yet laid back, The Commons has continuously introduced new products and services along with its excellent restaurant menu. Spearheaded by Chef Manoj, the Commons ...

Malaysia’s second largest financial services provider CIMB Group is bullish on post-war Sri Lanka and prospects for financial services. Early this week CIMB entered into a strategic collaboration with John Keells Stock Brokers as part of a phased entry in to Sri Lanka. CIMB Group is also one of ASEAN’s leading universal banking groups and ...

Thousands of women in the apparel industry deserve respect for being partners in Sri Lanka’s highest foreign exchange earning sector By Uditha Jayasinghe Sri Lanka’s apparel industry clothes the world and earns the largest amount of foreign exchange but is struggling to retain its workforce as an estimated 30,000 vacancies remain open in hundreds of ...

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 converting business ideas into an action program is based upon seven principles: Team members’ ideas for improving how work is done are valuable as they are derived from first-hand experience of their organisation’s waste of time, effort and materials. Team members’ voluntary contributions of ideas result in greater productivity and enhanced service quality. Coaxing ...

SLIC books hefty Rs. 4 b capital gain as an eager Harry secures large block; Ups control to 40.8%; Melstacorp to revise Spence mandatory offer price to Rs. 115 per share from Rs. 113 Business tycoon Harry Jayawardena-linked Melstacorp Ltd. yesterday acquired a strategic block of an 11% stake in Aitken Spence Plc for Rs. ...

Minority shareholders are strongly objecting to Watawala Plantation Plc’s (WATA) proposed sale of its marketing subsidiary, the company’s cash cow, to majority shareholder Estate Management Services Ltd. Their opposition is likely to be vehemently expressed today at the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) convened for shareholder approval. Last month, WATA in a brief filing to the ...

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 ...

By Cheranka Mendis The much anticipated fashion event for the year, HSBC Colombo Fashion Week (HSBC CFW) will start its three day journey today evening at Hilton Colombo. Everything is ready for an event that has reached the ‘tier two’ in fashion, on par with the famed Barcelona and Madrid Fashion Weeks CFW President Ajai ...

Executive Vice President and CEO says IFC will explore a good mix of enhanced financing and advisory services on a range of sectors apart from promoting FDIs to the country Encouraged by the post-war optimism the World Bank’s private sector investment arm – International Finance Corporation (IFC) yesterday revealed plans to expand its support in ...

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 ...

State giant’s leadership in general insurance gets stronger on high growth Harry J’s Continental fastest growing in 2011 Top four players ranking intact amidst mixed performance Overall General insurance market enjoys 20% growth as against 11% in 2010 The highly-competitive general insurance industry last year had enjoyed healthy growth, with State-owned giant Sri Lanka Insurance ...

Contrary to exaggerated claims the EPF investments in to the stock market last week had amounted to only less than 10% of market activity and unlike some past contentious buys, this time around it had focused on blue chips. The total turnover of the Colombo bourse last week was Rs. 8.6 billion and local purchases ...

ASI gains by 5% as Bourse’s value swells by Rs. 96 b Brokers positive after fresh meeting with SEC EPF, private institutional and high networth investors active on attractive valuations The Colombo stock market yesterday produced a major rebound gaining by 5% thanks what some described as “spirited support” whilst others emphasised it was largely due ...

UNP MP and its chief spokesman on the economy Dr. Harsha de Silva is expected to ask in Parliament today the Government stand on the remaining tranche worth US$ 800 million of the IMF assistance via its Stand-By-Arrangement (SBA). There hasn’t been a clear stand on the part of the Government during and following the ...

This is the 14th article in the Daily FT’s fortnightly series titled ‘Business of Sports,’ focusing on the back office of the various sports administered and played in this country. Readers are invited to share their views and express their opinion via email to editor@ft.lk

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa is charging that UNP MP and its Chief Economic Spokesman Dr. Harsha de Silva’s outburst and criticism over growing economic cooperation between Sri Lanka and China was in bad taste and made with dangerous political twist. “He (de Silva) is trying to pit China against Sri Lanka’s friendly nations such ...

After statements to the contrary by Governor over applicable interest rate and on which loan amount, monetary authority issues clarification For few days, the not so ‘whole truth’ was out in the market, but perhaps due to the Opposition’s fire and realising the blunder and implications, a better-late-than-never conspicuous correction termed “clarification” has finally...

told the Daily FT that the company would work towards achieving “high double-digit growth,R...

COLOMBO: Legendary Sri Lankan cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga on Thursday slammed his country’s sacking of Australian coach Geoff Marsh as “disgraceful” and “unprofessional”. Marsh was this week replaced by South African Graham Ford. Former cricket captain Tillakaratne Dilshan (L) shakes hands with newly appointed national cricket team captain Mahela Jayawardene afte...

Effects first major move to become a self-made entrepreneur; his new venture N Capital acquires 70% stake Aspires to make iconic 35-room resort luxurious with Rs. 500 m investment to add 50 more rooms under a new wing and plush refurbishment Says deep south will be centre of economic, tourism and recreation boom with air ...

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) is optimistic on Sri Lanka given the strong post-war upside for the economy and capital markets and is urging the country and companies to harness the global giant’s strengths and reach to grow better. “Following the end of the conflict, Sri Lanka has evolved with an attractive and strong growth ...

Confirming the Daily FT’s exclusive expose on 11 January, Aitken Spence Plc yesterday officially announced in a filing to the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) it was selling its 30% stake in the venture to build the Colombo South Container Terminal. Via the announcement Spence said its associated

The world famous London Stock Exchange Group (LSE), whose origins could be traced back to 300 years, will hold its first-ever Board of Directors meeting in Colombo today. LSE Chief Executive Officer Xavier Rolet confirmed to the Daily FT yesterday that though the organisation has held Board

Several leading experts will deal with different policy conflicts in capital markets on Friday at a top seminar organised by the Institute of Chartered Secretaries of Sri Lanka (ICCS) in partnership with the Daily FT. Colombo Stock Exchange Chairman Krishan Balendra, Heraymila Securities CO Ravi

Last year when I got the opportunity of attending the summer programme at Harvard, one of the sessions that really got my attention was a session titled ‘Corporate Athleticism’. Coming back to Sri Lanka I was eager to bring to life this new theory called ‘Corporate Athleticism,’ which in actual fact was practiced by many ...

Ariyaseela Wickramanayake renews call for greater import substitution on food items Warns country is sinking owing to rising import bill of products which can be locally sourced Business leader Ariyaseela Wickramanayake is renewing his call for greater import substitution of food items by slapping higher levies on foreign products, thereby boosting local supplies. He said ...

by Nisthar Cassim Youthful MP Namal Rajapaksa is reiterating that mega developments in Hambantota which are having benefits to the rest of the country were taking shape and urged the private sector to cash in early with a mindset of “positivism.”  “We are going ahead with our plans and efforts as we firmly believe in ...