LTTE rump groups and pro-LTTE organisations are trying hard to achieve their separatist ideology in the countryDefence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Tuesday said that there is a possibility of the re-emergence of the LTTE in Sri Lanka, as LTTE sympathisers abroad are still struggling to achieve the LTTE’s separatist ideology in the country. He made ...

The Daily FT’s exclusive expose of Aitken Spence Plc’s pullout from Sri Lanka’s biggest ever FDI project – the upcoming US$ 500 million Colombo South Container Terminal sent shock waves in corporate, shipping, political and diplomatic circles yesterday whilst investors found

Post-war rebounding Sri Lanka has entered for the first time the Most Valuable Nation Brands ranking compiled by UK-based Brand Finance debuting at number 76 with a value of $ 23 billion. A world renowned specialist in the subject Brand Finance’s 2011 ranking reveals brand ‘Sri Lanka’ is worth $ 23 billion (Rs. 2.6 trillion) ...

POST-war Sri Lanka has entered yet another New Year and come May, the nation will be celebrating three full years since the end of the conflict or fight against terrorism. The Chief Executive of the country President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his message to the nation on New Year sounded emphatic: “Embracing all the victories we ...

Special communiqué listing actions taken issued to travel and hotel trade as a confidence building measure Working closely with the defence authorities to ensure greater protection for tourists in possible vulnerable areas Both tourism and law enforcement authorities have thus far successfully handled the unfortunate gruesome attack on a tourist couple in Tangalle over the ...

By Cheranka Mendis The tea industry anticipates mixed signals as the year closes on a high amidst Middle Eastern turmoil which spells evil in the coming year. The industry which is likely to close the year with export revenue exceeding the previous year’s number and breaking the record production volume of 2010, is expected to ...

By Chamitha Kuruppu Sri Lanka’s largest and one of the oldest political parties, the UNP for the first time in its history will hold an election today to elect its leadership. The decision to fix the dates for the much hyped election was taken by the working committee on Sunday. The working committee had decided ...

Plastic crates: Universally used in agri markets In 2002, the writer had a chance of visiting a few farms in Czech Republic, some 200 kilometres away from its capital, Prague. They were all medium sized farms owned by private individuals producing such products as vegetables, fruits and honey. At the time of the writer’s visit, ...

The right to privacy is our right to keep a domain around us, which includes all those things that are part of us, such as our body, home, thoughts, feelings, secrets and identity. The right to privacy gives us the ability to choose which parts in this domain can be accessed by others, and to ...

Hutch Lanka is investing US$ 65 million to upgrade and expand its services in the coming year says a top official, with plans to become the latest entrant into the 3G sphere. Hutchison Telecommunications Lanka better known as Hutch launched in 2004 and to date has maintained a consistent but largely unaggressive presence in the ...

Prof. Yunus of Grameen Bank fame in Sri Lanka to promote social business By Uditha Jayasinghe In order to promote inclusive and sustainable development, the flaws of capitalism must be fixed, said Nobel Laureate Prof. M. Yunus, who landed in Sri Lanka last afternoon ahead of a corporate seminar today. Creating and implementing the idea ...

Extracts from Nihal Sri Ameresekere’s Fundamental Rights Application on the ‘Expropriation Law’: Part 2 1.In my D.C. Colombo Case No. 3155/Spl instituted on 13.9.1990 vis-à-vis the major fraud perpetrated on HDL and the Government, as its Guarantor, the Defendants were very politically powerful and influential parties. District Judge, P. Wijeyaratne demonstrating the indepen...

By Cheranka Mendis Sunquick Sri Lanka, the much loved super concentrated fruit quash will today bring home the prestigious Co-Ro Best country award also known as the Global Sunquick best awards. The award is an annual presentation by the brand owners of Sunquick, Co-Ro Food A/S, a Danish Company awarded for the country that marks ...

 Mahinda urges brokers to venture overseas, market post-warSri Lanka among foreigners;  reach out and educate rural investors Cautions against pump and dump, thereby avoid sharp pricefluctuations endangering innocent investors Brokers say ASI dropping 2,000 points, PE down to 13 times from 26 create conducive environment for relaxed rules President Mahinda Rajapaksa stresses a point duri...

Mere news of Presidential meeting with brokers boosts stock market Benchmark index ASI up near 4%, highest daily gain in 15 months Market’s value swellsby Rs. 79 b Second tier and speculative stocks first to rebound with retail play; blue chips gain moderately The mere news of President Mahinda Rajapaksa meeting brokers, as exclusively reported ...

No unanimity on exchange rate movement A front page headline news item in this paper on last Saturday had reported on an apparent division of opinion between the two top policy makers of the country, namely the Treasury Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera and the Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal, on the depreciation of the ...

With reference to the Daily FT 14 November 2011 article ‘Basil bats for revival bill,’ Colombo Hilton promoter and former Chairman of Hotel Developers Lanka Plc Cornel Perera has sent the following rebuttal:The article contained the full speech by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa

President Mahinda Rajapaksa presents development-oriented fiscal programme for 2012 and medium-term policy framework with support for almost all key segments of society and economy In their initial takes, overall welcome tone from private sector, though a few express concerns on select proposals President and Finance Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday presented what the Government described as ....

By Devin Jayasundera Siedles (Pvt) Ltd. in its attempt to expand the Sony customer base in Sri Lanka and to provide a world class service to its cutomers launched a state-of-the-art Sony showroom at 150/3, Ward Place, Colombo 7 last week. The flagship Sony showroom equipped with the latest modern designs and sleek interior is ...

All of the Commonwealth will today focus on the crucial vote for the host of 2018 Commonwealth Games with Sri Lankan contingent publicly and personally upbeat about candidate city Hambantota’s chances. Sri Lanka’s spirited southern port city Hambantota and Australia’s Gold Coast need minimum 36 votes out of 71 Commonwealth Games Associations at the CGF ...

This is the seventh 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

nUNP, TNA express opposition; Govt. to go ahead by tabling the Bill in Parliament next week The contentious Takeover Bill on underperforming State enterprises and underutilised assets had come under fire by the Opposition at the Party Leaders meeting yesterday in Parliament. At the meeting, representatives of the UNP and TNA have vehemently opposed the ...

I still remember the thoughts that crossed my mind on the day that Harvard University announced the top 50 candidates for the 2011 Global Leaders in Development forum. The excitement was high, but then again the commitment to me personally in Sri Lanka made it a catch 22 decision. The decision was tougher, given that ...

The courage the Government has demonstrated in cancelling the CATIC deal and yet feeling secure, rather than embarrassed by it, must be recognised. It is a responsible step, a prudent decision, which will have enduring benefit both in terms of national policy and FDI strategy. This step will also earn the respect of the indigenous ...

Analysts upbeat new valuation will spur fresh buyingProving Daily FT’s concerns right, the Colombo stock market yesterday crashed to its lowest level in 2011, but a chorus is growing that new valuation will spur a fresh round of buying with some already collecting available quantities

Ganesan calls for grand opposition alliance Leader of the Democratic People’s Front (DPF) Mano Ganesan is once again in the limelight of country’s political scene, following his impressive performance at the recently-concluded local authority elections. Ganesan told the Daily FT

Growth assets are a good investment in the current climate Felix Stephen is the Manager Investment Strategy and Research at Advance Asset Management Ltd., Sydney, aapart of Westpac, which is one of the big four banks in Australia. He spoke to the Daily FT about the global economy and investment

For representing some of his victimised members at a media briefing on Wednesday the chief of the Eksath Velanda Sangamaya of the Nugegoda Janatha Pola has been mercilessly and undemocratically shut out from his livelihood. UNP MP Dr. Harsha de Silva yesterday alleged that the head of the traders’ union P.W. Pathirana had originally received ...

of the municipality on an election extravaganza. In a candid interview with the Daily FT, the ...

By Uditha Jayasinghe Brewed by external demand reductions and local policies, Sri Lanka’s value-added tea exports are declining while bulk shipments are increasing, resulting in a possible drop in earnings, industry experts warned yesterday.  Terming the reduction in value-added tea as a “disturbing trend,” Asia Siyaka Commodities said in a review report that Sri Lanka’...