Stretch Factor

Sri Lankan investors stretched their resources to dip into plantation stocks with exposure to rubber, demand created by a giant leap in rubber prices from an 2002 average of below Rs. 55.00 to Rs. 110.00 for March forward prices. Why the high price? Chinas growing appetite for consumer goods with its expanding middle class, an […]

Back To Basics

Its back to the lquote nuts and bolts this year, says Board of Investment chief, with plans for 2003 aimed at getting development of a much-needed highway network, off ground.In an interview with Lanka Business Online, BOI Chief Arjuna Mahendran mapped out a game plan for the year, with the list trimmed down to getting […]

Looking Ahead

2003 will be an eventful year says commodity brokers Asia Siyaka.A round up of the year highlights key event in the tea industry. National Policy The Sri Lanka Tea industry could expect a very eventful year in 2003 with many significant domestic and intentional issues likely to have an impact on the market. The government […]

Rolling Business

Bluechip firms are top contenders for a stake in the Sri Lankan lquote sweep industry and are among 30 parties who have taken bid documents, their ticket to battle for the management of offline lotteries of the National Lotteries Board.The Public Enterprises Reform Commission (PERC) in the spirit of the past holidays has extended a […]

Small Change

Compensation as an alternative to reinstatement was removed from the amendments, one of the few changes made to the original amendments to four labour related acts proposed by the Ministry of Employment and Labour. The change was also in line with Union protests to remove the clause from the amendments.rnrnOther changes included time extensions for […]

Ringing Loud

Sri Lanka Telecom on Thursday reported a 38 percent surge in after tax profits for the nine months ending September 30, 2002.SLTs net profits touched Rs. 2.425 mn up from Rs. 1.763 mn in 2001. Its revenues rose 15 percent to Rs.18.579 mn as against Rs. 16.159 mn in the same period 2001.rn rnOperating profits […]

Air Lock

Talks that started last year with US based Lockheed Martin for Air Traffic management, could bear fruit with an MOU to be signed shortly with the Board of Investment. In 2002, the BOI got an unsolicited proposal from a consortium including Lockheed Martin & Airways to take over the upper airspace management.rn rnThe proposal also […]

Paid Pensions

The new contributory pension fund for public servants has not got parliamentary approval as unions opposing the deal have sought legal action.The present Employees Provident Fund Act will be amended to include the new Public Service Provident Fund.rn rnThe new pension scheme will kick in from January 1, 2003, with new recruits to the public […]

Yankee Ties

Eleven local Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) firms will head for the US next week, a mission to woo new business and investment. The weeklong USAID programme will take the local troop to top Information Technology (IT) firms and other IT driven industries in the Washington and Silicone Valley areas.rn rnMeetings will include an appointment […]

Lending Cheap

The Central Bank on Tuesday cut key short-term rates by 75 basis points in line with its policy of lowering lending rates.The bank lowered the reverse repurchase rate (reverse repo) to 11 percent and the repurchase rate (repo) to 9 percent. These are the lowest rates since May, 2000. rn rnThe Central Bank expects financial […]

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