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Tech Talks
UK based Adam Smith Institute secured the mandate to prepare the groundwork for a new telecomm and ICT regulator.The Science & Technology Ministry said Thursday that a team, which also includes top Finnish telecom expert Arno Wirzenius, would start work next Monday.rn rnUnder the procurement procedure, the consultant has to write out the terms of […]
Niche Banking
Standard Chartered Bank is coming out with lquote Select, a new wealth management product, to manage upper middle class segments personal banking needs.The bank is also betting on an upsurge in credit demand to fuel its consumer and retail banking operations this year.rn rnStandard Chartered just concluded a merger with ANZ Grindlays Bank to become […]
Interesting Rates
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerces Import Section is lobbying with fiscal authorities to ensure commercial banks reduce their lending rates in line with Central Banks recent rate cut.The Treasury and the CentralBank in its persistent efforts to reduce lending rates to the Business Sector, has on many occasions during the last year reduced theReserve Requirement, […]
Call To Account
Pramuka Employees picketing in front of the audit firm, KPMG Ford Rhodes and Thornton, alleged that the audit firm had failed to detect massive accounting frauds at the bank.ldblquote The Audited accounts pertaining to Pramuka Bank had not portrayed a true and fair view of its state of affaires, dblquote Pramuka Employees Association President Sunimal […]
Small Hands
A white paper on wide ranging reforms to support and strengthen the small and medium sector has moved from the drawing board to the government for approval. rnBacked by the Asian Development Bank, the reforms form the basis of a proposed national policy on SME quote s, with a draft action plan spread out over […]
Rolling Dice
The government has shelved plans to privatise the state owned Development Lotteries Board following opposition from President Chandrika Kumaratunga.ldblquote The privatisation process has been put off, instead we are hoping to re-organise Development Lotteries Board by introducing innovative products to popularise lotteries in Sri Lanka, dblquote Chairman, J K Fernando told journalists on Monday.rn rnHowever, […]
MICE Map
SriLankan Airlines launched their first MICE Travel brochure today, tapping into a niche market of lquote meetings, exhibitions and conference travellers. Driven by the belief that Sri Lanka can offer much more than the sun, surf and sand, hard driven efforts have been underway by the industry to tap into high-spending corporate tourists rn rnThe […]
Oversubscribed
The governments inaugural 10-year bond issue to one billion rupees was oversubscribed by nearly eight times on Friday.The bonds carry an annual coupon of eight and a half percent and a nine percent yield.rn rnHowever, at Fridays close, 5-year bonds were trading at 9.8 percent on the secondary market.rn rnDealers expect yields to slip further […]
Runaway Runway
The government is reconsidering its plans to build a second runway at the Katunayake international airport.The proposal ran into trouble due to heavy protests by residents who would loose their homes in land acquisitions for the new runway.rn rnPlans for the second runway at the countries only international airport were drafted to make the country […]
Fine Tuning
A team from the IMF is expected soon to start final negotiations on a structural adjustment loan expected by March this year.The International Monetary Fund team will arrive on January 20, to negotiate the final terms of a long-term loan.The IMF board could approve the loan in March if the terms are finalized during the […]