Etched in Stone

Houses stuck together like a long stretch of sliced sandwich bread is a common sight in most parts of Colombo, but despite the increasing housing density in urban areas Sri Lanka lacks any standards on building them.“There is no national policy or even a set of minimum Sri Lankan standards to ensure quality when building […]

Stay Put

Stockbrokers Asia Securities has downgraded Asian Hotels & Properties (AHPL) to hold, based on its poor short-medium term earnings prospects and an uncertain investment climate.rnrn Asian Hotels rnlong-term growth potential critically depends on the success of its new rnapartment complex endash The Monarch endash and the ability of its new management to add rnvalue to […]

Holiday Exchange

RCI, a vacation ownership exchange is setting up shop here to promote the island as a holiday destination to its membership.The exchange allows members to trade their pre-booked holiday retreats or time-share holidays in an RCI affiliated resort for a week or more in other affiliated facilities around the world. rn rnRCI says it has […]

Short Haul

International tourist traffic could dip to 900 mn tourists from earlier targets of 1 bn in 2010, as global events radically alter the dynamics of future travel.rnrn Travel dictated by global terrorism, disease and weak economies have cut back on long haul travel with as much as 80 percent visiting lquote close-to-home.rn rn”About 80 percent […]

Custom Made

Sri Lanka Customs Superintendent Athula Lankadevas residence in Maharagama was given security from Monday night.Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama met top Customs and Police officials on Monday to deal with the problem of providing security to customs officers under threat.rn rnLankadeva is currently conducting a revenue fraud investigation into the import of GoldQuest gold medals […]

Parliament Quotes

The Court of Appeal issued notice on two Sri Lankan members of Parliament, the Elections Commissioner and the Secretary General of the governing party on Monday. A Writ Application filed by Sunanda Deshapriya, a Co-convenor of the Center for Monitoring Election Violence was heard on Monday.rn rnThe Appeal Court, considering the petition issued notice on […]

Port of Call

The business plans for Colombos South Harbour development was finalised last week, now requiring State approval to tap donor assistance to finance the US$ 300 million Government component of the project. The Asian Development Bank sponsored business plan prepared by UK based consultants Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick and Company Limited was up for final approval by […]

Thinking of U

A new government sponsored agency under the Presidents control and headed by a top bureaucrat has been put in charge of policy formulation and implementation. The National Council for Economic Development (NCED), manned by a team of professionals from the private and public sector will seek wide participation in policy formulation. Experts say getting the […]

Govt. Inc.

The government is going to expand its role in the economy with more spending on infrastructure and subsidies.Unveiling the governments economic policy the finance minister also said the government would push for growth in the agriculture sector to bridge the disparity in regional GDP and to achieve self-sufficiency in food. rn rnRuling UPFA government economic […]

Racket Busting

Treasury Secretary Dr. P B Jayasundera says the government is formulating new laws to stop international racketeers from using local financial markets to launder funds collected through illegal means.The new money laundering law would be one of the pieces of draft legislation coming under the financial sector reform cell of the newly created National Committee […]

Tussle With Tuskers

Companies are paying more attention to the effect of their operations on stakeholders besides their owners. Although not regulated, businesses take the environment and other social concerns in to account because they think being accountable to the public is in their long-term interest.The Pelwatte sugar plantation is a popular spot for hungry elephants from the […]

Page 2857 of 3054