Author: lbostgadmin
Under The Banyan
The Deer Park Hotel will only be the first of a number of Banyan Tree Group getaways in Sri Lanka.Nihal Jinasena, Chairman of the Jinasena Group told LBO that the Banyan Tree officials had hinted their interest to develop more properties with the group in Sri Lanka.rn rnDeveloping a 1-kilometre beach stretch owned by Banyan […]
Small Bite
The Colombo Stock Exchange is talking to Central Bank to get access to 5 percent of the primary government securities market.If approved, the move would amount to CSE accessing the primary government securities market without being appointed a primary dealer.rn rnldblquote Its a model similar to what is happening in India, dblquote explains Hiran Mendis, […]
Call Me
Keen to grow its rural customer base, Hutchison Telecom is offering free incoming calls for a minimum monthly bill of Rs. 499.00.The minimum charge including rental will leave the customer with Rs. 324.00 worth of calling time. rnrnHutchisons Telecom Chief Executive Tirukumar Nadarasa says studies within their customer base show that free incoming call was […]
MICE Lounge
Meetings and conference travelers are thronging to Sri Lanka, overshooting expected targets to 18 percent of all tourist arrivals in 2003.ldblquote Already at mid year we are 60 percent over target and we expect that we can capture 18 percent of tourist arrivals this year. This is more than the 15 percent we projected for […]
Early Release
State run Bank of Ceylon has announced an across the board, early retirement scheme for its 9,000 odd staff.The announcement was made in response to requests from unions to allow employees with family commitments to leave early without losing their pension rights.rn rnEmployees who reach 50 years of age and have put in 20 years […]
Quicksand
A pilot project to mine Sri Lanka’s seabed off the Western coast for offshore sand to sustain a flagging construction industry, has gone up for Treasury approval.Spearheaded by the Coast Conservation Department of the Fisheries Ministry, the initial project cost to the tune of US$ 5 mn, is to be funded by the Dutch Government.rn […]
Pirates Ahoy
Parliament is expected to push through the long over due Intellectual Property Act by mid June.Parliament gave the Act a preliminary hearing on May 22 with officials now expecting the Prime Ministers interest in the new legislation to accelerate the process.rn rnAn out of court dispute resolution mechanism is among the highlights in the new […]
Money Spinner
Guardian Investment will raise Rs. 130 million through a 1:5 rights issue to fund its portfolio expansion.The Ceylon Gurdian Investments Trust Limiteds Director P C P Tissera told LBO that new investment options could include power and infrastructure projects, in addition to stocks.rn rnThe company is also re-evaluating its investment policy in order to restructure […]
Gateway To Success
Experts say the country will have to diversify its export base in the face of stiff price competition from other large exporters like China. Some companies have already started going higher up the export value chain, franchising local IT development skills to the international market.rn rnGateway Institutes Kids Computer School for Kids is pioneering in […]
Click Online
Key stakeholders in the private sector, government and the donor community are getting together to set up a Development Portal, aligned with a larger World Bank development initiative.The web site portal is being billed as an important link in the government e-Sri Lanka initiative.rn rnThe web site plans to connect the countries development partners from […]
Wider Definition
The countrys banking laws will be amended this year to regulate dozens of unlicensed deposit taking companies.Authorities are considering Amendments to the Banking Act with a fresh definition of what constitutes a lquote Deposit.rn rnExperts say the Amendments will prevent unregulated Limited Liability Companies from taking public deposits unless they come under the Banking Act.rn […]
Green Blues
Lawmakers are starting to take the mushrooming finance and investment companies seriously.A high-powered committee looking at financial sector reforms is now trying to widen the regulatory net to cover all companies collecting public funds. While most of these operate beyond the scope of regulators some are using loopholes in the law the to avoid regulation […]