Show and Tell

Sri Lanka is drumming up support for an annual regional export sector exhibition, kicking off its campaign with a 4-day local event in November 2004. A regional event is expected to foster greater inter-Asian trade and push down trade barriers, while giving local exporters an opportunity to attract regional investment partners.rn rnThe South Asian Association […]

Calling Colombo

The HSBC Group on Friday finalized plans to pump in US$ 25 mn to set up its seventh group service centre in Sri Lanka, generating over 2000 jobs. The call centre will be the largest such project in the country taking Sri Lanka into the big leagues of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO).rn rnThe project is […]

Number Crunching

Sri Lankas national accounting body is pumping more money into spreading the gospel of good accounting practices throughout the country.The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (ICASL), the countrys auditing standard setting body, will spend millions of rupees this year to improve its educational services.rn rnAs it is, the institute caters to a student […]

Good Show

The advertising industry is riding the spending wave from the last two years of economic growth and the SLIM awards organisers are looking at maintaining momentum despite new food advertising regulations coming in on April 1st.Advertising agencies say that most clients loosened budget strings last year and became more adventurous with advertising messages and methods […]

It Stinks!

Although once lucky with SARS and twice lucky so far with the Avian Flu the next outbreak of a new infectious disease could push luck beyond its limits – but at this point Sri Lanka has very little but luck to count on.Sri Lanka is a high-risk candidate for foreign infectious diseases but the countrys […]

Whos The Fool?

A new law to label food items gets activated from April 1, giving traders barely a month to redesign their packaging materials.April is certainly looking to be an eventful month for the local business sector.rn rnOn top of general election mayhem and disruptive New Year work breaks, everyone in the business of putting food on […]

Bending Rules

The government will amend its newly minted labour retrenchment formula to raise the maximum compensation ceiling from 30 to 50 months of salary.rnrn The new ceiling will apply to all firms with a net profit of more than Rs. 100 mn and governed by a collective agreement, Labour Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said Thursday.rn rnThe changes […]

Korean Chips

Koreas Myunghim Lanka (Pvt) Ltd has signed up to build a US$ 18 mn township development project in Kalutara.The Board of Investment says the 100 percent South Korean investment will be spread over three-years, to give the Kalutara town a face lift.rn rnThe project would evolve in eight phases. rn rnFirst a Public Market with […]

Ouch

Nawaloka Hospitals says it is forced to nurse a Rs. 85 mn in debt and interest payments as its initial share issue gets delayed due to political theatrics.The hospital, which enjoys a healthy Rs. 125 mn in revenues per month, was hoping to raise Rs.300 mn through an initial public offering.rn rnNawaloka Hospitals (Pvt) Ltd, […]

Worker Rule

The newly minted labour compensation formula is likely to be amended, after union agitation to leave it flexible for negotiation.Under proposed changes, all firms governed by a collective agreement, with a profit in excess of Rs.100 mn, will not be subject to the 30 month compensation ceiling.rn rnIt will be left to the Labour Commissioners […]

Within The Ranks

Police inspectors and sub-inspectors are tipped to take home an additional Rs. 900 every month above their salaries, calculated as set out in the 2004 budget.rnrnA committee appointed by Finance Minister K. N. Choksy to look into raising salaries of the Police force came back with the decision on Tuesday.rn rnHowever, the recommended increment is […]

Soothing Balm

Finance Minister K N Choksy has appointed a committee to look into raising salaries of the Police force.Salaries of the armed forces and the police, were revised upwards from January, as part of an overall increment for government employees.rn rnBut the police force is not too happy with the 10 percent or Rs. 1,250 increment. […]

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