Category: Industry
Seed Cover
July 20, 2007 (LBO) – HNB Assurance, a unit of Hatton National Bank, has tied up with the micro finance arm of Sarvodaya, a non-governmental organization, to launch micro insurance products for rural families.The micro insurance scheme ‘Sathkara’ has already been launched in Galle, Matara, Vavuniya and Batticaloa Sarvodaya societies as pilot projects to educate […]
Pricing Practice
July 20, (LBO) – Sri Lankan exporters and importers have called for a regulator to monitor the pricing practices of shipping lines, as freight rates move up and exporters are hit with fees outside the quoted rates. Jayanath Perera, outgoing chairman of the Sri Lanka Shippers’ Council, industry body representing firms engaged in international trade, […]
‘s Malinga to bowl apparel brand
July 19, 2007 (LBO) – One of Sri Lanka’s top clothing exporters, Brandix Lanka, has hired fashionable fast bowler Lasith Malinga as the group’s ‘brand ambassador’. Malinga, whose tinted curls and explosive round arm action made him a star attraction at the 2007 Cricket World Cup, will promote its corporate social responsibility and human resources […]
Machine Time
July 19, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s construction industry is looking for foreign partners to set up a machinery leasing company that would be especially useful for the large number of small and medium firms that dominate the sector. “The CCI is looking at having machinery and equipment to service the needs not only of […]
Aborted Flights
July 19, 2007 (AFP) – Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways said Thursday that it was pulling out of Sri Lanka, citing a sharp drop in tourist traffic to the tropical island due to ongoing fighting between government and rebel forces. Sri Lanka’s 26-billion-dollar economy earned 130.8 million dollars from tourism between January and April, a 15 […]
‘s tooth buried in forehead
SYDNEY, July 17, 2007 (AFP) – An Australian rugby player who went to his doctor with severe headaches was amazed to find he’d been living with an opponent’s tooth embedded in his forehead for months, it was reported Tuesday.Ben Czislowski clashed heads with an opponent during a game in the Queensland Cup competition in early […]
Earthquake
July 18, 2007 (LBO) – An earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale had occurred in the Bay of Bengal 510 kilometres to the East of the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, the US Geological Survey said. The breach occurred 35 kilometer below the surface of the earth at 04:27:28 Universal Time, or 09.57 am local […]
Good Banking
July 18, 2007 (LBO) – The financial journal Euromoney has named Commercial Bank as Sri Lanka’s best bank in its 2007 survey, the bank said Wednesday. The magazine’s Asian regional awards recognise the best banks in 16 countries. It has listed Commercial Bank alongside other country winners such as ICICI Bank (India), China Merchant Bank […]
Borrow Gold
July 17, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s gem and jewellery industry is lobbying for new financial instruments like ‘gold loans’ to get cost effective funds for those in the trade, especially small businesses. “Valuations can be dealt with,” said Ellawala. “But having it in the vault is not feasible. After all, this is your working […]
Air Pocket
July 17, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lankan Airline’s consolidated after tax profits dived 50 percent to 862.1 million in the year ended March 2007 the carrier said, as tourists shied off the war ravaged island and fuel costs climbed . . “The largest single factor that affected the airline’s bottom-line was the return to hostilities […]
Joint Service
July 17, 2007 (LBO) – DFCC Vardhana Bank (DVB) has teamed up with Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC) to introduce insurance products to consumers in parallel to banking services. ‘Vardhana Assurance’ makes available life, motor and general insurance, covering marine, title, mortgage plans. “All life insurance policies will be underwritten by the SLIC,” Nalaka Godahewa, […]
Monthlies
July 16, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will adjust fuel prices monthly on a transparent formula to cut losses in petroleum utilities, an official said, which is expected to reduce exchange rate pressure and avoid the build-up of macro-economic imbalances. Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Chairman Ashantha de Mel says a cabinet sub-committee on energy had […]