Category: Industry
Foundation Stone
June 27, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapakse Tuesday launched a new state-own development bank aimed at assisting small and medium scale entrepreneurs. The Lankaputhra Development Bank, kicked off with 1.5 billion rupee seed capital from the treasury, with a further 2.0 billion rupees expected from the Private Sector Infrastructure Development Fund. “We […]
Cable Guys
June 26, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Monday asked satellite television broadcasters to get themselves registered and fixed an annual fee of 500,000 rupees. The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission said cable distribution networks and satellite communications networks have to apply by July 21, 2006 to secure a license. It applies to all satellite or cable television […]
Pressure Points
BANGALORE, India, June 25, 2006 (AFP) – Soaring salaries and poor quality of manpower are prompting foreign firms to shut their outsourcing operations in India although there is no cause for alarm yet, officials and analysts say.US-based Apple Computer and software maker Pervasive have been joined by Powergen, a British subsidiary of German energy supplier […]
Nice Fit?
KUALA LUMPUR, June 25, 2006 (AFP) – Malaysia’s top mobile phone operator Maxis Communications is bidding for Sri Lanka’s fifth mobile operator’s licence along with major firms from Singapore and India, a report said Sunday. The Edge newspaper said the GSM1800 licence would cost Maxis around four million dollars. The other two bidders are Singapore […]
Seamless Access
June 23, 2006 (LBO) – Over a dozens firms have responded to the telecom watchdog’s call to take up a WiMAX license and offer services islandwide, the regulator said Friday. WiMAX or Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access uses the 3.5 gigahertz frequency band to provide cost effective broadband technologies. The telecom regulator will initially set […]
Humble Abode
June 23, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s housing authority is to set up a low income housing fund to help re-locate people in Colombo’s under-served areas, run-down state flats and shanties.Run by the Urban Development Authority, the Fund is to be set up with seed capital from the Treasury and partly through internal funds. “We […]
On Paper
June 23, 2006 (LBO) – Malaysia will build Sri Lanka’s Colombo-Kandy Highway, with an agreement for a feasibility study signed by the two sides this week, the government said Friday.The two countries met this week for the inaugural session of the Sri Lanka-Malaysia Joint Commission on bilateral relations, investments and trade. “At the conclusion of […]
Direct Orders
June 22, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Thursday said it will begin registering and regulating all broadcast satellite services, amidst the recent controversial shut down of three operators. œUnder a directive from the President, we will take measures to register satellite service providers and promulgate rules to regulate the services provided by satellite service providers, […]
‘s Minor International
June 22, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Hemas Holdings Ltd may partner with Thailand’s largest quoted resort and fast food operator Minor International Public Company Ltd., to develop hotels here. Minor International also manages properties in the Middle East and runs hotels in Thailand under international brands names like Anantara and J W Marriot. Both […]
Plum Job
June 22, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Thursday appointed Ajith Nivard Cabraal as the governor of the Central Bank, president Mahinda Rajapakse’s office said in a statement. A chartered accountant by profession, Cabraal was earlier the secretary to the Plan and Implementation Ministry and a top economic advisor to Rajapakse. Cabraal succeeds businessman Sunil Mendis […]
Big Bank
June 22, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will merge several state-owned banks catering to small medium sector enterprises into one larger bank, a top government official said. Economists say Sri Lanka’s post-independent economic history is littered with ill- considered government policy decisions that ultimately backfire on the very persons they are intended to help. updated […]
Hemas Holdings may jointly develop hotels with Thailand’s Minor International
June 22, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Hemas Holdings Ltd may partner with Thailand’s largest quoted resort and fast food operator Minor International Public Company Ltd., to develop hotels here. Minor International also manages properties in the Middle East and runs hotels in Thailand under international brands names like Anantara and J W Marriot. Both […]