Category: Industry
Banks and Robbers
The Rajarata Development Banks (RDB) decision to interdict the entire staff at its Medirigiriya branch after it was robbed at gunpoint recently will be met by protests by the employees of all six regional development banks.The Ceylon Bank Employees Union Development Bank Branch says the management nor the police investigating the heist have evidence indicating […]
Silver Lining
The government plans to take a fresh approach to divest its stake in Shell Gas Lanka Ltd., after its initial attempts fell through.rnrnrnrnrnrnrnNew Page 1rnrnrnrnrn ThernTreasury, which owns 49 percent of the gas giant, was earlier hoping to raisernaround Rs. 500 mn by selling its stake.rn RoyalrnDutch Shell, which bought a 51 percent stake in […]
Fuzzy Signals
The Central Bank will meet a consortium of investors keen on buying Pramuka Bank on Wednesday evening to shed more light to their complex proposal.Hopes ran high on Tue. that the Central Bank had discussed a proposal put forward by a consortium at its Monetary Policy meeting.rn rnCentral Bank Governor, W A Wijewardene said the […]
Calling Lanka
The Board of Investment is mooting changes to the BOI Act for bigger tax holidays encouraging call centres to relocate here. rnCurrently Sri Lanka trails behind neighbouring countries like India and the Philippines as potential centres for Business Process Outsourcing (BPO).rn rnHigh electricity costs and until recently – inflexible labour laws restricting overtime for women […]
Joint Decision
The Joint Business Forum(JBiz) sat on a second round of pow-wows , this time attended by religious and NGO groups, on a course of action to end the prevailing political sulks endash and decided to slap the countrys leadership with an ultimatum.After over two hour of discussion with religious and civil society representatives, JBiz decided […]
Cloud No. 9
The Galle Face Hotel is coming out of the closet with Bryan Adams and is hinting at signs of waking up to changing times.The Galle Face Hotel still manages to ooze its famous old world charm but is now clearly looking at shedding its sleepy image starting early this year backed by the musical magic […]
Take Off
An annual 6.5 percent growth forecast for the Asian aviation industry has prompted the EU to set up a regional training facility in Sri Lanka.The EU and the European Association of Aerospace Industries (AECMA) are putting in a combined Euro 10 million to develop the skills of national aviation regulators and operators in South Asia […]
Tour de Farce
Even before the dust settles on 2003, the tourism industry is gearing up to break last years arrivals record this year.Sri Lanka Tourist Board officials say they expect the numbers to continue their upward trend.rn rnHowever, the industry says a change in the course of the peace process and continuing political instability could derail plans.rn […]
Wired Jackpot
Starting March, the National Lotteries Board will retail Sri Lankas first online lottery ldblquote Rapido dblquote through over 150 agents in the Western Province.Retailing at Rs 30 a piece with the chance of winning upto Rs 600,000 every fifteen minutes, NLB Chairman Mohan Wijesinghe says the new game will tap into the large segment of […]
Funding Skills
Legislation to set up a Human Resource Endowment Fund is in the works, offering needy students stipends on a voucher scheme, for vocational training. rnThe US$ 40 mn Fund was mooted in the 2003 budget, with a proposal at the time to impose a levy on companies paying 30 percent of corporate tax.rn rnModalities are […]
Lack of Trust
The securities watchdog on Thursday said it was talking to the Unit Trust industry to generate new ideas on how to grow the sector. Initial recommendations include awareness programmers like seminars and road shows in areas with potential investors as a means to popularize the industry.rn rnAnother recommendation calls on the industry to introduce innovative […]
Calling Colombo
HSBC Group is pumping US$ 30 mn to set up its seventh group service centre in Sri Lanka, which will generate employment and put the country on the map as a serious contender in the global call centre business.Situated near the Chandra Silva stadium in Kotte, the call centre and back office unit would be […]