Category: Industry
First Steps
The first steps in a million dollar deal to link small and medium entrepreneurs with European markets got off the ground late Wednesday.Initiated by European Industrial Services, the promoters hope to channel in around US$ 50 mn worth of investments through joint ventures or wholly owned subsidiaries.rn rnEuropean Industrial Services (EIS) has tied up with […]
Labour Of Love
Sri Lanka and Malaysia on Tuesday inked a special pact to allow more blue-collar Sri Lankan workers find employment in Malaysia. The two countries signed a Letter of Intent on Tuesday agreeing to initiate the required back end procedures.rn rnThe Letter of Intent, that follows fast on the heels of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) […]
New Insights
Armed with four of the best, a newcomer research company is preparing to catapult Sri Lanka into 21-century number crunching. Independent Research, the local arm of a recently formed international partnership called Amba Outsourcing, arrived in Sri Lanka in September after checking out possibilities in India, Malaysia and the Philippines.rn rnNow, three months later, the […]
Worthy Cause
The local business community is joining country musicians from two continents next month, to raise funds for three-rural schools in Hambantota.Back in a new lquote wild west format, Sri Lankas longest-running country and folk music concert hopes to raise Rs.250,000 to build a reading room/library facility in three selected schools.rn rnThe Sunday Times Business Club […]
Interesting Option
Peoples Bank says it will consider lowering interest rates on some Rs. 12 billion outstanding from the Ceylon Electricity Board, if a proposed debt-restructuring plan seeking payment guarantees for part of the loan goes through.The debt restructuring plan covers a Rs.7 billion medium term loan, to be eventually settled by tapping into CEBs monthly collections.rn […]
Building Bubble
A new 210 unit, 21 floor apartment complex is in the making under a Rs. 5 bn Board of Investment (BOI) venture between Hong Kong based Sunshine (Far East) Ltd.and Premier Pacific in Sri Lanka. The Premier Pacific Topaz (Pvt) Ltd., project due for completion in early 2006 has mapped out 16 different layouts ranging […]
On the Rebound
By end November this year, 445,000 tourists flocked into the country and hotels were running out of rooms, as Sri Lanka inched closer to the elusive half a million target. This was still up on the 350,988 visitors as at end November last year, with the tourism sector confident that it will reach about 550,000 […]
Spending Spree
Commercial Banks Automated Teller Machine (ATM) network disbursed a record Rs 300 million over the three-day weekend in December, the bank said this week. Commercial Banks Chief Manager – Operations Palitha Perera said 87,000 cash withdrawals and 55,000 non cash transactions were recorded over the December 6-8 weekend from the Banks 153 ATMs.rn rnThe banks […]
Rural Outreach
Once a week, Shantha embarks on a journey; a journey that takes him across rivers, paddy fields, mountains and over 20 kilometers away from his home to a place where he can use a computer, surf the internet and check his Hotmail account.Shantha is only one in a thousand other Sri Lankan youths confined to […]
Bird Business
A top Sri Lankan bird study group is riding the slipstream of seasonal trends to create awareness and fund their research and conservation efforts.rnrn rn rnrnField Ornithological rnGroup of Sri Lanka (FOGSL) has got involved in developing educational seasonal rngreetings cards featuring Birds. Part of the profits will go towards research rnand conservation efforts.rn rn […]
Straight Run
Initial bid papers for the Colombo Katunayake toll road will be on offer in two weeks, with an annuity based financial model for prospective investors, also finalised. Documents are ready for a pre-qualification round, to be open in two weeks to narrow down the interest to six firms, who will then submit full detailed proposals.rn […]
Via Colombo
Middle East based airline, Qatar Airways says it will fly via Colombo on its way to Australia, picking up Indian tourists to fill up its flights. Flights to Australia will take off after rounding up bilateral aviation negotiations between Sri Lanka and Qatar in March 04.rnrnThe transit operation from Colombo to Australia is part of […]