Category: Industry
Fitch affirms Melstacorp &”; outlook stable
Oct 23, 2019 (LBO) – Fitch Ratings has affirmed the National Long-Term Ratings of Sri Lanka-based conglomerate Melstacorp and its subsidiary Distilleries Company at ‘AAA(lka)’ with a stable outlook. Fitch said it rates Distilleries based on the consolidated profile of Melstacorp due to strong legal and operational linkages between the two entities, as defined in […]
Omega Line to reconstruct USD 24Mn Sri Lanka factory complex
Oct 22, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment has signed a deal with Omega Line to reconstruct its factory complex at the existing premises at Sandalankawa as an expansion project, representing an additional investment of 24 million US dollars. The Agreement was signed by BOI Chairman, Mangala Yapa and Vincenzo Joppolo, Chairman of […]
Will Jaffna International Airport help the Northern economy take-off at last?
By Jekhan Aruliah The opening, strictly speaking the re-opening, of Jaffna International Airport (IATA airport code JAF) in October 2019 was one of the more startling events in the North since the end of the Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009. In the North we held our breaths as the promise, unfulfilled for years, approached […]
‘s real estate market; A direct reflection of the economy
Oct 21, 2019 (LBO) – Real estate is one of the Sri Lanka’s major revenue-generating sources. The country’s post-war impressive growth has led this sector to have an increased demand for residential property from the high and middle-income sectors. The size and scale of the real estate market have always been an attractive and lucrative […]
Real-time online payment facility for BOI customers
Oct 21, 2019 (LBO) – The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka has taken another significant step forward where customers have the convenience of making their payments online directly to BOI, a statement said. This initiative is facilitated via LankaPay Online Payment Platform, a real-time and online payment platform of LankaClear. Such an initiative on […]
ICRA Lanka revises outlook on issuer rating of BoC to negative
Oct 21, 2019 (LBO) – ICRA Lanka Limited, subsidiary of ICRA limited, a group company of Moody’s Investors Service, has reaffirmed the issuer rating of Bank of Ceylon at [SL]AAA. The outlook on the rating is revised to negative from stable. Rationale The revision in outlook factors in BOC’s moderate capitalisation levels with steady decline […]
BOI enters into supplementary agreement with concrete poles manufacturer
Oct 18, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment signed a supplementary agreement with Senaka Zenn (Private) Limited to set up a project to manufacture pre-stressed spun concrete electrical poles, piles and railway sleepers for both local and export markets. The initial investment made by the Company was 10.3 million US dollars. The Supplementary […]
Emirates unveils special fares from Colombo to Mexico City
Travel enthusiasts in Sri Lanka seeking new destinations to conquer can visit Mexico City at a significant saving from 9th December, when Emirates commences flights to the destination via Barcelona in Spain, subject to government approval. The award-winning airline has announced special introductory fares starting at US$ 1,338 (approximately Rs 241,000/- at current exchange rates) […]
Colombo meeting presses for rationalization of areas of cooperation and adoption of a BIMSTEC Charter
Rationalization of areas of cooperation of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and draft Charter of the organization were deliberated and a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to be signed between the BIMSTEC Secretariat and the Asian Development Bank was agreed on during the 2nd meeting of the (BIMSTEC) Permanent […]
Uber Eats marks first anniversary as online sales grow
Oct 18, 2019 (LBO) – Uber Eats, an on-demand food delivery app, has delivered more than 3 million orders and completed its first successful year of operations in Sri Lanka to become a dominant player in the market. Launched in Colombo in 2018, Uber Eats is committed to make eating effortless at any time and […]
SriLankan Airlines clinches South Asia’s No 01 slot again
Oct 18, 2019 (LBO) – SriLankan Airlines was adjudged the ‘Leading International Airline’ in South Asia for the third consecutive year at the South Asian Travel Awards 2019 (SATA) and also bagged the ‘Leading Airline Passenger Class – Business’ award for the third year running, beating out many top airlines in the region. SriLankan Airlines […]
Opinion: Cigarette smuggling in Sri Lanka, Hype vs. Reality
By Harini Weerasekera In the run up to elections, Sri Lanka is once again witnessing various news activities highlighting how the government is losing revenue due to increased consumption of illicit cigarettes and beedi. However, the wider government policy on tobacco control is aimed to reduce smoking rates and the related direct and indirect costs […]