Category: Industry
Sri Lanka Taj unit expects strong demand
Sept 01, 2012 (LBO) – Taj Lanka Hotels, a unit of India’s Taj Hotels and Resorts is expecting strong demand for hotel rooms in the next few years despite a number of new properties coming up as tourism arrivals continue to grow. Chairman Raymond Bickson, told shareholders that expert forecasts indicate the demand for hotel […]
Tightly Managed
Aug 31, 2012 (LBO) – Profits at Sri Lanka’s Standard Chartered Bank unit rose 20. 9 percent to 1.52 billion rupees in the six months to June 2012 from a year earlier, helped by a surge in forex income, published accounts showed. Total performing loans rose only 5.9 percent to 46.8 billion rupees in the […]
Sri Lanka Laugfs expects 398-room hotel chain by end 2014
Aug 30, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Laugfs group is expecting to have 398 hotel rooms operational by end 2014 under its ‘Ananthaya’ branded chain, chairman W K H Wegapitiya said. The chain includes a 75 room hotel in Sigiriya, a 125 room hotel in Waskaduwa a 110 room hotel in Passikudah and an 88 […]
Mortgage Access
Aug 30, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s former war zones in the north and the east and areas in the South hit by a tsunami in 2004 will get housing loans from DFCC Vardhana Bank financed by a 15 million US dollar credit from Asian Development Bank. ADB said it the loan from its private […]
Loan Relief
Aug 30, 2012 (LBO) – Several banks in Sri Lanka will suspend recovering farmer loans in drought stricken areas on an order made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, information minister Keheliya Rambukwella said. The moratorium came after representations made by farmers when President Rajapaksa visited drought stricken areas recently, minister Rambukwelle said. The debt moratorium applies […]
Bridge Contracts
Aug 30, 2012 (LBO) – A contract to build 46 bridges with a 22 million Euro loan has been given to Matiere and Eiffage Constructions Metalliques, a France based consortium, information minister Keheliya Rambukwelle said. The bridges will be built on national highways. The contracts include the building of sidewalks, he said. Sri Lanka contributed […]
Sri Lanka renewable energy firms demand higher tariffs after depreciation
Aug 29, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s renewable energy firms have demanded higher tariffs after the rupee depreciated and interest rates rose following a balance of payments crisis, at a public consultation called by the power regulator. Renewable energy firms said the rupee had depreciated from 110 to over 130 (about 18 percent) over the […]
‘s Spicejet from Sept 20
Aug 29, 2012 (LBO) – India’s Spicejet will fly to Sri Lanka from September 20, using 78-seat Bombardier Q400, 78-seater turboprop aircraft, a media report said. The airline will fly from Madurai in South India at 12. 30 pm and land in Colombo at 1.30 pm. The Colombo – Madurai will is from 2. 35 […]
SriLankan Airlines ups weekly India flights to 87
Aug 29, 2012 (LBO) – State-run SriLankan Airlines has upped weekly flights to India to 87 by increasing frequencies to Trivandrum by three to ten a week from August 30, the carrier said. The airline now flies to Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Trichy as well as Kochi and Trivandrum. “India is a high growth potential […]
Sri Lanka offers islets, beaches, wetland on 99-year leases for tourism
Aug 27, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tourist development agency has offered islets, hundreds of acres of land bordering beaches, a wildlife reserve and a wetland on 99-year leases to build tourism related projects. Eight islets in Kalpitiya off the western coast of Sri Lanka 150 kilometres north of the capital Colombo are being offered […]
Sri Lanka exporter warns against tea nationalism
Aug 27, 2012 (LBO) – An exporter of branded teas that has catered to emerging global consumer needs has warned that nationalism and protectionism in tea was losing Sri Lanka an opportunity to play a bigger role in the global tea industry. He said demands to ban such an export hub will require Sri Lankans […]
Medical Service
Aug 27, 2012 (LBO) – Denmark’s Falck, an emergency medical services company has taken a 50 percent stake in a Sri Lankan firm Med1 (Pvt) Ltd, and will invest in a 24-hour ambulance service, Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment said. The BOI said visitors to the island “whether tourists, entrepreneurs or investors will be reassured […]