Category: Industry
Biometric Banking
Sept 24, 2007 (LBO) – ICICI Bank, India’s second-largest bank, is planning to demonstrate in Sri Lanka its smart card technology that helped create innovative products and take banking to rural India, even to illiterate farmers, a top official said. Chanda Kochhar, Deputy Managing Director of ICICI Bank, said its technology partner Financial Information Network […]
Reach Out
Sept 23, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal has urged the banking community to reach out to the rural poor saying the move would not only help impoverished farmers but enrich the banks themselves. The government and the banking community should aim to improve financial inclusion for vulnerable sections and […]
Cell Record
NEW DELHI, Sept 22, 2007 (AFP) – The number of Indian mobile phone subscribers has passed the 200 million mark after the country added another eight million customers last month, industry figures show. India’s wireless market, the world’s fastest growing, attracted a further 8.31 million wireless subscribers in August to touch 201.29 million users, according […]
LBR-LBO CFO Forum
Sept 22, 2007 (LBO) – The Sri Lankan chief financial officer’s job has become more challenging but the position retains its strategic importance and provides the best stepping stone to the top in the corporate sector, a senior executive said. “It is the same old role which most of our finance professionals are not playing […]
Sri Lanka chases Indian MICE
Sept 21, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is targeting Indian firms to persuade them to hold their business meetings in the island in a bid to boost its flagging leisure industry which has been hit by an internal conflict, officials said. Sri Lanka Convention Bureau, an agency that promotes the Meetings, Incentive travel, Conventions and […]
Sri Lanka auto firm gifts flashy wheels to sexy Malinga
Sept 20, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s paceman Lasith Malinga, dubbed the sexist player during the World Cup, is to get a customised motorbike from Japanese manufacturer, Yamaha, an official in Colombo said Wednesday. National cricketers who are generally well-heeled and most already own luxury sports untility vehicles (SUV) and fast cars. Yamaha’s local agents, […]
Australian pace wrecks Sri Lankan batting
CAPE TOWN, Sept 20, 2007 (AFP) – Australia’s pace bowlers swept through Sri Lanka’s top order batting in their crucial World Twenty20 Super Eights match at Newlands Thursday.Sri Lanka were bowled out for 101 in 19.3 overs after being sent in. The match is effectively a knock-out encounter. The team that wins will go through […]
Sri Lanka tour operator association refreshes officers
Sept 20, 2007 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) has appointed a fresh set of officers, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said. SLAITO is made up of destination management companies who service tourists in Sri Lanka. Foreign travel companies and charter operators who are principals of the local members are […]
Capital Boost
Sept 20, 2007 (LBO) –Sri Lanka’s Seylan Bank said it was going ahead with a plan to raise new debt to beef up its capital base and meet Central Bank requirements. A bank statement said it plans to make a public quoted issue of unsecured subordinated redeemable five-year debentures the details of which are to […]
Ship Imports
Sept 20, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s ship owners have warned that an unresolved dispute with Customs over a tax on vessels could force them to leave the Sri Lanka flag of registry. This could hurt the island’s prospects of building up its merchant fleet and encouraging foreign owners to register their vessels in the […]
South Africa thrash New Zealand by six wickets
DURBAN, South Africa, Sept 19, 2007 (AFP) – Justin Kemp blasted 89 not out off 56 balls after Morne Morkel claimed 4-17 as South Africa thrashed New Zealand by six wickets in the Twenty20 world championships here on Wednesday. Graeme Smith’s home team restricted the Kiwis to 153-8 after giving them first strike at the […]
Sri Lanka edge Bangladesh out of T20
JOHANNESBURG, Sept 18, 2007 (AFP) – Bangladesh were dumped out of the World Twenty20 championships on Tuesday after slumping to a 64-run defeat to Sri Lanka whose miserly attack quashed early fears of an upset.Their remaining match is against Pakistan, also in Cape Town on Thursday. Veteran seamer Chaminda Vaas, who took two for 14 […]