Category: Technology

The telecom watchdog has been taken over by President Chandrika Kumaratunga as part of her lquote constitutional coup, effectively putting the whole industry in disarray. President Kumaratunga last week tookover the posts of Defence, Interior and Media, but said she had left the telecommunications ministry with the government.rn rnldblquote A subsequent check on the gazette […]

Software giant Microsoft Corp on Wednesday announced a multi-million dollar tie-up with Sri Lanka, to provide education, training and an eventually set up a development unit. Microsoft will provide investments over a five year period, the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington said in a release.rn rnThe deal was stitched up during Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghes […]

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghes US visit will bring Sri Lanka once step closer to building a free trade area spanning two continents.The Comprehensive Economic Co-operation Agreement (CEPA) between India and the Sri Lanka which is due to be signed in less than six months, will further integrate Sri Lankas economic ties with her giant neighbour.rn […]

IT start up Interblocs has raised over a million dollars in a second round of financing to expand operations overseas.Interblocs specialises in developing software for payment solutions to the financial sector.rn rnA Malaysian IT company has invested the money to take a 20 percent stake.rn rnThe IT startup says they now have a valuation close […]

The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) now being negotiated with the islands giant neighbour could see Sri Lankas e-government policies tilting in line with Indias already prevalent citizen services and trade facilitating systems.The partnership seeks to remove trade, services movement and investment barriers between the two economies, creating a familiar environment for businesses and professionals […]

Mobile phones arent the only things Nokia is into, the cell phone giant is now gearing to wire up Sri Lankas telco industry. On Tuesday Nokia said it had signed up with Sri Lankas diversified giant John Keells (JKH) to push its range of GSM and other next generation cellular network infrastructure solutions here and […]

Sri Lanka Telecom is offering counselling services and tips on investing in financial products to its 1,300 employees, who took up an early retirement scheme this year.Outgoing employees took home between Rs.150,000 to Rs. 1.1 mn under the package, SLT said in a statement on Monday.rn rnStaff opting for the VRS qualified for a rental […]

Attempts to merge key government revenue generating agencies have slowed down with little agreement on the structure.rn rnA committee appointed by the Finance Ministry to merge revenue agencies, was trying to determine if the proposed revenue authority should be run by public servants or by experts hired from the private sector. rn rnThe government in […]

The telecom regulatory policy will make shift from size control, to sub sector dominance management, under a new draft legislation.The new asymmetric telecom regulation policy will have the telco watchdog barking orders at dominant operators, identified to be so when they pass pre-defined boundaries, impose entry restrictions or is a threat to near free market […]

Sri Lanka Telecom launched its new US$ 20 mn billing system on Wednesday, with ambitious plans to spin it off into a separate revenue generating business unit.Officials say once the system is fully in place, they will consider other commercial applications that can be added on and also tap its customer database.rn rnSome potential commercial […]

Sri Lanka Telecom on Tuesday took a step further to seal its marriage to Lanka Bell, by agreeing to start work on a due diligence study, its Chairman said.The dominant fixed access operator has been courting Lanka Bell for the past few weeks and last month signed a non-disclosure agreement to actively pursue the relationship.rn […]

The Telecom regulator and top government bureaucrats held a public discussion on a new regulatory structure as other operators opposed SLTs plans to acquire Wireless Local Loop (WLL) operator Lanka Bell.Telecom watchdog TRC together with support from the public interest program unit of the Economic Reforms Ministry is planning an overhaul of telecom regulation.rn rnExperts […]