Watawala rolls out capital expansion plans while stepping up exposure to minor crops

Watawala Plantations is infusing Rs.158 million through a capital development drive to upgrade its tea and rubber sector, the firm said on Monday. Expansion plans include Rs. 85.93 million to set up a fully automated tea blending and cleaning plant, planting new tea on 13 hectares of land and replanting 25 hectares of rubber.To reduce […]

Regulations Help

A top European auditor says regulators here must think about legislation to force listed companies to setup audit committees.A top European auditor says regulators here must think about legislation to force listed companies to setup audit committees. Few of Sri Lanka’s over 200 public firms have independent audit committees that help protect the rights of […]

Medical Failure

The Asian Human Rights Commission has pulled up three cases of gross medical negligence in local hospitals in the past two weeks alone, saying victims have no way to get redress. The Asian Human Rights Commission has pulled up three cases of gross medical negligence in local hospitals in the past two weeks alone, saying […]

Small Mercy

While applauding a Maldivian government decision to grant an amnesty to a cyberdissident, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has called for the release of two others who have been sentenced to life for publishing an e-mail newsletter.While applauding a Maldivian government decision to grant an amnesty to a cyberdissident, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has called for […]

Gunned Down

Sri Lankan troops shot dead one man and wounded another Monday at a protest against a government security checkpoint in the troubled eastern region of Batticaloa, the defence ministry said. Sri Lankan troops shot dead one man and wounded another Monday at a protest against a government security checkpoint in the troubled eastern region of […]

Did SLIM slip?

Guest Columnist Harsha de Silva makes his observations on the validity of the recent National Icon awards presented by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing [SLIM] and given wide publicity. Guest Columnist Harsha de Silva makes his observations on the validity of the recent National Icon awards presented by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing […]

Serious Business

Sri Lankan police Monday announced a major crackdown against speeding drivers after two buses racing each other killed a passenger and injured 16 in the same area where a train-bus crash killed 37 last week.Sri Lankan police Monday announced a major crackdown against speeding drivers after two buses racing each other killed a passenger and […]

Pass The Book

Finance companies will soon start accepting savings deposits after the regulator the Central Bank gave them clearance from February this year. Finance companies, that have been asking to be allowed to raise savings deposits for years, will however have to cap their interest rates on these deposits to the weighted 3 month Treasury bill rate […]

Axe It

Hire and fire compensation formula could stiffen the labor market by adding a floor on compensation for voluntary retirement schemes say employers.Hire and fire compensation formula could stiffen the labor market by adding a floor on compensation for voluntary retirement schemes say employers. Labour Minister Gazetted the formula last month that gives up to 48 […]

Forgotten Homework

World Bank says the country has lost the education advantage it had in Asia but second generation reforms of the sector can help Sri Lanka regain lost ground. World Bank says the country has lost the education advantage it had in Asia but second generation reforms of the sector can help Sri Lanka regain lost […]

Get it Right

Local experts on policy and regulation are calling for a system to better understand effects of regulations before they are adopted.Local experts on policy and regulation are calling for a system to better understand effects of regulations before they are adopted. “Sri Lanka needs to invest in Regulatory Impact Assessment – RIA – to minimise […]

Spaced Out

The international narcotics watchdog wants governments to shut down unlicensed Internet pharmacies, to control the growing threat of Internet drug trafficking.The international narcotics watchdog wants governments to shut down unlicensed Internet pharmacies, to control the growing threat of Internet drug trafficking. “Several billion of doses of medicine are sold illicitly on the Internet per year, […]

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