Category: Other
Acting Against Pirates
A new Act to strengthen Property Rights covering all areas in Intellectual Property from patent rights to trade marks is coming into force this month. Hundreds of retail outlets selling pirated computer software and music could disappear overnight if the full force of the law is used.rn rnToday from adventures in cyberspace at the click […]
Gassed!
The Court of Appeal issued an interim order on Friday stating a Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) direction allowing all LP Gas traders to refill and sell LPG in any cylinder given to them.The court order was made following a writ filed by Shell Gas Lanka Limited (SGLL) against the Consumer Affairs Authority and two other […]
IDD Crunch
International call charges are expected to fall further, when a new system of short codes that will allow customers to access an external gateway of their choice comes operational.rn rnExperts say that the move also cements could help reestablish the island as a regional leader in telecom regulation. rn rnInternational call costs fell by over […]
Online On Time
Businesses are going online to deliver customer needs round the clock. While 24-hour accessibility has opened up new opportunities there is also the added responsibility of being operational all the time. For every time the system goes offline the company loses business and credibility. rn rnA concept known as Managed Availability is fast catching on […]
Adding Muscle
Laws to give banks and finance companies more muscle to tackle bad debts have got regulatory approval and are now before the Legal Draftsmens Dept. Under the amendments to the Debt Recovery Laws, finance companies registered with the Central Bank will be given similar parate rights as banks, says Dr.Wickrema Weerasuriya, Central Banks Consultant on […]
Warming Up
Average prices for tea at the Colombo auctions dropped to Rs.145.02 by April from an average of Rs. 156.82 in 2002. Low grown prices lead the drop, affected since February by the US led incursion of Iraq. The tension in the Middle East saw low grown sales average in February drop below the high grown […]
Consumer Drive
The Central Bank says consumerism contributed significantly to last years economic revival. Economists pointed out that the country is showing the early signs of a consumer demand driven growth.Economists say a fledging peace process created higher than expected demand for goods and services last year.rn rnldblquote In the past we looked at growth only from […]
The Cabinets Axe
The Cabinet of Ministers rejected a decade old draft Companies Act over its departure from English Law principles.A Cabinet sub committee that had a look at the draft Act, which is based on the New Zealand Companies Act, says it goes against the English Law practiced in the country.rn rnThe corporate and legal profession, which […]
Adding Glitter
As a British colony, Ceylon was favoured for sourcing raw material and other commodities to satisfy the boundless tastes of the English. From its teas to exotic spices all exports went out in raw commodity form.Over half a century after independence, things have changed very little.rnSome of the countrys top exports still go out in […]
At The Bourse
The Colombo bourse reacted positively to deals in the insurance market and increasing tourist arrivals over the last week.Shares in Commercial Bank and DFCC climbed on news that the two were planning a joint bid for a majority stake in Eagle Insurance.The All Share closed at 820.4 points up two point six points from last […]
Lopsided
Ambitious plans for double-digit GDP growth is at the back of the governments mind in a post-war era. More importantly, economic growth must benefit the man on the street. While experts say that GDP growth in the open market era has widened the rich and poor divide, economists point out that while the rich-poor gap […]
Super Profits
Super markets are a big hit in Colombo. Most of them now try to entice the middle-income earners to the concept of everything under one roof from the mom-and-pop corner shops that have been around for decades.rnThe new Elephant House Super Pola is using the concept to grab the average corner store customer.rn rnIt attempts […]