Category: Special Reports

The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank in a joint study has found that poor infrastructure, lack of policy and political stability as key constraints that discourage investments in Sri Lanka. Urban firms in particular cited the macro-economic instability as a reason to hold back investment.Another widely cited reason was high real interest rates. […]

Philautus Asankai, a powder-blue mountain frog, a new species discovered from Sri Lanka’s central highlands. (AFP) Conservationists in Sri Lanka, the world’s top spot for frogs, have discovered 35 new species of the amphibians — only to find that another 19 species have died out. Philautus Asankai, a powder-blue mountain frog, a new species discovered […]

Modern trade or shopping at super markets is a developing habit in Sri Lanka. Modern trade or shopping at super markets is a developing habit in Sri Lanka. But people who have access to information and exposure to brands are shopping at supermarkets more frequently here than in some of the bigger regional economies. Shifts […]

Central Bank is pushing commercial banks to improve risk management and be ready to adopt stringent ‘BASEL II’ standards soon after they are implemented.Central Bank is pushing commercial banks to improve risk management and be ready to adopt stringent ‘BASEL II’ standards soon after they are implemented. The banks deputy governor Ranee Jayamaha told LBR […]

Dozens of Sri Lankans go overseas to surgically enhance their looks according to a local conglomerate that introduced a brand of implants to the local market. Dozens of Sri Lankans go overseas to surgically enhance their looks according to a local conglomerate that introduced a brand of implants to the local market. But importers are […]

CDM or Clean Development Mechanism developed under the Kyoto Protocol to cut green house gas emissions of industrial countries by five percent by 2012 is wooing emerging economies to trade what are called carbon credits and help industrial countries meet targets. CDM or Clean Development Mechanism developed under the Kyoto Protocol to cut green house […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

The Ceylon Electricity Board’s restructuring is the hottest political and economic story these days.Though the tsunami destroyed more than 70,000 houses, Sri Lanka’s power demand has been establishing new records. Last month Sri Lanka’s electricity hit a new peak of 1604 megawatts. The Ceylon Electricity Board’s restructuring is the hottest political and economic story these […]

The tsunami has affected the hotel trade in two ways. More than the physical damage to infrastructure, the sector was hit by cancellations.Tourism firms that managed to escape the worst effects had strategies to reduce cancellations. The tsunami has affected the hotel trade in two ways. More than the physical damage to infrastructure, the sector […]