Category: Special Reports

Manoj Susantha holds up sachets of hair gel Small is big, with sachets of just about all consumer care goods, from shampoos and creams to schoolboy grease, driving a personal care revolution among rural youth. Manoj Susantha holds up sachets of hair gel Small is big, with sachets of just about all consumer care goods, […]

Water is abundant…or is it? Water is abundant…or is it? More than 1.2 billion people in poor countries don’t have access to safe drinking water according to research. The UN says the water crisis is so severe that it could take almost 30 years to eradicate hunger from the world. Although water covers two thirds […]

Sri Lanka’s top donors are waiting for the government to come up with a credible budget in November before talking about an economic programme to resume stalled programme loans to the country. Sri Lanka’s top donors are waiting for the government to come up with a credible budget in November before talking about an economic […]

Private sector doesn’t pay enough attention to their customers according to findings of a study by two local NGO’s. The study says private sector gets customer feedback but is slow to act on it and improve the quality of products and services.Government organizations were also criticized for paying little attention to quality of service due […]

Companies operating in controversial industries like tobacco and alcohol give a better return to shareholders than traditional banking and finance stocks, a research report said Friday.Companies operating in controversial industries like tobacco and alcohol give a better return to shareholders than traditional banking and finance stocks, a research report said Friday. Stockbrokers LOLC Securities have […]

The Board of Investment (BOI) will tap European Funding agencies to finance an apparel backward integration zone, with the sector expected to be a key investment driver this year. The Board of Investment (BOI) will tap European Funding agencies to finance an apparel backward integration zone, with the sector expected to be a key investment […]

A major cause for poverty in Sri Lanka is the lack of infrastructure.The cost of short term relief, offered by politicians here, has been a long term vision essential for infrastructure development to take place. A major cause for poverty in Sri Lanka is the lack of infrastructure. The cost of short term relief, offered […]

Globalization has many critics especially in poor countries.Globalization has many critics especially in poor countries. The dismal working conditions for employees in some export industries have given the global market the image of one that serves only the rich. But in reality globalization has created millions of jobs around the world and helped lift people […]

Most of the untapped tourism potential in the country doesn’t lie along the pristine coastline anymore but off the beaten track. Most of the untapped tourism potential in the country doesn’t lie along the pristine coastline anymore but off the beaten track. The leisure sector is trying to attract high spending travelers who are keen […]

South Asian countries had made little progress last year to improve their investment climate there by missing out on growth opportunities, according to a recent World Bank study.South Asian countries had made little progress last year to improve their investment climate there by missing out on growth opportunities, according to a recent World Bank study. […]

Adding diversity to the work place is something management trainers promote for creative problem solving.Adding diversity to the work place is something management trainers promote for creative problem solving. An NGO and the Employers Federation of Ceylon are now working to introduce companies to differently-abled people who they say can help create a vibrant work […]

The JVP has been accused of blundering in the dark when dictating macro-economic policies to the government.The JVP has been accused of blundering in the dark when dictating macro-economic policies to the government. But its grip on micro initiatives seems to be much better.Its much publicized tank rehabilitation scheme is one such effort. The waterless […]