Category: Special Reports

lquote Nature tourism is still slim business. An expensive niche; But a steadily growing market for eco-tourism are where top hotel chains and other blue-chip conglomerates are fast putting their dollars.An ancient drum roll away from King Kashyapas Sigiriya is a 24-acre stretch of abandoned rice paddies. Nestled into the land and overlooking a vast […]

Analysts say the UNF government offered sweeteners to state employees and pensioners while also announcing a string of taxes most of which will be paid by the corporate sector to gain room to maneuver as a string of provincial councils come up for election next year.The governments New Year resolution could be to win all […]

The IT industry is slowly recovering. And so is demand for IT pros. But the job market for IT professionals has also gone through some rapid changes with private universities churning out hundreds of graduates. A shortage of skilled professionals is no longer a problem for the industry, which has now become very picky, on […]

Sri Lankas 2004 budget is again breaking the lquote golden rule of budgeting, but its ambitious deficit target of 6.8 percent is more in line with the countrys sustainable deficit level.rnrnrnrnrnrnNew Page 1rnrnrnrnrn Therngolden rule of budgeting is actually simple common sense.rn Itrnsays that the governments revenue (taxes and so on) should cover itsrnday-to-day expenses. […]

A Collection of Articles related to the 2004 Budget published on LBO rnrn  rn  rn rnChoksys Sweeteners rnrn rn17 November 2003 rnrn rnrnThe UNF government, which has been progressively clubbing the opposite camp with rnthe peace process, is getting ready to open a second front with the rnbudget…….. rn

Sri Lankas largest family owned private hospital partially opens its doors for private investors next month. What started off as a remedy for family and friends 18 years ago, Nawaloka Hospitals has since cured thousands of patients. But the hospital could been have been still born if the head of the Dharmadasa family was not […]

The apparel industry is pushing to establish a local certificate that will guarantee buyers of compliance and cutting the cost for small timers. While big apparel exporters have a steady source of orders the small and medium scale factories are struggling to get noticed by the big buyers.rn rnThe industry umbrella organization JAAF is pushing […]

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Experts say ambiguity in the Constitution on the Presidents power leaves room for different interpretations, but political considerations will play a bigger role in resolving the present crisis.Observers say the UNF government will have to consider a ldblquote second phase dblquote for their cohabitation agreement with a wider role for the President.rn rnTaking the Constitutional […]

Despite a recent economic upturn, Sri Lankas somewhat under developed capital market are yet to pose a serious competition to the local banking sector. The commercial banking sector accounts for 64 percent of the total assets in the Sri Lankan financial system.rn rnIn terms of size, most of the banks are relatively small and undercapitalised […]

Like most couples planning to take the plunge Deepali and Nishan wanted everything to be perfect on their wedding day.Deepali was especially keen to have the most gorgeous bouquet possible – a far cry from when flowers were mostly used as offerings at temples.rn rnFlorists say that demand in the local market for flowers for […]

Sub-continental air traffic could get a boost if a bold proposal to let private airlines fly international routes gets off the ground.The economic cooperation deal between India and Sri Lanka is seeking to open up routes to private airlines to fly to big cities and tourist destinations.rn rnSmall locally owned airlines are clamoring to get […]