Category: Special Reports

Local toy makers have had it tough over the last few years with strong competition form China. Exports have plummeted by nearly two thirds.The countrys export development agency says that the problems in the industry are various.rn rnDynagro, a toy maker says that their factory exported some 150,000 wooden musical toys last year.rn rnldblquote We […]

Parties to the conflict in the northeast are trying to set up an interim administration that conforms to the Constitution while allowing significant devolution of power. An important area would be funding the administration.Constitutional experts say any attempt at redrawing the Constitution when a final settlement is made would be even more challenging.rn rnColombo still […]

A new law on Intellectual Property Rights was in parliament on Friday after an initial draft met with opposition from patient rights activists. They challenged an early draft of the Bill on grounds that it ignored concessions won on behalf of poor countries at international trade forums which allow developing countries to import medicine from […]

The construction sector, which is a good indicator of economic activity, has been booming over the last year. However acquiring land for development remains a bottleneck to development in the construction sector.Experts say that freeing up and developing these lands would boost the economy while giving market-based values to the properties.rn rnThe Beira Lake remains […]

As wider share ownership is putting pressure on listed companies to improve their corporate governance they try to offer better returns to their most important stakeholders while other stakeholders in the fringes of corporate governance get ignored.A new initiative by the employers federation is trying to change this by giving companies a chance to be […]

Studies indicate that people around the world are having more sex, but with lower physical output – baby production is on the decline.Along with many other consequences like a fast ageing population, a number of industries depending on kids, are also set to suffer.rn rnThe global toy trade is among them. rn rnIn Sri Lanka, […]

The spurt in the economy has fuelled a renewed demand for credit from the financial sector. Some of the quickest credit providers in the market, the leasing companies, have seen growth rates that have comfortably outstripped the double digit growth rates in the financial sector. But the face of leasing is also fast changing with […]

A US based IT company with a large software development center in Colombo says it plans to hire 250 more software developers for their Colombo development center as a result of significant business growth over the last two years.Surviving has been tough for most software firms with competition and a slump in IT spending eating […]

The Treasury, with donor support is trying to improve public finances and accountability in the Government sector. A recent study on financial accountability in the public sector done with World Bank support showed there is a long way to go.rnrnIn an effort to push up the standards the government recently asked ministries to adopt Zero […]

A new wireless way to connect to the Internet is taking the world by storm because access is cheap and fast. The standard popular in the US, connects computers to networks over short distances using radio waves.Experts say the standard commonly known, as Wi-fi will do to the Internet what notebook PCs did to computers.rnThe […]

Shamindra Kulamannage speaks to Bradman Weerakoon, Secretary to the Prime Minister on Sri Lankas aid utilisation. Weerakoon says the government is looking at setting up a powerful Tennesee Valley type authority to cut through red tape in implementing large development projects in the country.LBR: The big question in everybodys mind is that is the government […]

Technology is offering opportunities to add value and new services to the local banks both foreign and local banks have started offering Internet banking which they hope will also bring down their operating costs. During a typical mid day in Colombo the traffic comes to a stand still.It is not the time to be running […]