Category: Special Reports

Trade chambers and companies are trying to convince financial institutions to cut lending rates in line with the government policy of single digit interest rates. Progress however has been slow.rnrnrn Companies are keen to minimise interest costs onrnterm and working capital loans.rnrnrn Consultancy firms specialising in improving thernsupply chain however say there are other ways […]

The Kopp Ceciles say this time theyve found heaven in their vacation. They are enjoying the peace and quiet of a secludedrnsmall boutique hotel in the southern Sri Lanka. The stuff picture postcards arernmade of.rnrnrn Most of all, they are enjoying the individual care andrnspace that they are receiving. It is costing them more than […]

Marketing professionals are rethinking brand strategies, as the country gets ready for a phase of growth and consolidation. Long thought out survival strategies are fast being replaced by aggressive growth plans. The changing fortunes on the economic front are posing a new set of challenges for brands faced with growing consumer demand and sophistication.rn rnThe […]

Wasted are those sleepless nights, the effort, passion and pain invested. Lost forever. Gone to their final resting place. I shall avenge this death. I will not rest. No pain or suffering will hold me back. For next year I will be back for my SLIM Award. It all ended with the award for agency […]

Experts say quality business development services like training and consultancy could change the way business is done in the island.rn rnldblquote There are many instances in the country where small people were given money but the project they embarked upon became failures because didnt have the know how. It is the expertise that will come […]

The government is making plans to capitalise on the upturn in tourism fortunes in the country. A new law is in the pipeline that would see the hands-on involvement of the tourism industry in planning and rolling out a marketing campaign for the country.rn rnThe industry is expecting a record half a million visitors this […]

Professional services are in the firing line as everyone, from your doctor, to your lawyer to your stockbroker get roped in under a lquote one size fits all Consumer Affairs Authority Act.The new Act in effect is the old Consumer Protection Act, the Control of Prices Act and the Fair Trading Commission Act all rolled […]

Taking a leaf from developed markets, Central Bank is launching its open market operations for the overnight money market next Monday.Open market operations gives the Central Bank more control over the overnight market.rn rnThe bank controls market activity by influencing the short-term rates at which banks borrow or lend depending on whether they have a […]

An Increasing number of software companies are now developing and marketing software aimed entirely at the local market.Earlier they were trying making inroads to the international market. But making it big internationally hasnt been easy especially in a market recovering from an IT slump.rn rnThey mostly target first time buyers of computer software with packages […]

Gold still remains one of the safest investments. But with international gold prices shooting up, it has helped spawn a whole industry based on gold as collateral.Gold prices in the international market spiked up over the last few months with investors seeking refuge in the priced commodity as a war in the Gulf looked imminent.rn […]

The working committee comprising six operators and a government representative will try to address outstanding issues like the local access fee and the quality of voice traffic. However the governments overall policy on telecom remains unchanged. rn rnTelephone subscribers usually have it easy. They take for granted that they can dial any number to talk […]

Banking sector stocks were top performers at the Colombo stock exchange last year as analysts predicted a good year for the countrys finance houses. A number of banks are expected to announce record profits this year.However, borrowers are protesting about high interest rates charged by commercial banks despite the prevalent low risk free rates. Borrowers […]