Local bicycle industry in jeopardy
The local bicycle industry is up in arms over a request by the Bicycle
Traders' Association (BTA), which imports bicycles, to reduce duties and
make this mode of transportation cheaper to the consumer.
"Many traders have imported and continue to import large quantities
of second hand and substandard bicycles creating an imbalance in the trade,"
noted Amal Suriyage, president of the Sri Lanka Bicycle Producers' Association
(SLBPA) in a letter to Finance Minister K. N. Choksy.
The SLBPA rejected arguments made by the BTA in a statement last week
backing demands for reduced duties on imported bicycles, saying the local
industry had suffered in the past due to wrong fiscal and economic policies.
Suriyage said there are more than five local manufacturers. Many vital
bicycle parts such as frames, forks, mudguards, seat stays, chain stays,
rims, spokes, tyres and tubes and many small components are manufactured
locally. There is also outsourcing of certain parts and spares from the
small feeder industries at village and cottage level which help rural communities
economically.
He said last year Sri Lanka exported over 80,000 bicycles to many countries
including the UK, adding that the association would like to meet the finance
minister to discuss ways and means of reducing the retail price of bicycles.
UK trade mission in Colombo this week
The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry is visiting Sri Lanka from
11 to 15 February following their successful visit in February 2001, the
British High Commission said.
Fifteen companies are sending representatives on this mission with a
wide range of goods and services. The firms are Abey Enterprises, Anooma
International Ltd, Carew Smith International, DCE Donaldson Ltd, Domestic
and Business Systems (UK) Ltd, Eastman Staples Ltd, Eureka Business Systems
Ltd, Feasibility East Ltd, Geno Services Ltd, London College of Business
and Computing, Mirams Waterhouse Ltd, Newtons Computer Systems, Riley Leisure
Ltd and Thermo Projects Ltd.
"The London Chamber is looking forward to another successful mission
and to having fruitful discussions with local business organisations,"
said mission manager Sarah Sim.
JKH profits plunge due to crisis
John Keells Holdings Ltd net profit fell by almost half to Rs. 239 million
in the nine months ending December 31, 2001 from Rs. 450 million in the
same period the year before, according to interim results.
JKH chairman, Vivendra Lintotawela attributed the downturn to the "bleak"
business environment in which the firm had to operate.
"Despite these adverse conditions, Group turnover has increased marginally
to Rs. 8.8 billion from Rs. 8.6 billion," he said.
The group managed to keep the lid on operating costs which rose by only
five percent despite inflationary pressures and other cost increases, he
said.
The 20 percent surcharge on corporate tax has contributed to the increase
of about 16 percent in the effective rate of tax in the period under review.
Finance costs rose sharply mainly because of higher interest rates in
the first half of last year and the third tranche of the investment in
the South Asia Gateway Terminals port project made during the period.
Lintotawela said that in the leisure sector, the local market remains
depressed but the group was pursuing plans to expand in South India and
the Maldives.
Profitability of the plantations sector has "shown a slight improvement"
in the third quarter, he said, adding that he was confident the growth
would continue.
He attributed a slowdown in the transportation sector to the downturn
in trade and the uncertainty surrounding the aviation and shipping industries.
But the new information technology sector is expected to show a "positive"
contribution in the last quarter of the current financial year, he said.
Coco Lanka gets HACCP certificate from SLSI
Coco Lanka Ltd. recently got the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point
(HACCP) certification from the Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI) and
is one of the few organisations in Sri Lanka to obtain this certification.
"We are exporting to over 40 countries and we are now supplying products
to the Sainsbury supermarket chain in the United Kingdom under our own
label," said S.R. Rajiyah, Managing Director of Coco Lanka Ltd, at the
awards ceremony recently.
"With the receipt of the HACCP certification from the SLSI we are confident
that we will be able to add to the list of supermarkets we supply around
the world."
The company is an export-oriented venture manufacturing canned coconut
milk, cream and desiccated coconut.
Meters for taxis
Taxi meters can reduce travel costs
Re-introducing taxi meters is a good idea but it's not going to be easy.
A monitoring board is required to ensure that it is made efficient and
effective.
Today there are several cab services operating within some large cities,
fixing their own rates. The government or the official body which would
govern this system in the event meters are made mandatory should fix a
minimum rate. However, the rate should be less than what a cab now charges.
Four-wheel cab charges are around Rs. 18 to Rs. 23 per kilometre. Three-wheelers
should charge less.
If the government should implement this system it would result in a
cheap, convenient and quick mode of transport in Sri Lanka.
All levels of people - government servants, private sector employees,
schoolchildren, housewives, etc. and even low-income groups could benefit
from a properly-metered taxi system. The present cab system is being enjoyed
only by the rich and sometimes the middle-class who live in major cities.
Why can't we make this a reality so that the common man too can benefit
from a cheap and convenient mode of transport?
M.R.M. Imran
Colombo
Meters and good manners
There is no doubt that three-wheelers are the most convenient mode of transport
in Sri Lanka at the moment.
However, unlike in the good old days when the Morris Minor taxis had
meters, three-wheelers don't have meters to indicate the fares. It is time
the authorities made meters compulsory and a reasonable pricing system
should also be implemented. There is also the option of negotiating with
the taxi driver on a long-distance fare. Apart from fixing meters, taxi
drivers should also be advised to be polite and to adhere to road rules
without harassing innocent people.
Sunil R. Wickremaratne
Mathugama
Three-wheelers or trishaws are the most convenient mode of transport
these days for everyone. It is also the cheapest if you are able to knock
down the asking rate from the driver.
What happened to the taxi meters? Why were they discontinued? Most people
prefer a return to the taxi meter era to ensure reasonable rates.
What have you got to say? With the government receptive to ideas, The
Sunday Times Business invites views from readers on this issue. Write to
the Business Editor, c/o The Sunday Times, 8, Hunupitiya Cross Road, Colombo
2 or on e-mail – btimes@wijeya.lk.
Biz Briefs
Seminar on agriculture
Sarvodaya is organising a conference on "New technology trends for sustainable
agricultural development" aimed at bringing such technology trends in focus
and bridging the gap between the farmer and the technologist.
Agriculture Minister, S.B. Dissanayake and Sarvodaya founder, Dr. A.T.
Ariyaratne are among the speakers along with several eminent scientists,
technocrats and bureaucrats. The conference will be held tomorrow at the
Sarvodaya headquarters at Moratuwa.
Odel unveils "Kenzo-Homme"
Odel Unlimited has added the world famous Kenzo-Homme collection to its
existing designer labels, which reflect the best-known international fashion
labels, the company said.
It said the Kenzo-Homme range represents electric menswear at competitive
prices. The Kenzo menswear range not only infuses new life into male apparel
- but also veritably electrifies it.
"The designer's exuberant spirit is reflected in the Homme range, which
is characterised by a stunning selection of fabric, bringing a certain
modernity and freshness to male fashion," the statement said.
SriLankan now flies to Singapore, Jakarta
SriLankan Airlines has begun an additional weekly service to Singapore
and Jakarta from last week. The new service will operate on Tuesday on
the Colombo/Singapore /Jakarta/Colombo routes and will take weekly services
to Singapore to eight and to Jakarta to three, an airline statement said.
SriLankan Airlines will deploy its Airbus A340 on this service. The
A340 is equipped with some of the most advanced features in inflight and
entertainment facilities available today.
Seminar on lab safety methods
The Institute of Chemistry is organising a training seminar titled, "Safety
in microbiological laboratories - a need in the new millennium".
The seminar aims at enlightening those engaged on lab management in
formulating regulations, guidelines, roles and responsibilities in lab
safety and reporting procedures, handling of micro-organisms and handling
of pathogenic organisms, culture maintenance, handling risk assessments,
lab layout, equipment, disposal techniques and occupational hygiene.
Senior university academics and representatives from the Medical Research
Institute, Sri Lanka Standards Institute and the Labour Department are
among the speakers. The seminar will be held on February 22 in Colombo.
CTC's new directors
Ceylon Tobacco Ltd (CTC) has appointed Lakmali Gunawardene Nanayakkara
and Stephen Daintith as non- executive directors with effect from February
1.
The company said Ms. Nanayakkara is a partner of Ernst and Young, Chartered
Accountants, and a well-known personality in tax planning. Daintith is
the CEO of British American Tobacco, Bangladesh, and a chartered accountant.
CTC's board of directors now comprises Lt. Gen, Dennis Perera, chairman,
Fred Combe, managing director and CEO, Jayampathi Bandaranayake, deputy
managing director and directors, Vijaya Malalasekera, corporate and legal
affairs, Saktha Amaratunga, finance, Ken Balendra, James Mather, Chandra
Jayaratne, L.G. Gunawardene and S. Dainith.
Seminar on concrete structures
A seminar on Concrete Admixture Technologies and Concrete Repair Technologies
was held at the Galadari Hotel in Colombo late last month by Concrete Chemical
Products together with Fosroc International Limited on behalf of The Sri
Lanka Ready Mix Concrete Association.
The main presenter, Vince Robinson, Technical Manager of Fosroc International
Limited, spoke about the risks and dangers of insufficiently protected
reinforced concrete structures and Fresco's technical advancement to effect
reliable and lasting repair solutions. He was invited to present a paper
at the conference by Kumar Weerasinghe, President of the Ready Mix Association. |
