Dialog’s drone countdown
Dialog Axiata PLC hosted Sri Lanka’s first-ever New Year countdown drone show, marking a groundbreaking moment in celebration of the dawn of 2025. Held at Galle Face Green this spectacular event illuminated the Colombo skyline with 400 drones, creating an awe-inspiring visual display visible within a 5-km radius.
SOEs vested in line ministries to drive economic growth
The new government has made a major policy shift by assigning Sri Lanka’s State Owned Enterprises or SOEs and mixed development projects to line ministries. According to the Cabinet Spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa, these are now supposed to function in a manner that should lead to the economic development of the country. The government will integrate [...]
Govt. seeks investors for nuclear power plants
Sri Lanka is moving forward by introducing nuclear power into its energy mix in order to meet the growing electricity demand, combat climate change, and to secure energy supplies. Preparatory work for the country’s first nuclear power plant has already begun. The government is working on legislation governing the generation of nuclear power and shortly [...]
Seeking OPEC-led investments in energy sector
The government will hold discussions this week with the embassies of several West Asian countries to attract investments in the energy sector. Aruna Hemachandra, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment told The Sunday Times Business that the Economic Division of the Foreign Ministry will be holding discussions with representatives in embassies of the [...]
Growers want coconut auction back!
Coconut growers are in a quandary as to why the authorities have suspended the coconut auction. Growers opined that the auction was used as a benchmark in order to determine the prices at the retail market and suspending it will not get anyone anywhere. Concerns were raised on the suspension of the auction since the [...]
Upcoming budget, positive indicators, great for CSE
If the new government’s upcoming budget proves favourable, the Colombo stock market will reach an unprecedented high in the coming weeks, stock market analysts say. This will back improved valuations, more foreign interest, and a rising stock market, analysts said. “People are looking for better cost management in government spending which the incumbent government has [...]
Migration trail
We have had this conversation earlier. When ‘Human resource’ pundit HR Perera, popularly known as HR, called on Thursday (the second day of a new year), we engaged in a topic that had garnered a lot of attention in 2024 – Sri Lanka’s migrant workers and their role in the economy. The debate over whether [...]
Keeping people poor and malnourished…!
How to keep people poor and malnourished? Sri Lanka too provides a classic example to give one of the best answers to this question. As I had to revisit this issue many times in the recent past, I thought of taking it for our discussions in this column. Therefore, I am going to carry out [...]
Sri Lanka’s canned fish price controls spark quality, industry issues
The Sri Lanka Government has imposed price controls on canned fish despite recent controversies over similar measures, amidst issues of quality and other industry concerns. The Consumer Affairs Authority CAA) has set a ceiling of Rs.380 for tuna, Rs.420 for mackerel, and Rs.560 for jack mackerel. Such interventions have sparked debates about their impact on [...]
Sigiriya to be restored with KOICA, ADB support
Sri Lanka’s iconic Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is set to regain international attention following significant pledges of support for its conservation and development. Recent support extended by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are geared toward improving the site’s tourist appeal while preserving its historical [...]
Nimal exits NGage Strategic Alliance, Sheron Jayasundara takes over
Nimal Gunewardena, the visionary founder of Sri Lanka’s pioneering Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) and Public Relations (PR) agency, has announced his exit from the agency he founded in 1993, now rebranded as NGage Strategic Alliance (formerly Bates Strategic Alliance). In a strategic move to ensure continuity and growth, Mr. Gunewardena has transferred his equity in [...]
SAGT surpasses epic 2 million TEU milestone again in 2024
South Asia Gateway Terminals Ltd (SAGT), Sri Lanka’s first public private partnership (PPP) and flagship venture of the Board of Investment (BOI), has reached a significant milestone yet again by achieving two million TEU in 2024. In its 25-year history, SAGT has twice before reached the two million mark in 2018 and 2019, but this [...]
Thilan contributes to Global South Blue Economy at Cape Town conference
Thilan Wijesinghe, Chairman of TWC Group addressed global policymakers and experts at the ORF Cape Town Conversation, recently held in Cape Town, South Africa. Co-hosted by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) and the Thabo Mbeki Foundation (TMF), the event served as a critical platform for addressing pressing global South’s challenges, including the future of the [...]
Landmark Food and Beverage regulations
The Sri Lankan government has announced new restrictions on marketing food and beverages to children, effective January 1, 2025, under the Food (Labelling & Advertising) Regulations 2022. The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, through its Food & Beverage Steering Committee, was a key partner in shaping these regulations by providing inputs on food science, nutrition, international [...]
EDB hosts networking session for female entrepreneurs
The Export Development Board (EDB) successfully conducted a networking and knowledge sharing session for female entrepreneurs registered under the “Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme” held recently at the EDB-NDB Tower, Colombo 02. The event addressed one of the key barriers faced by women entrepreneurs – lack of networking opportunities with industry leaders. This session brought together [...]