Growing Up
The Seylan Merchant Bank (SMB) Group has reported a three fold growth in pre-tax profits for the third quarter ending Sept. 2003.Consolidated pre-tax profit at …
Red Alert
Ahead of World AIDS day on December 1st, the good news is Sri Lankas low AIDS numbers, but the bad news is the countrys high vulnerability to the disease. To …
Another First — Updated
The telecom watchdog on Tuesday came out of cold storage to flex its legal muscle and file charges against Mobitel (Pvt) Ltd for defying regulators orders.This …
Leg Up
The Sri Lankan rupee is on course for a firmer footing against the US dollar, despite recent political cross currents that have shaken the currency.After …
Lucky Dip
The Mahapola Trust Fund is matching numbers with US lottery solutions provider, GTECH to spin off its own sweepstakes operation next year.Betting Rs. 400 mn on …
Lifting Up
Ceylinco Life, has achieved record-breaking results in the first nine months of 2003, with a healthy 32 percent growth in premium income.The firm said this …
Rough Ride
Business is booming but the hotels sector is trying to hang on to the good times a little longer, by warding off a looming electricity price hike. The sector …
Sugar Coated Budget
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 …
Closing the Books
The Treasury put away its books on Colombo International School (CIS) Monday, after selling its 49 percent stake for Rs. 86.7 mn to Ceyko Projects (Pvt) Ltd. …
Upward March
Continuing a robust recovery, Sri Lankas export earnings clocked in a double-digit growth for the first nine months of this year, which helped the trade …
Cease Lease
Attempts through the budget to force leasing companies to pay tax could make leasing unattractive and uncompetitive according to the industry.Government in its …
Restart? Retry? Abort?
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 …
Hold On
Political power play has put in the balance plans by HSBC to set up a huge call center in the country.The banking giant was planning to set up a call center …
Please Give
The government is hoping to persuade BOI firms to submit to the proposed Economic Service Charge.Finance Minister K N Choksy says the agreements with BOI firms …
No Sacred Cow
The UNF administration looks set go ahead with the tax on share trading profits, with the same determination, it is implementing unpopular reforms against less …
Slithering Down
Sri Lanka Telecom reported a 26 percent dip in net profits for the first nine months, due to an early retirement scheme, higher operating costs and losses from …
Hidden Costs
World Bank is likely to chip in and help the government foot the hefty early retirement bill to off load around 300,000 public servants. rnrnrnrnrnrnrnNew Page …
Look Who’s Talking?
The main opposition Peoples Alliance is geared for Act Two of the ongoing political drama, with the President on Thursday setting a mid December deadline for …
Soaring Eagle
Eagle Insurance says its net profits have soared 55 percent for the first nine months of this year, despite stiff competition in the local arena.Group net …
Travel Charger
Collection problems could bog down state plans to charge a Rs. 300 annual levy on mobile handsets as planned from next January, which works out to less than 85 …