UNP MP and its chief spokesman on the economy Dr. Harsha de Silva is expected to ask in Parliament today the Government stand on the remaining tranche worth US$ 800 million of the IMF assistance via its Stand-By-Arrangement (SBA). There hasn’t been a clear stand on the part of the Government during and following the ...

This is the 14th article in the Daily FT’s fortnightly series titled ‘Business of Sports,’ focusing on the back office of the various sports administered and played in this country. Readers are invited to share their views and express their opinion via email to editor@ft.lk

Fresh call for applications after respondents to first attempt fail to fully satisfy Commissioners New ad states remuneration package negotiable The hunt for the new Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) appears elusive as the capital market regulatory body is advertising afresh for a suitable candidate. The first attempt saw over a ...

Unveils new Valentine’s Day promotion  By Cheranka Mendis Oriflame Sri Lanka will introduce 200 new products to the local market in 2012 targeting a 25% growth by the end of the year. The brand, which has had a market presence for 15 years in the country, has experienced steady growth over the period and is ...

After statements to the contrary by Governor over applicable interest rate and on which loan amount, monetary authority issues clarification For few days, the not so ‘whole truth’ was out in the market, but perhaps due to the Opposition’s fire and realising the blunder and implications, a better-late-than-never conspicuous correction termed “clarification” has finally...

Country records second successive year of over 20% growth in exports; 2011 full year value tops $ 10 b; when ICT exports included total figure to rise to $ 11 bConfirming resilience and an   improved competitive mindset amidst global and local difficulties, Sri Lanka’s exports sector has concluded its second year of over 20% growth. ...

Thanks to interest in premier blue chip John Keells Holdings (JKH), the Colombo stock market for the first time since end 2009 achieved a year-to-date (YTD) net foreign inflow. Though 2012 is only 26 days old and the value is only Rs. 908 million, the net inflow on a ‘YTD basis’ is significant as it ...

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) is optimistic on Sri Lanka given the strong post-war upside for the economy and capital markets and is urging the country and companies to harness the global giant’s strengths and reach to grow better. “Following the end of the conflict, Sri Lanka has evolved with an attractive and strong growth ...

Confirming the Daily FT’s exclusive expose on 11 January, Aitken Spence Plc yesterday officially announced in a filing to the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) it was selling its 30% stake in the venture to build the Colombo South Container Terminal. Via the announcement Spence said its associated

The world famous London Stock Exchange Group (LSE), whose origins could be traced back to 300 years, will hold its first-ever Board of Directors meeting in Colombo today. LSE Chief Executive Officer Xavier Rolet confirmed to the Daily FT yesterday that though the organisation has held Board

Several leading experts will deal with different policy conflicts in capital markets on Friday at a top seminar organised by the Institute of Chartered Secretaries of Sri Lanka (ICCS) in partnership with the Daily FT. Colombo Stock Exchange Chairman Krishan Balendra, Heraymila Securities CO Ravi

Ariyaseela Wickramanayake renews call for greater import substitution on food items Warns country is sinking owing to rising import bill of products which can be locally sourced Business leader Ariyaseela Wickramanayake is renewing his call for greater import substitution of food items by slapping higher levies on foreign products, thereby boosting local supplies. He said ...

Part 4 – ‘Entertainment of a doubt’ deemed the Bill to be inconsistent with the Constitution – Petitioner’s stake in HDL greater than the Government’s   In the public interest to create awareness of the issues involved, the FT will continue to publish extracts adapted from the Petition filed by public interest activist Nihal Sri ...

Perhaps exposing brokers and investors who campaigned heavily for relaxed credit rules for their lack of judgment, the Colombo stock market yesterday failed to close on the up, despite enjoying a big burst in early morning trading. Opening with boosted confidence following the SEC’s relaxed credit rule announcement, the bourse gained sharply by 1.8% or ...

Part 2 – UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights? Judiciary entrusted with task of keeping every organ of the State within the law? In the public interest to create awareness of the issues involved, the Daily FT will continue to publish extracts from the petition filed by public

Bourse gets Rs. 5 b extra lift as SEC finally delights brokers with enhanced credit rule Confirming the exclusive Daily FT report of last Thursday, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) yesterday formally announced the granting of enhanced limit for broker credit, giving an estimated Rs. 5

LTTE rump groups and pro-LTTE organisations are trying hard to achieve their separatist ideology in the countryDefence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Tuesday said that there is a possibility of the re-emergence of the LTTE in Sri Lanka, as LTTE sympathisers abroad are still struggling to achieve the LTTE’s separatist ideology in the country. He made ...

Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal has been increasingly under attack by UNP MP Dr. Harsha de Silva over some of the policies, actions and comments of the professional-turned-politician-turned-Chief of the monetary regulatory authority. Cabraal’s ambitious and robust Roadmap for 2012 and beyond too had come under critique as being overconfident. However, this is unlikely to ...

If time already taken wasn’t long enough then the Securities and Exchange Commission don’t agree, and hence opted to meet again on Monday to take a final decision on relaxation of rules on broker credit. Issuing a one paragraph statement the SEC said “At the 294th Commission Meeting of the Securities and Exchange Com-mission of ...

The Daily FT’s exclusive expose of Aitken Spence Plc’s pullout from Sri Lanka’s biggest ever FDI project – the upcoming US$ 500 million Colombo South Container Terminal sent shock waves in corporate, shipping, political and diplomatic circles yesterday whilst investors found

Respected blue chip Aitken Spence pulls out of biggest FDI project – the $ 500 m Colombo South Container Terminal due to issues with funding and cost escalations Construction cost up 30% to $ 350 m; overall project cost now estimated at $ 595 m up from $ 475 m at bid proposal stage Lender ...

Ends 2011 with record 855,975 arrivalsBy Cheranka Mendis The high-flying tourism industry closed the year with a record 855,975 arrivals, marking a rise of 100,000 from the original target for the year. Statistics revealed by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) yesterday noted that the figure reflects a 30.8% increase from the previous year. ...

Asha Phillip Securities will open its 17th branch in Ambalanthota on 9 January. The branch will be located at No. 153, Tissa Road, Ambalanthota and add to the company’s branch strength in the south in Matara, Galle and Ambilipitiya. “We will be conducting awareness and education programmes in the area and the branch will cater ...

The Colombo stock market showed signs of struggle on the New Year’s first day of trading, managing to close up on a razor-thin margin with a turnover of just Rs. 419 million. In an apparent reflection of continuity of past year’s woes, the ASI gained by 0.01% or 0.4 points whilst MPI improved by over ...

Post-war rebounding Sri Lanka has entered for the first time the Most Valuable Nation Brands ranking compiled by UK-based Brand Finance debuting at number 76 with a value of $ 23 billion. A world renowned specialist in the subject Brand Finance’s 2011 ranking reveals brand ‘Sri Lanka’ is worth $ 23 billion (Rs. 2.6 trillion) ...

Senior business leader Harry Jayawardena-controlled Distilleries Company (DCSL) has triggered the Takeovers and Mergers Code on Aitken Spence Plc, the Daily FT learns. The triggering had taken place late last week when Melstacorp, a subsidiary of DCSL, had bought 62,100 Spence shares at Rs. 110

Broker and investor anxiety to persist in festive season as regulator puts off decision on price band, credit rule relaxation Brokers and investors are likely to miss festive cheer as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) yesterday felt it wiser to require more time to agree on the lifting of the price band and relaxing ...

By Dinali Goonewardene The private sector yesterday welcomed the relaxation of rules for foreign investment in debentures and overseas borrowings by Sri Lankan firms. The Central Bank yesterday announced it was relaxing regulations for foreign investment in corporate debentures of Sri Lankan firms and foreign borrowings by local firms. In the case of corporate debentures ...

Daily FT Editor Nisthar Cassim was among 40 top individuals apart from 60 institutions from private and public sectors picked last night for Global Commerce Excellence by the Shippers Academy Colombo, with support from the Central Bank, Export Development Board, Sri Lanka Ports Authority

Former MP and businessmen Dr. Tilak Karunarathne assumed duties as the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) yesterday. He had meetings with the senior management and staff of the SEC to apprise himself of what each division does. Karunaratne is a former Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), United National Party (UNP) and Sihala ...