Category: Industry
Climbing Up
August 16 (LBO) – SriLankan Airlines said Wednesday that it would raise fares by end August for the third time this year, to cope with soaring fuel prices, even as it trims costs onboard its aircraft. Fuel prices are on an upward trend and we will have to pass it on, there is no other […]
Hidden Costs
August15 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shippers are up in arms against new levies allegedly charged by shipping lines and other vessel operators, under the guise of documentation, security and other charges. Shippers claim that they are being charged higher terminal handling fees, with instances of rates being upped from 115 dollars for a 20 foot […]
Sri Lanka tourism loses some bookings for winter; counts on regional tourism traffic
August 15 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has seen some cancellations from Europe for this year’s peak winter season following an outbreak in local violence, top industry officials said. Some cancellation of bookings have been reported for this November-December season, though others are withholding reservations and adopting a wait-and-see, Prathap Ramanujam, Secretary to the […]
New Generation
Aug 15 (LBO) –Sri Lanka’s largest mobile operator, Dialog Telekom, said it has started South Asia’s first commercial third generation mobile service, after formally receiving the license on Tuesday. Telecommunications is one of the fastest growth sectors in this South Asian island of 19.5 million people and the mobile connections per 100 people had risen […]
One Passenger
The first sale of a license to operate a taxi service, through a call option, ended with no competitive bidding as only one buyer came forward, raising doubts about the demand for the other licenses to be auctioned over the next eight days. Senok Trade Combine was the only bidder at Monday™s auction where a […]
We never nicknamed Amla a “terrorist”, say South African team-mates
COLOMBO, Aug 13, 2006 (AFP) – South Africa’s cricket team on Sunday ridiculed suggestions they had nicknamed Muslim team-mate Hashim Amla a “terrorist”, a jibe that cost Dean Jones his television job. Jones, a former Australian Test star, was sacked as a commentator last week after being heard on air saying “the terrorist has got […]
Off Track
Aug 13 – (LBO) A scrap iron sale at Sri Lanka’s troubled state-run railway has come under fire from unions after the successful tenderer allegedly removed serviceable carriages along with scrapped equipment.Controversy surrounds railways tenders in Sri Lanka, especially in procurement. Two rail wagons, which are still in use by the railway department, was cut-up […]
Thin Client
August 13 (LBO) – A Sri Lanka-based securities trading platform maker says it is planning to market software on a transaction-based fee model next year, instead of only selling systems outright. MIT has also applied to patent the technology in a number of other jurisdictions including India. œThis will be attractive for broker-dealers, MillenniumIT (MIT) […]
’ Cry
Sri Lanka’s banks are asking authorities to revive stalled plans to strengthen the Credit Information Bureau (CRIB), while the sector is also facing the prospect of a relaxation of debt recovery laws. Analysts say relaxing debt recovery laws, and making it easier for defaulters to escape notice, may push up Sri Lanka’s national non-performing loan […]
Bloggers Heaven
PARIS, Aug 11, 2006 (AFP) – Fifty million blogs — online multi-media journals — were tracked on the Internet last month, a 100-fold increase over three years, according to a new study published online. Technorati, a website devoted to tracking the growth of the worldwide “blogosphere”, claims their number has doubled every five to seven […]
Dial Free
Aug11 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Telecom’s mobile subsidiary Mobitel just launched aggressive new post-paid tariffs, on the heels of a licence to also rollout Third Generation (3G) services. œWe are approaching it cautiously. On the one hand, the price of a handset is a deterrent. So we will not be rolling out 3G infrastructure island […]
Big Favours
August 11 (LBO) – Sri Lanka™s Board of Investment is to expand a selective list of exporters and importers who get Green Channel or speedy clearance through customs. We are in the process of considering further investors who are eligible for the scheme and we will add on another five to ten a month to […]