Today’s Front Page 31-12-2010
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Tonight is the night!
Colombo city which looks quiet and peaceful in the picture is set to party tonight on New Year’s Eve whilst the rest of Sri Lanka is likely to settle for a quieter yet happy dawn of 2011 and a new decade – Pic by Lishan Wickramanayake
Massive draw for New Year’s Eve bashes
- Popular demand sparks two main dinner dances at sold out Cinnamon Grand
- Attractive fare and offers up for grabs at other popular star class venues too
Tonight’s New Year’s Eve celebrations are tipped to be most expensive as well as entertaining in line with post-war optimism and revival in the country.
Costly drop of “Ceylon”
The colonial term “Ceylon” will recede further into history with the government deciding to rename all state institutions currently bearing that term with “Sri Lanka.”
The move would force commercial enterprises such as Bank of Ceylon, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and CEB to undergo an expensive rebranding exercise.
The decision was taken when the Cabinet met on Wednesday and the decision was told to the media during the news briefing held yesterday. Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella noted that the Cabinet had authorised the Finance and Planning Ministry to take this matter up with the Legal Draftsman and prepare necessary legislation in a single Bill to change the names of all such Statutory Boards and public corporations.
“This means that institutions such as the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) will henceforth be titled the Sri Lanka Electricity Board,” the minister said.
In response to a question he remarked that the Bank of Ceylon (BOC) will also have to change its name and as such it would have to undergo a rebranding campaign that could well spill over into millions of rupees.
Ceylon was a transliteration given to the Indian Ocean island by its British colonial rulers from the Portuguese name Ceilao.
The country became independent from Britain in 1948 and reverted to its traditional Sinhalese name of Sri Lanka in 1972 when it became a republic.
Ceylon however is likely to remain in common use in the tea export industry, where the name is highly-valued for denoting the distinct flavour of tea produced in the country, wire services reported.
New Year heralds glad tidings for all state employees
Govt. extends Budget salary increases to employees of public corporations, statutory boards and foreign funded
projects; 5% special allowance and Rs.600 CoL allowance
implemented from 1 Jan.
Boost for construction sector
Cabinet decides to end 1% construction levy by UDA
In a bid to promote entrepreneurship the Cabinet has given approval to suspend the 1% construction levy charged by the Urban Development Authority (UDA).
Rs.2.3 billion fertiliser subsidy approved by Cabinet
More proposals to encourage organic fertiliser to reduce Rs.30 billion subsidy and MoU with Israel to boost scientific and technical knowledge
Battered by cost of living issues the government has focused on providing incentives to agriculture by approving the fertiliser subsidy, promoting compost manure and signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Israel for knowledge transfer.
Misreading of T+5 checks market’s gain
Over 1 m COMBank shares trade; Bairaha peaks to new high
An apparent misreading of T+5 directive issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) checkmated the Bourse’ eight consecutive days of gain yesterday.
After the 600,000 milestone Sri Lanka Tourism prepares for 700,000 in 2011
After achieving the milestone of over 600,000 tourists this year, Sri Lanka is preparing for a target of over 700,000 arrivals in 2011.
The preparations are being spearheaded under the banner of Visit Sri Lanka 2011 which was declared by President Mahinda Rajapaksa after attaining peace in the country, and to receive the targeted tourists Sri Lanka Tourism launched a campaign ‘Refreshingly Sri Lanka 2011’ at the WTM in London in November, 2010.
Air Force prepares take off for Diamond Jubilee in march
Air Force Commander Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonatilake taking a closer look at the logo which was launched yesterday in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the Air Force which falls in March next year - Pic by Kushan Pathiraja
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