COLUMNSSoccer can teach Lankan economy many lessons
The first week of 2011 was charged up for Sri Lanka. The stock market surge. A local company being able to attract a top business professional who worked for a global multinational in Sri Lanka. A local lubricant company tying up with an Indian giant conglomerate Bharat Petroleum. The launch of the IPO by a local tea manufacturer who intends to enter the global beverage business by acquiring a global brand – another first for our island nation. All this indicates the optimism that we are to see this year.
In search of strategic HRM: Promises and pitfalls
Sri Lanka has entered an era of opportunities, leaving behind the bitter times of war and destruction. With the aspirations of becoming the next Asian miracle galore, the country needs a sustained effort, in line with a long term plan towards growth and development.
Asia’s return to world leadership: Not a cakewalk at all
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Asian writers, thinkers and leaders have been jubilant over a single development that had taken the world by surprise in the recent few years. That single development has been the unprecedented high economic growth recorded by both China and India, when the developed world had gone into an equally unprecedented recession year after year.
Get the best out of that huge peace dividend in 2011
The first full year without the menace of terrorism, 2010 saw the country posting an impressive +7.5% economic growth. In 2011 the country could achieve even more growth, thereby deliver more jobs and greater income, if we can work on political reconciliation in the north and east, have greater democracy and also improve our foreign relations with the West, which is currently in a terrible state.
Twelve steps to realise the leadership new year wish
Dear Mr. President,
Citizens acknowledge your new year wish for 2011. They in turn bless that you may have the leadership capability, inner strength, correct vision, courage and support for good governance-led realisation of this dream and meeting the major challenge identified in order to raise the position of the country before the world.
Exciting new paradigm links economy, culture
An exciting new development in international trade has been highlighted in a report produced jointly by the UNCTAD and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and released in mid December.
Dinesh takes dig at floods, politics
Asserting that the Government will not be able to prevent the flooding of Colombo City and suburbs unless there is proper coordination between the relevant establishments, Minister of Water Supply and Drainage Dinesh Gunawardena emphasises that all institutions should stick to a certain plan rather than changing them at will and adopting ad hoc measures.
Of public relations and media
Who is a PR person? Though the answer may seem obvious on the face of it, it has become quite important these days to define the role of public relations.
The baobab trees of Mannar
It is reported that there are plans afoot to introduce camel breeding to Mannar, in order to provide the people with nutritious camel milk.
Camels eat baobab leaves and it is said that the origins of the trees in Mannar go back to ancient camel caravans arriving from the Makran coast of today’s Pakistan, originating from Arabia. An industrial park is said to be also planned for Mannar.
Is Sri Lanka ready for a high growth agenda?
Driving back after Midnight Mass, I could not believe my eyes and ears, given the fire crackers on the streets of Colombo on New Year’s Eve.
I guess 2010 was a year where people got the freedom to do what their hearts desired rather than what their rational mind echoed. Some ventured into new businesses and went on to make supernatural profits.
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