SECTORSJapanese Special Representative of the Government of Japan Yasushi Akashi, held discussion Minister of Justice and SLMC
Japanese Special Representative of the Government of Japan Yasushi Akashi, held discussion with Rauff Hakeem, Minister of Justice and SLMC Leader on Wednesday at his residence. Deputy Minister and SLMC Chairman Basheer Segudawood, Admiral (Rtd) Wasantha Karannagoda, Sri Lanka Ambassador in Japan, Nobuhito Hobo, Ambassador of Japan in Sri Lanka and other Japanese officials also took part at the discussion.
Ceylinco Insurance bags top honours again at National Business Excellence Awards 2011
Ceylinco Insurance once again bagged top honours for the third time when it emerged the winner in the insurance sector at the National Business Excellence Awards 2011.
Conducted by the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka for the eighth consecutive year, the National Business Excellence Awards are recognised as one of the most significant events that benchmark corporate performance and excellence.
Canadian firm gets supervisory deal in US$ 100 million road project
A Canadian firm has been selected by the Sri Lankan Government to supervise a 100 million US dollar road project to connect the former war torn east, a top minister said here on Thursday.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told media that approval has been given for Lavalin International to supervise the UDS 100 million project, which will connect to Trincomalee in the eastern province.
Copyright doesn’t protect software functions
BRUSSELS (Reuters): US computer software company SAS Institute cannot claim copyright protection for the functions performed by its programmes, which have been replicated by a rival, an adviser to Europe’s highest court said.
The case is seen as crucial for the European computer industry and could determine how companies create products that can work with rival services without breaching copyright rules.
DFCC buys 10% NTB stake for Rs. 1.3 b
- Move as part of boosting portfolio investment, earmarking medium-term capital appreciation
- Indra Silva exits booking profit
Pioneering development finance institution, DFCC Bank yesterday bought a 10% stake in Nations Trust Bank for Rs. 1.3 billion as part of shoring up its portfolio investment, earning medium-term capital gain.
Gov’t denies harassing 53 female LTTE prisoners
The Government has denied harmfully treating 53 Tamil tiger rebels imprisoned by the State, a minister said yesterday.
The 53 former Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam (LTTE) were kept at the Anuradhapura prison, about 209 km from Colombo, where it was reported that had undergone severe treatment by prison officials.
Japan car sales continue rise, S. Korea gains overseas
- Japan non-mini auto sales rise 24.1 pct in Nov
- Honda, hurt by floods, ekes out 1.5 pct gain
- Hyundai up 19.3 pct, Kia up 8.5 pct on overseas sales
- Maruti sales down 18.5 pct as India demand slows
MUMBAI (Reuters): Japanese car sales in November rose by more than 20 percent for the second consecutive month thanks to a low comparison base from last year while South Korean carmakers saw strong growth in overseas sales more than make up for falling sales at home.
Sheraton to enter Sri Lanka with $ 300 m investment
By Uditha Jayasinghe
Global hotel giant Sheraton has received Cabinet approval to invest US$ 300 million in Sri Lanka, on a venture that will stand on land made famous in the China National Technical Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) deal.
ITC Limited of India is a franchise holder of Sheraton Group of USA and the market leader in cigarettes in the subcontinent has bagged the deal.
West should embrace “Arab Spring” Islamists — Qatar
LONDON (Reuters): Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani was quoted on Thursday as saying Islamists were likely to represent the next wave of political power in the Arab world and that the West should embrace them.
Thani said in an interview with the Financial Times that moderate Islamists could assist in fighting what he called extremist ideology.
“We shouldn’t fear them, let’s cooperate with them,” said Thani, whose Gulf Arab state is home to Al Jazeera television.
CNCI seeks cautious approach in acquisition of State assets
The Expropriation Law has been passed and implemented and the Government has decided to acquire 37 companies nominated by it with immediate effect.
It was stated that underperforming enterprises and underutilised assets which were leased out to the private sector management by the Government on long-term lease agreements would be subjected to this takeover.
• 
