Southern Expressway Galle to Matara was declared open by President

The Second Phase of the Southern Expressway from Pinnaduwa in Galle to Godagama in Matara was declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Saturday.

Construction on the highway began in 2006 and the first phase from Kottawa to Pinnaduwa in Galle was declared open in November 2011.
The expressway will reduce the time taken to travel from Colombo to Matara (161 km) to one-and-a-half hours from the current four hours, and currently reduces the time taken to travel from Colombo to Galle (116 km) to one hour from the three hours taken by the regular Colombo-Matara highway.

5 Rules to remember in Life

Tujhme Rab Dikhta Hai by Shreya Ghoshal live at Sony Project Resound Concert

Tujhme Rab Dikhta Hai by Shreya Ghoshal live at Sony Project Resound Concert

When I'm sad ,i stop beign sad.

Excellent Quotes by Warren Buffet

Coins always make sounds

Coins always make sounds..

but paper moneys are always silent,

So when your value increases ,

Keep yourself silent and humble.

Real Men Dont Love

ASIRI HOSPITAL HOLDINGS, ASIRI SURGICAL - DIVDEND ANNOUNCEMENTS

ASIRI HOSPITAL HOLDINGS PLC 
Company ID: - ASIR 
Date of Announcement: - 13.Mar.2014 
Dividend per Share: - Rs. 0.55 per share (Tax Free - i.e. paid-out of dividends received) / Interim Dividend 
Financial Year: - 2013/2014 
XD: - 24.Mar.2014 
Payment: - 31.Mar.2014 
Share Transfer Book Open 

ASIRI SURGICAL HOSPITAL PLC 
Company ID: - AMSL 
Date of Announcement: - 13.Mar.2014 
Dividend per Share: - Rs. 1.56 per share (Tax Free) / Interim Dividend 
Financial Year: - 2013/2014 
XD: - 24.Mar.2014 
Payment: - 28.Mar.2014 
Share Transfer Book Open

Asiri Central to delist

Asiri Hospital Holdings Plc has announced a delisting move of its subsidiary Asiri Central Hospitals Plc (ACH) at Rs. 275 per share. The announcement was made after the market’s closure. The last traded price of ACH was Rs. 250.10, down by Rs. 8.90 or 3.4%. Net Asset Per Share of ACH is Rs. 91.85 as of 31 December 2013. Asiri Hospitals Holdings Plc owns 99.31% of ACH whilst public shareholding is only 153,296 shares accounting for 0.69%

38 Non Bank Finance Institutions under due diligence study by nine audit firms for mergers

By Shabiya Ali Ahlam A panel of nine reputed audit firms are currently engaged in a due diligence exercise on 38 individual Non Bank Finance Institutions (NBFIs), whose merger or absorption proposals are expected by end of this month. The Central Bank has requested the Panel of Auditors to conduct the due diligence and valuation of business of Category B NBFIs and all other consultants to work with these auditors. These NBFIs are to be merged or absorbed by banks or Category A NBFIs. They could also explore mergers among themselves, so that they fulfil conditions of the Category A NBFIs.

Femina Miss India 2014 contestants arrived in Sri Lanka

Femina Miss India 2014 contestants arrived in Sri Lanka last morning for their pre-pageant tour, which will be covered by over 20 international journalists from all across India. The 25 contestants and four of the current title holders of Femina Miss India 2013 are in Sri Lanka for a week-long tour to both experience the culture and hospitality of the country. The 25 finalists will be first revealed to the world at an event at Cinnamon Bey scheduled to be held this week – Pic by Deepa Adikari.

What can businesses learn from the Royal-Thomian?

• The ‘power’ of two competing ‘brands’ synergising to create an experience much ‘larger’ than either could. Even if businesses cannot stretch their thinking to synergising with competing brands, start with complimentary brands.
• The ‘power’ of tradition (as part of the organisational DNA) – that delivers far more than following a process manual.
• The ‘power’ of alumni affinity and volunteering – that ensures effective project management involving a multitude of diverse stakeholders.
• The ‘power’ of teaming – with no hierarchical organisational structures and associated bureaucracies. Now it’s time to enjoy the ‘power’ of fun!

Basil inspects Galle-Matara Expressway

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa this week inspected the 31 kilometre-long Galle-Matara Expressway to be opened on March 15.
The road begins from Pinnaduwa, Galle and ends at Godagama, Matara. The new road constructed by local engineers under the Highways Ministry’s direction on the advice of President Mahinda Rajapaksa will make it possible for travelers to reach Kaduwela from Matara in one-and-a-half-hours. The maximum speed is 100 km per hour.

Ebay auction to cash in on tragedy with www.MH370.com

The owner of the MH370.com website is looking to cash in on the huge surge of interest online associated with the ill-fated Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370.
An auction on eBay was looking for $5,000 in order to secure the url with the seller – called chypriotte – claiming: “Buy this domain today and sell it later on for thousands of dollars. Dozens of companies, families of victims, will want to buy it from you. Pay little money today and make huge profit tomorrow.”
Once the auction was highlighted on social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter, there was an immediate backlash. Some users called the auction “despicable”.
It was subsequently removed from eBay but it was not clear if this was because of a successful transaction or because of user pressure.

15 Habits of Highly Miserable People

The definition of a miserable person is wretchedly unhappy or uncomfortable. That is pretty spot on don’t you think? When a person is miserable they never see or expect the good in anything and always try to make those around them feel just as bad and negative as them. Being miserable is a way of life for some people because they get sympathy, constant reassurance from other miserable people and a sense of self, defined by whatever circumstance they find themselves in.
Unfortunately, highly miserable people are much more accepted in society as opposed to someone that is happy and upbeat all the time, who can be looked at as ‘weird’ or ‘strange’.
If you are tired of being miserable and want a happy existence on this planet, I’ve come up with a few habits of highly miserable people. If you can identify and change one around you’ll be well on your way to a good life again!

They are never thankful for anything

Being grateful and thankful for anything in a highly miserable person’s life is a big no! When a person shows gratitude they should doing it from a point of view of happiness and are usually ten times more likely to be thankful for things they already have rather than the things they don’t. If you are a miserable person, you’ll avoid any expressions of gratitude at all costs because it goes against what you believe. You’ll think that counting your blessings is a waste of time and life will always be full of something to be ungrateful about.

They lead a very unadventurous life

Highly miserable people lead a dull, boring and unadventurous life. They ensure that you have a mundane existence, with no fun, no possibility or excitement and then complain about it! When life is unadventurous and boring they’ll start to believe that they are boring and project that upon other people. Life is predictable as far as a highly miserable person is concerned. TV is a big activity in this kind of life coupled with addiction and other mediocre activities such as reading tabloid papers and celebrity magazines, none of which stimulate or invigorate the body or mind.

They live in and glorify the past

We’ve all done it, said things like ‘it was so much better when I was a kid’ except highly miserable people tend to live their lives stuck in the past rather than remembering it fondly and moving on. They’ll talk about what has happened, what they have done and what it was like back then, saying that life has only gone downhill since.  When a highly miserable person vilifies the past, they refer to it as being born in the wrong place at the wrong time or life when they were a kid was unhappy and they never got what they wanted.

Make The Most Of Your Internship in 7 Easy Steps

You are supposed to learn as much as possible as an intern, so fetching the coffee and sorting out the stationary cupboard is simply not good enough. Here are a few tips to help you get through your internship and get the most out of it.

1. Your boss is legally obligated to make sure you are learning valuable skills.

This is the case whether you are or are not being paid a wage. The only place where learning valuable skills is not a legal requirement is if you are interning within a non-profit organization. You are not there to fetch the coffee or take the dry cleaning. There may be a little of that, but the their obligation to you is to teach you valuable skills and not to simply do work that is of benefit to your employer.

After I Read This, I Totally Know When I Should Stay Silent Or Speak

Have you ever regretted something that you said?
Or has there ever been a time when you knew you should have spoken up, but you didn’t?
Well, here are some valuable tips to know when to stay silent and when to speak up.

When silence is golden:

• Staying silent can be just as powerful as the words you mean to say, like when the act of hugging will be more comforting than saying, “Sorry for your loss.”

• Another time when silence is golden is when you are unsure of what to say. If you are confused about your own feelings concerning a matter, it’s best to stay quiet until you are more certain because more harm can be done by revealing false or exaggerated feelings.

• Choose silence instead of blurting out ‘in-the-moment’ feelings that are hurtful and not really how you feel in the grand scheme of things. When you feel the urge to say an unkind thing, take a few breaths and think of the possible consequences of your words.

Wild Yala goes live on the world wide web

Official website for Yala debuts; Wildlife Department on an ambitious drive to improve parks
Yalasrilanka.lk, the official website for Yala National Park, was launched by the Department of Wildlife to coincide with the first-ever World Wildlife Day.
The in-depth, one-stop info and conservation catalyst on the cutting-edge of web technology was launched by Minister of Wildlife Resources Conservation Gamini Vijith Vijayamuni Zoysa at a special event to mark Wildlife Day.
Standing out is the website’s multi-faceted strategy of providing everything a visitor requires while preparing him to be a responsible tourist.
Yalasrilanka.lk’s design approach brings in line the world’s best websites in wildlife tourism, taking visitors through a fascinating journey that brings them up close and personal with the park while inspiring them to be ‘green’ tourists who’d be prepared for their adventure.

President declares open first segment of Rs. 27 b outer circular highway around Colombo

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, accompanied by the Ambassador of Japan Nobuhito Hobo, on Saturday declared open the first segment of the Outer Circular Highway (OCH) around Colombo.
After opening the first segment of the OCH from Kottawa to Kaduwela the President drove the first bus on the 11-kilometre long, four-lane highway launching a highway express bus service.

Kottawa-Kaduwela segment of the OCH is located in the Colombo Metropolitan Region and passes through Colombo and Gampaha Districts. Sri Lanka’s longest fly over spanning more than three kilometres is also located in this highway.

SLPA justifies Colombo Port City Development Project

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) has expressed its concern over statements made by various personages via the media, based on adverse information on its ‘Port City,’ the project that has been launched with the largest financial investment in Sri Lanka.
The project could be known as the largest-ever private, overseas financial investment project implemented via SLPA in Sri Lanka. The investment in its initial stage comes to US$ 1.34 billion. Most importantly, the project is not funded by the Government of Sri Lanka or the SLPA.
Accordingly, a land of 233 hectares is planned to reclaim beside the breakwater of the Colombo Port Expansion Project towards the Galle Face Green.

Apple loses bid for US ban on Samsung smartphone sales

REUTERS: A US judge on Thursday rejected Apple’s request for a permanent sales ban in the United States against some older Samsung smartphones, a key setback for the iPhone maker in its global patent battle.
US District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California, ruled that Apple Inc had not presented enough evidence to show that its patented features were a significant enough driver of consumer demand to warrant an injunction.
Apple and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd. have been litigating for nearly three years over various smartphone features patented by Apple, such as the use of fingers to pinch and zoom on the screen, as well as design elements such as the phone’s flat, black glass screen.
Apple was awarded more than $ 900 million by US juries but the iPhone maker has failed to sustain a permanent sales ban against its rival, a far more serious threat to Samsung, which earned $ 7.7 billion last quarter.

The ruling on Thursday comes ahead of another patent trial set to begin later this month involving newer Samsung phones, and could frustrate any further attempt by Apple to bar the sales of those models as well. An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment on the order.
In a statement, Samsung said it was pleased with the ruling. “We agree with its observation that a few software features alone don’t drive consumer demand for Samsung products – rather consumers value a multitude of features,” the company said.

SSIS error The connection type "MSORA" specified for XXX connection manager is not recognized as a valid connection manager type.

I have set Project Property Run64BitRuntime to True.
 when you schedule to run DTEXEC.EXE from command promt
You will get the following error

Description: The connection type "MSORA" specified for  XXX connection manager  is not recognized as a valid connection manager type.......

To fix this you have to run the 32 bit dtexec.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\100\DTS\Binn\DTEXEC.EXE

By default, a 64-bit computer that has both the 64-bit and 32-bit versions of an Integration Services command prompt utility installed will run the 32-bit version at the command prompt. The 32-bit version runs because the directory path for the 32-bit version appears in the PATH environment variable before the directory path for the 64-bit version. (Typically, the 32-bit directory path is <drive>:\Program Files(x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\100\DTS\Binn, while the 64-bit directory path is <drive>:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\DTS\Binn.)



Read more at:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms141766.aspx

Winner of the Asia Cup, the Sri Lanka cricket team 2014

Winner of the Asia Cup, the Sri Lanka cricket team returned yesterday to a rousing welcome by the people of Sri Lanka. Fans lined up to cheer the Champions as the team travelled in an open top double decker from Peliyagoda to the SLC headquarters. Sri Lanka’s five-wicket win against Pakistan on Saturday gave them their fifth Asia Cup title and their first since 2008

President Mahinda Rajapaksa savoured the Sri Lankan team’s victory in the Asia Cup final by watching it live from Temple Trees on Saturday. The President’s Media Office released this picture showing the President on a call whilst watching the match

8 Ways to Train Your Brain to Learn Faster and Remember More

 

1. Work your memory.

Twyla Tharp, a NYC-based renowned choreographer has come up with the following memory workout: when she watches one of her performances, she tries to remember the first twelve to fourteen corrections she wants to discuss with her cast without writing them down. If you think this is anything less than a feat, then think again. In her book The Creative Habit she says that most people cannot remember more than three.
The practice of both remembering events or things and then discussing them with others has actually been supported by brain fitness studies. Memory activities that engage all levels of brain operation—receiving, remembering and thinking—help to improve the function of the brain.
Now, you may not have dancers to correct, but you may be required to give feedback on a presentation, or your friends may ask you what interesting things you saw at the museum. These are great opportunities to practically train your brain by flexing your memory muscles.
What is the simplest way to help yourself remember what you see? Repetition.
For example, say you just met someone new.
“Hi, my name is George”
Don’t just respond with, “Nice to meet you”. Instead, say, “Nice to meet you George.” Got it? Good.

2. Do something different repeatedly.

By actually doing something new over and over again, your brain wires new pathways that help you do this new thing better and faster.
Think back to when you were three years old. You surely were strong enough to hold a knife and a fork just fine. Yet, when you were eating all by yourself, you were creating a mess. It was not a matter of strength, you see. It was a matter of cultivating more and better neural pathways that would help you eat by yourself just like an adult does. And guess what? With enough repetition you made that happen!
But how does this apply to your life right now?
Say you are a procrastinator. The more you don’t procrastinate, the more you teach your brain not to wait for the last minute to make things happen.

10 Things Successful People Do Differently

Bill Gates.
Oprah Winfrey.
Steve Jobs.
These names all come to mind when we think of successful people.
And even though all three are great examples of success, there are lots of other people who are successful in their own right, although we may not be as familiar with their names.
But their habits? Well, that’s a different story. You see, successful people all do similar things. As Brian Tracy says, “Success leaves tracks.” It’s these “tracks,” the behaviors and habits, that set them apart from the ordinary folks who just work their 9-to-5 jobs, clocking in and out every day, never looking to get ahead.
If you want to be one of the greats, if you want to be a big success in life and leave ordinary behind, do these 10 things successful people do, and get ready for the big results that are sure to follow if you do them consistently.

1. They commit to their goals

When successful people set a goal, nothing gets in their way of achieving it. They commit 100 percent to the outcome, knowing that one difference between successful and unsuccessful people is that the successful ones commit to a goal and don’t stop until they achieve it.

2. And they persist until they achieve them

Obstacles to success are normal and should be expected. They can’t always be planned for. However, you can decide when you commit to success that you’re going to persist no matter what obstacles arise. Go around them, go over them, or push through them, but persist no matter what happens. That’s what successful people do, and so should you if you want to mimic their success.

10 Things Successful People Do Differently To Reach Their Dreams

Dreams do not have to be just dreams. They can be reality. There are things each person can do to reach their dreams, and successful people act differently to reach their dreams. Not everyone follows their dreams, but why is that? If you have a dream, go for it!
Here are 10 things that successful people do differently to reach their dreams.

1. They don’t make excuses.

When most people think about their dreams, they might come up with excuses for why their dreams are not possible. Successful people who reach their dreams don’t make as many excuses. Instead, they are proactive and try to overcome any and all obstacles. Those who are not successful with reaching their dreams most likely create many excuses for why their dreams are not possible for them.

2. They work hard.

Successful people work hard to reach their dreams. They do what it takes to reach their dream, even if it takes a long while and all of their time. Working hard is important when it comes to reaching your dream. You might have to work two jobs at one time. You might even have to work three jobs. You might have to attend school at the same time, raise a family, take care of a loved one, and so on.

3. They stay healthy.

Successful people make sure that they stay healthy. If you get sick, that will just make it take a little longer for you to reach your dreams, so staying healthy in important.

4. They hold to their principles.

Holding on to your own principles is important when you are trying to reach your dreams. You have to know who you are and why you are doing certain things. You can’t just forget who you are.

5. They never quit.

Successful people never quit. Even when times get tough, they try to not stop what they are doing. They try to think of their end goal and what they can do to get there. If you quit, then reaching your dream will be nearly impossible.

6. They are willing to take risks.

Those who reach their dreams are willing to take risks. Many dreams require risks to be taken. You don’t know what may happen if you take the risk, but sometimes it comes down to taking the risk and reaching your dream, or not taking the risk and possibly never reaching your dream. You will never know unless you take some risks in order to reach your dream.

11 Sleep Habits of Successful People

Sleep is the best meditation. ~ Dalai Lama

There are some people who just seem to have it all figured out. They manage their families, careers and responsibilities with graceful ease, and clean shirts.  Have you ever wondered how these ’types’ manage to juggle so effortlessly, while your balls are seemingly crashing down around you?
These types of people always get the promotion, win the race, don’t ever seem stressed, and eyes just follow them.
What’s their secret? How are they keeping it all together?
I know, and I’m going to tell you.
It’s about getting the proper sleep. 
People who get enough sleep are successful, focused and happy.
We need sleep to recharge our brains and bodies. When we are tired, we can aimlessly jump from task to task without any real clarity. We end up treading a tiring circle of never-ending tasks. We all want to be the best version of ourselves, whether it be a good mother, top executive or an amazing athlete.
In our busy society, sleep has become somewhat of a luxury.  If you own your own business or have kids, you might relate to the phrase: “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”
Guess what? You couldn’t be further from the truth.  You are forgoing the one thing that can help you achieve your success.
Bad sleep habits cause our bodies to become worn. Like an engine without an oil change, we start to break down.

• We become irritable and moody, and if sleep deprivation continues we can experience hallucinations and anxiety.
• We become emotionally flattened and our relationships suffer.
• We lose our ability to remember and suffer many cognitive delays.
• We can even fall prey to substance abuse.
• What’s even worse is that we can fall into micro-sleeps (5-10 seconds) that cause lapses in attention, which could lead us to nod off while doing an activity like driving. Not getting enough sleep is downright dangerous.

So ask yourself this: are you starting to resemble a zombie from World War Z? That’s not going to bring you success or happiness. Let’s get you back to being human, okay?

Sleep No-Nos:

1.  Don’t eat right before bed

Have your final meal about 3 hours before bedtime. Eating too close to bed will leave your digestive system working very hard and might cause an upset stomach throughout the night.

2.  Avoid caffeine and alcohol

Caffeine is a stimulant and it keeps the body alert and energized. Alcohol may initially calm you or make you feel drowsy, but it actually increases the amount of times you will wake up during the night.

9 Quotes About Not Taking Life Too Seriously

Life is a serious matter, right? I mean, if we don’t take it and ourselves seriously then no one will? WRONG! It’s time to laugh at ourselves!

“Man suffers only because he takes seriously what the Gods made for fun.”

The sentiment that “life should not be taken too seriously” is a sort of dry, crusty sponge of a cliché—a statement that seems to have had every drop of nourishing value squeezed from it after ten trillion uses.
And yet like so many lifeless platitudes, it contains a certain amount of wisdom—practical wisdom that is damn easy to forget in the day-to-day trenches and tangles of our lives.
So, in the spirit of revitalizing a Saharan truism and reflecting upon the real importance of retaining levity in the face of frustration, I dug up this brief collection of (hopefully) poignant quotes on approaching life a bit more playfully.

Thoughts on the Wisdom of Levity

From Fyodor Dostoevsky: 

“The cleverest of all, in my opinion, is the man who calls himself a fool at least once a month.”

Joseph Campbell in the book Reflections on the Art of Living: A Joseph Campbell Companion:

“As you proceed through life, following your own path, birds will shit on you. Don’t bother to brush it off. Getting a comedic view of your situation gives you spiritual distance. Having a sense of humor saves you.”

Alan Watts’ ever-charming perspective:

“Man suffers only because he takes seriously what the Gods made for fun.”

Kurt Vonnegut in his novel Breakfast of Champions:

“I can’t tell if you’re serious or not,’ said the driver.
‘I won’t know myself until I find out if life is serious or not,’ said Trout. ‘It’s dangerous, I know, and it can hurt a lot. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s serious, too.”

A sentiment of Charles Bukowski’s:

“Sometimes you climb out of bed in the morning and you think, I’m not going to make it, but you laugh inside — remembering all the times you’ve felt that way.”

Ray Bradbury in Twice 22: The Golden Apples of the Sun and a Medicine for Melancholy:

“I always figured we were born to fly, one way or other, so I couldn’t stand most men shuffling along with all the iron of the earth in their blood. I never met a man who weighed less than nine hundred pounds.”

The illustrious Friedrich Nietzsche weighs in:

“The certain prospect of death could sweeten every life with a precious and fragrant drop of levity; and now you strange apothecary souls have turned it into an ill-tasting drop of poison that makes the whole of life repulsive.”

From the immortal William Shakespeare: 

“Frame your mind to mirth and merriment
which bars a thousand harms
and lengthens life.”

Finally, Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, as quoted in Dr. Seuss: American Icon:

“Nonsense wakes up the brain cells. And it helps develop a sense of humor, which is awfully important in this day and age. Humor has a tremendous place in this sordid world. It’s more than just a matter of laughing. If you can see things out of whack, then you can see how things can be in whack.”

Sri Lanka's interest rates kept higher to help savers: Treasury Secretary

Mar 08, 2014 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's interest rates have been kept higher than underlying conditions required, in order to protect savers, Treasury Secretary P B Jayasundera said.

Jayasundera said price reforms in state energy utilities, transport and water distribution had resulted a public sector deficit reversal of around 2 percent of gross domestic product. "And today Ceylon Electricity Board, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, have eliminated their losses, which is technically speaking an almost two percent of GDP turnaround," he said.
"That is why reliefs are coming to other two banks of the economy. That is the Bank of Ceylon and Peoples' Bank."

SriLanka Airlines to join oneworld from May 01

Mar 07, 2014 (LBO) - State-run SriLankan Airlines said it is on track to join OneWorld, a global alliance of carriers on May 01, following the successful completion of a review by its sponsor, Cathay Pacific Airways.

From that 400,000 members of SriLankan's FlySmiles loyalty program will have access to other airlines in the grouping, the airline said. These include Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines and Qantas in Asia; airberlin, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia and Russia’s S7 Airlines in Europe and Qatar Airways and Royal Jordanian, from the Middle East.

LANKA IOC - DIVIDEND ANNOUNCEMENT 2014

LANKA IOC PLC PLC
Company ID: - LIOC
Date of Announcement: - 07.Mar.2014
Dividend per Share: - Rs. 0.50 per share / Interim Dividend
Financial Year: - 2013/2014
XD: - 18.Mar.2014
Payment: - 27.Mar.2014
Share Transfer Book Open

Growing China ties let Sri Lanka rebuff US war inquiry push

Bloomberg: Sri Lanka’s deepening economic ties with China offer it a cushion from any measures aimed at pressuring the South Asian country into cooperating with investigations into alleged crimes during its civil war.
The US introduced a resolution this week calling on the United Nations to investigate Sri Lanka’s past abuses and more recent attacks on human-rights advocates, Sarah Sewall, an Undersecretary of State, said 4 March. Sri Lanka has denounced the measure, and received China’s support last month when Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris visited Beijing.
“China has been a strong supporter of Sri Lanka both politically and economically,” said Bimanee Meepagala, an analyst at NDB Aviva Wealth Management Ltd. in Colombo, the island’s largest private fund. “Given China’s backing, Sri Lanka’s economic growth momentum won’t be affected.”
The case shows China’s increasing diplomatic impact abroad as it pursues influence and resources with investments across the globe, regardless of whether a country faces criticism for human-rights abuses. Chinese President Xi Jinping last year pledged financial aid in visits to South America and Africa shortly after taking office.

Nations Trust Bank takes 365-day banking to Kottawa

Nations Trust Bank opened its newest branch in Kottawa offering a wide array of financial services to the people of the area. With the opening of this branch, the branch network of Nations Trust Bank now extends to 73 locations across the island.
The new branch is located at No 269/1, Mahalwarawa Junction, Kottawa and is open 365 days – on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The bank is also open on weekends, Poya days and other bank holidays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. providing convenience and easy access to the people in Kottawa.
Kottawa is a suburb of Colombo city, administrated by the Maharagama Urban Council and shows a potential to become a key landmark in Sri Lanka’s road systems due to the development of highways particularly soon after the opening of Outer Circular highway. Most of the existing and future highways would get connected to this Outer Circular road including the proposed Kandy Express way.

French biz delegation on urban infrastructure development in town

Representatives from a 10-member business-delegation visited Colombo on 4 and 5 March. This business delegation comprised of French companies in the field of urban infrastructure, especially transport.
French companies present in India and Singapore were also represented during this mission. Participating French companies included Alstom Transport, Bouygues Batiment International, Dassault Systemes, DTP Terrassement, Egis International, Signes-Paysages, Systra, Veolia Transport RATP, Vinci Concession and Unibridge.
The main area of interest for the business-delegation was the modernisation of urban mass transport systems. The renovation/electrification of the urban rail network as well as improving road access was also discussed with the local authorities. During most discussions, financing under public-private partnerships was considered the best option and the participating French companies took note of the investment concepts put forward by their counterparts.

Softlogic Capital goes for Rs. 1.3 b Rights to settle debt

Softlogic Capital (SCAP) yesterday announced a 13 for 10 Rights Issue at Rs.3.40 per share (subject to approval).
The funds raised from the Rights Issue, estimated at Rs.1.32 billion, will be utilised to strengthen the company’s balance sheet by settling certain outstanding debt.
SCAP as at 31 December 2013, at Company level, has Rs. 1.35 billion in debt payable within one year and Rs. 277 million in borrowings payable after one year. At Group level, these amounts were Rs. 5 billion and Rs. 2.4 billion respectively.
Net asset value per share of SCAP was Rs. 4.56 as at 31 December 2013, down from Rs. 5.19 a year earlier.

Rs. 838 m Alumex IPO snapped up

The Rs. 838 million Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Hayleys subsidiary Alumex Ltd. has been snapped up and closed on its official opening, which was yesterday.
The company offered 59.9 million ordinary voting shares at Rs. 14 each. Alumex is the 10th subsidiary of Hayleys Group to be listed via an IPO in 22 years.
Final subscription figures will be released shortly.

20 Big Life Mistakes Those About To Die Would Like To Warn You About

1. Caring too much about what other people think

2. Not accomplishing enough

3. Not telling someone how you truly felt

13 Things To Do During Weekends To Improve Your Life

Weekend at last! Something you’re so looking forward to after a brutal week at work. Because there are so many things to do during weekends to help you either decompress or get energized for the week ahead. Whatever your plans are, it’s important to make the effects last as long as possible to improve your life in the long run.
Here are 13 tips of how you can make the most of your weekends.

1. Don’t Oversleep

As tempted as you may be, oversleeping affects your biological rhythm. We all need that beauty sleep, but don’t overdo it. Otherwise you’ll feel exhausted and cranky Monday morning. Make a habit to always wake up at the same time every day. Include naps in your weekend routine as well, whether it’s for 10 minutes or 45. Why? Because naps help purging negative emotions, increase alertness, and enhance your abilities to learn.

2. Spend Time With Loved Ones

Reconnect with family members or friends you neglected lately. Don’t do it out of guilt or because you have to. Do it because you want to. Reach out to them to see how they are doing. Don’t call them only when you need them. Return their calls if you were busy when they last tried to reach you. Talk to them. Listen to them. Be there for them. The importance of human connection (hugging, touching) is vital for your well-being.
And if — for whatever work or life circumstances — you don’t have the family around you and not too many friends either, reach out to people who share your interests. Get to know them. Hang out with them even if it’s just over a coffee or dinner, or plan a group city break. You’ll feel so much better and rejuvenated than spending time by yourself or worse, wallowing in loneliness.

12 Toxic Thoughts You Need To Drop For A Better Life

One of my mottoes is “Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life!” I’m a big believer that our thoughts and emotions shape our experiences. The problem is that most people aren’t even aware of their negative thoughts. It’s almost like they have just become a habit, so it seems normal to them. Here are 12 common toxic thoughts that you need to drop in order to have a better life:

1.Thinking that you are a victim.

You can be a victim of cancer, or a survivor of cancer. It’s a mindset. - Dave Pelzer

You’re not a victim. So stop blaming other people or your circumstances for your problems. Just because you don’t like where you are now doesn’t mean that you can’t take personal responsibility to change it for the better. So get rid of that victim-mentality because it doesn’t help anything. In fact, it acts as an obstacle to success. Realize that you, and only you, are responsible for your destiny.

2. Thinking that you can change other people.

Acceptance doesn’t mean resignation; it means understanding that something is what it is and that there’s got to be a way through it. - Michael J. Fox

You can’t. I had to learn this the hard way. There was a time in my life when I thought I could “motivate” and “inspire” people to be their best selves. It took me a while to realize that the only thing that can change other people is themselves. If they don’t want to change—or don’t know how—then all of your efforts will be wasted. So don’t worry about other people. If you don’t like them “as is,” then you have the choice to not hang out with them anymore. But you don’t have the right to change them.

3. Thoughts that constantly resist “What Is.”

Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek. - Barack Obama

Some things you can change. In fact, a LOT of things you can change. You can lose weight. You can find a better job. You can go back to school. You can work on your marriage. But there are some things you can’t change. Those things are simply “what is.” You can’t change that your boss is a jerk. You can change jobs, but you can’t change your boss. You can’t change the fact that you have to pay rent or your mortgage. But you can stop resisting it. Resisting the unchangeable does nothing more than frustrate you and make you miserable. So change what you can, and accept what you can’t.

Sri Lanka IT-BPO firms can draw capital, reward talent with listing: officials

Mar 05, 2014 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's information technology and outsourcing firms could unlock value for their owners, draw capital and attract talent by a planned stock market listing, officials said.

Colombo Stock Exchange Chief Executive Rajeeva Bandaranaike said listing which will lead to a value being placed on the shares when they are traded, unlocking the value of a company and generate wealth for the owners, in addition to raising fresh capital.

Five banks sued for manipulating gold price

NEW YORK, March 5, 2014 (AFP) - Five banks at the center of London's gold trade have been sued in New York for manipulating prices, in the latest accusation of fraudulent collusion in the global finance hub.

Sri Lanka ESOP voting rights to employees from 2015

Mar 06, 2014 (LBO) - Voting rights of employee share ownership plans (ESOPs) will have to go to the workers themselves from 2015 under new rules, a top capital market regulatory official said.

Loan system to replace pension gratuity scheme?

Government plans to introduce a loan system to replace the longstanding pension gratuity scheme, an entitlement to all State employees at the time of retirement came under fire yesterday at Parliament with Leader of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake making a statement under Standing Order 23 (2).
The pension gratuity scheme is an additional benefit a retiree would enjoy apart from the regular pension received.

Outer Circular highway opening

• President prepares to open two highways costing Rs. 42.7 b
• Northern, southern II and III expressways all funded by China
• Revenue from existing highways inadequate to meet loans, tolls for new Gazetted on Friday
  

By Uditha Jayasinghe
Days ahead of the Outer Circular highway opening and rolling out of new projects, a top official acknowledged revenue from existing expressways are inadequate to cover their costs but insisted fares would not be increased exorbitantly.
The tolls for the two new highways will be released in a gazette notification on Friday.
After the opening of the Colombo Outer Circular Highway on 8 March and the extension of the Southern expressway on 15 March by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Government will push ahead with the last phase of the Southern expressway, the second stage of the Outer Circular Highway and extend it up to Jaffna forming the northern expressway.

How safe is your cash?

In today’s environment, financial security plays an important role in ensuring the safety of one’s savings and deposits.
Aiming to gain a higher return on your savings/deposits is not the only criteria one should consider, more thought should be given to the security of these funds. Thus, it is important to consider a financial partner that is credible and secure.
HSBC Advance is a global product that is gaining momentum with customers who are keen to grow their finances with valuable returns, whilst at the same time enjoy peace of mind with security of their cash.
For aspirational and financially progressive customers, HSBC Advance offers a simple, interactive and efficient banking product that is equipped to help customers meet their financial goals.
HSBC Advance customers stand to gain many advantages encompassing numerous benefits; further supporting them in every aspect of life to help make the most of today, tomorrow and the future. Some of the benefits are as follows:
Dedicated HSBC Advance service counters at branches assisted by experienced banking advisers.
A dedicated 24/7 call centre with skilled customer care agents.
Free HSBC Advance Visa Platinum debit card and free cash withdrawals from within the PLUS network and group ATM’s worldwide.
Free HSBC Advance Visa Platinum credit card with year round privileges.
An overdraft facility of up to four times your monthly net salary and a setup fee waiver (with applicable terms and conditions).

Mahinda Rajapaksa to kick off ‘All World Network’ today; to encourage promising companies with Top 25

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will today kick off the Sri Lankan edition of ‘All World Network’ program, which identifies the most advanced emerging companies.
The initiative aims to encourage strategic advancement of Sri Lankan companies as well to find and credential 25 of the country’s fastest growing privately-held companies.
At its launch President Mahinda Rajapaksa will be joined by the initiative’s Co-Founder and CEO Anne Habibya and Ambassador of the USA in Sri Lanka Michele J. Sison. Other Co-Founders of the program are Prof. Michael Porter of Harvard Business School of USA and Deidre Coyleto.
With the introduction of a number of measures for the improvement of competitiveness of our economy, President Rajapaksa has set a target that Sri Lanka should position itself in the top ranking countries of the world in the export of high value teas, apparel products, IT and software products and other specific product sectors by 2020.

Gates reclaims top of Forbes billionaire list from Mexican mogul

• Roughly two-thirds of the world’s billionaires, or 1,080, were self-made

REUTERS: Bill Gates has returned to the top of Forbes magazine’s annual list of the world’s richest people, as rising stock markets swelled the ranks of billionaires, which included a record number of women.
With a net worth of $76 billion, the Micr-osoft Corp co-founder reclaimed the top spot after a four-year hiatus, toppling Mexico’s telecommunications mogul Carlos Slim Helu, who placed second at $72 billion, Forbes said in announcing the list on Monday.
Amancio Ortega, the Spanish founder of clothing conglomerate Inditex SA, which includes the Zara fashion chain, ranked third at $64 billion.
Investing icon Warren Buffett, who runs Berkshire Hathaway Inc and is a frequent bridge partner for Gates, was fourth at $58.2 billion. Oracle Corp chief Larry Ellison came in fifth at $48 billion.
Gates has topped the list in 15 of the last 20 years.
A record 1,645 billionaires with a total net worth of $6.4 trillion made Forbes’ list, up from 1,426 last year.

AMAYA LEISURE, NAMUNUKULA PLANTATIONS, KEGALLE PLANTATIONS, TANGERINE, ROYAL PALMS, PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT - DIVIDEND ANNOUNCEMENTS

AMAYA LEISURE PLC
Company ID: - CONN
Date of Announcement: - 05.Mar.2014
Dividend per Share: - Rs. 4.50 per share (Not liable to 10% dividend tax) / Interim Dividend
Financial Year: - 2013/2014
XD: - 14.Mar.2014
Payment: - 24.Mar.2014
Share Transfer Book Open

NAMUNUKULA PLANTATIONS PLC
Company ID: - NAMU
Date of Announcement: - 05.Mar.2014
Dividend per Share: - Rs. 1.50 per share / Second Interim Dividend
Financial Year: - 2013/2014
XD: - 14.Mar.2014
Payment: - 21.Mar.2014
Share Transfer Book Open

NFC technology now in Badulla

• Airtel, HNB and Smart Metro together with Sony FeliCa partner the second phase of the project
• Transportation in the capital city of  Uva Province – Badulla to be the second NFC enabled region
• 150 long distance, 1,200 interprovincial and provincial buses to be NFC enabled

Hatton National Bank the premier private sector commercial bank which was named the Bank of the Year in Sri Lanka in 2012 and 2013 along with Bharti Airtel, a leading global telecommunications company with operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa, Smart Metro, an international software application development company specialising in NFC technology and the sole promoter of Sony FeliCa in Sri Lanka the market leader in the NFC industry and the Badulla Bus Association commercially launched the second phase of the NFC (Near Field Communication) enabled multi-functioned payment system in the Badulla region.
This payment system will be available for customers residing or travelling through the region on ‘HNB One Card’, the pioneering NFC enabled payment card launched in December 2013. With the provision of the e-bus ticketing facility, HNB becomes the first bank to deploy such a service commercially in Sri Lanka.
Commenting at the official event, Mangala Wickramasinghe, Head of Payment Cards & Electronic Delivery Channels at HNB stated: “Having launched this system in Matara we currently have a huge demand for it. This is not only because of its technological sophistication but because it is backed by a solid business model which focuses on commuters and bus owners as well as bus conductors and drivers. We have improved the system based on requests from Badulla Transport & Agency Co. and one significant improvement is that it now caters to EPF/ETF management of drivers and conductors.”

Sri Lanka Telecom 'AAA(lk)' local rating may be hurt by acquisition: Fitch

Mar 04, 2014 (LBO) - Fitch Ratings said it was confirming 'AAA(lka)' domestic and 'BB' international ratings of Sri Lanka Telecom, but the local rating could be downgraded if a debt funded acquisition goes through.

Sri Lanka Telecom is in talks to acquire Hutchison Telecommunications Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, which has 800,000 subscribers. Fitch said leverage could increase to over 1.5 times if the acquisition is funded by debt, and operating cash margins would also narrow because of losses at Hutch.
But SLT will gain spectrum and save on future capital expenditure.

Samsung GALAXY S5 - Official Introduction

Published on Mar 4, 2014 Focusing on capabilities that matter the most to users, the new Samsung GALAXY S5 offers a refined experience while innovating essential, day-to-day features. Featuring a perforated pattern on the back cover and an array of vivid colors (shimmery White, charcoal Black, copper Gold and electric Blue), the GALAXY S5's modern glam design complements your individual style, while the 5.1-inch Full HD Super AMOLED screen with a slim bezel and Adaptive Display provides a superior viewing experience.

COMMERCIAL BANK OF CEYLON - CASH & SCRIP DIVIDEND

CASH DIVIDEND

COMMERCIAL BANK OF CEYLON PLC
Company ID: - COMB
Date of Initial Announcement: - 25.Feb.2014
Dividend per Share: - Rs. 2.00 per share (Voting & Non-Voting) / Final Dividend
Financial Year: - 2013
Shareholder Approval: - Required
AGM: - 31.Mar.2014
XD: - 01.Apr.2014
Payment: - 09.Apr.2014
Share Transfer Book Open

SCRIP DIVIDEND

COMMERCIAL BANK OF CEYLON PLC
Company ID: - COMB
Date of Initial Announcement: - 25.Feb.2014
Proportion: - Voting - One (01) new share for every 63.611111 shares held
Non-Voting - One (01) new share for every 52.611111 shares held
Qty Offered: - Voting - 12,493,722
Non-Voting - 1,036,724
Financial Year: - 2013
Shareholder Approval: - Required
AGM: - 31.Mar.2014
XD: - 01.Apr.2014
Share Transfer Book Open

REGNIS (LANKA), SINGER SRI LANKA, SINGER INDUSTRIES, HDFC BANK, CEYLINCO INSURANCE - DIVIDEND ANNOUNCEMENTS

REGNIS (LANKA) PLC
Company ID: - REG
Date of Announcement: - 28.Feb.2014
Dividend per Share: - Rs. 2.00 per share / Final Dividend
Financial Year: - 2013
XD: - 11.Mar.2014
Payment: - 20.Mar.2014
Share Transfer Book Open

SINGER SRI LANKA PLC
Company ID: - SINS
Date of Announcement: - 28.Feb.2014
Dividend per Share: - Rs. 2.50 per share / Final Dividend
Financial Year: - 2013
XD: - 11.Mar.2014
Payment: - 20.Mar.2014
Share Transfer Book Open

Janashakthi offers complete life protection with Life Unlimited

A comprehensive life insurance policy by Janashakthi Insurance allows for lifetime hospitalisation, natural death and accidents coverage with only a 20 year premium.
The 20 year Life Unlimited Policy combines a package of benefits to the policyholders and allows protection for a number of unforeseen events, providing security and protection to policyholders.
“Life can be fragile. Accidents can happen at any moment and that’s why it is so important to be protected,” explained Janashakthi Insurance General Manager – Sales and Marketing Shehara de Silva.

Overseas Realty records profit of Rs. 2.6 b

Overseas Realty (Ceylon) PLC recorded steady growth and registered its highest group net profit after tax (excluding fair value gains) of Rs. 1,711 m – an increase of 89% over the previous year.
Group revenue grew by 149% to Rs. 4,857 m and group net profit after tax including fair value gains grew by 7% to Rs. 2,641 m. This was achieved in spite of a reduction in fair value gains on investment property from Rs. 1,563 m in 2012 to Rs. 930 m in 2013.
The WTC is situated in a pre-eminent location in the business capital of Colombo. The company continues to provide excellent facilities and services to the occupants of this business complex, which supported the increase in the average occupancy to 98% during the financial year under review. Together with the increase in the average rental rates by around 19% the company was able to record significant earnings growth during 2013.

MBSL announces merger plans

The Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka (MBSL) yesterday announced that pursuant to the master plan of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) on consolidation of the financial sector, MBSL Savings Bank Ltd. (MSB) is now required by the CBSL to merge with Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka (MBSL) and MCSL Financial Services Ltd. (MCSL) and to operate as a licensed finance company.

Sampath Group records Rs. 4.79 b pre-tax profit for 2013, despite challenges

Sampath Bank Group has recorded a profit before tax of Rs. 4.79 b for year ended 31 December 2013 with the bank recording a profit before tax of Rs. 4.5 b.
The post-tax profit of the Group and the bank for the same period amounted to Rs. 3.64 b and Rs. 3.43 b respectively.
Sampath said 2013 another challenging year, with a moderate growth due to many challenges posed by the external market forces, which included excess liquidity, lower credit demand and worldwide decrease in gold prices, etc.
The Bank achieved strong growth recorded in key core banking income areas such as net interest income and commission income.However profit growth was adversely affected  due to several reasons.
Bottom line was impacted by high FX revaluation gains in 2012 and significant impairment provisioning made against pawning advances in 2013, consequent to the drop in gold prices.
The Group comprises Sampath Bank Plc and four subsidiaries providing diverse financial services. The bank is the main entity of the group contributing 94% to the Group’s pre-tax profit and Sri Lanka’s third largest non-government bank, with an asset base of Rs. 382 b and a network of 212 branches throughout the country.

Sri Lanka bourse beckons IT firms

Mar 03, 2013 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's stock exchange, the regulator and the island's information technology industry chamber is holding a seminar to draw IT and outsourcing firms to the capital markets.

A business forum will be held March 05, at the Dialog Future World Auditorium, from 08.30 am to 11.00 am the Colombo Stock Exchange and ri Lanka Association of Software and Service Companies (SLASSCOM) said.

I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep

I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.

Alexander the Great

Mahinda Rajapaksa, Singh to meet before D-day

New Delhi: India’s Prime Min-ister Manmohan Singh will meet Sri Lankan Presid-ent Mahinda Rajapaksa on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Myanmar early next month.
India’s Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh said at a media briefing the Prime Minister will attend the 3rd BIMSTEC Summit on 4th March and the he will hold talks with Sri Lankan President on the sidelines of the Summit next week.
The Indian Premier will be meeting the Sri Lankan leader for the first time after skipping last year’s Commonwealth Heads of Gov-ernment Meeting held in Colombo in November after bowing to the pressure from the Tamil Nadu political leaders.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh leaves for Mya-nmar on Monday to attend the BIMSTEC Summit.

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Coop-eration (BIMSTEC) is an international organization involving Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal. The seven-country forum aims to achieve its own free trade area by 2017.
Responding to a media query on how India will vote on the third US-sponsored Resolution at the UN Human Rights Council calling for an international inquiry into Sri Lanka’s war crime allegations, the Foreign Secretary said it is a “very complex process” and they have to wait and see how the resolution is drawn up.
“We have to see the text of the resolution, we have to take several other factors into account and then will finally vote,” the Foreign Secretary said.
India has voted against Sri Lanka on the two previous resolutions tabled by the US and adopted by the UNHRC in Geneva in 2011 and 2012.
As regional elections are approaching this year, the central government of India is under extreme pressure from the Tami Nadu political leadership to vote for the third resolution against Sri Lanka within two years and it is highly unlikely for India to support Sri Lanka at the UN.
Sri Lanka has consistently rejected an international investigation into the war crime allegations and human rights violations as an intrusion into the country’s sovereign affairs.
On Monday, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navy Pillay releasing her report on Sri Lanka called for establishing an “independent, international inquiry mechanism” as the government has failed to ensure independent and credible investigations into past violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.
The government categorically rejected the call saying that conclusions and recommendations contained in her report reflect bias and are tantamount to unwanted interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign State.
The government has launched a diplomatic operation aiming to counter the international pressure that is being exerted on the country ahead of the UNHRC session.
Russia and China have declared their strong support to Sri Lanka against the US-sponsored resolution and opposed an international investigation into the allegations of war crimes committed during the war saying human rights should not be used as a pretext for interference in internal affairs.

First segment of outer circular highway opening on 8 March

The first segment of the Outer Circular Highway (OCH) around Colombo from Kottawa to Kaduwela will be declared open on 8 March.
The public will be able to travel on the expressway from Kaduwela to Galle bypassing the congested city traffic in Colombo once the OCH segment opened as the OCH is connected to the Southern Expressway at Kottawa.
The 11-km long Kottawa-Kaduwela segment of the OCH is located in the Colombo Metropolitan Region and passes through Colombo and Gampaha Districts.
The OCH runs around 20 km away from the city centre of Colombo, connecting radial routes and has a total length of 29.2 km.