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

Samsung reinforces leadership, innovation with new products for consumers, biz

• World’s first curved UHD TV, colour laser printer series with NFC capabilities and several other innovative and technologically-advanced products see their debut at Samsung Southwest Asia Forum in Bali

Reinforcing its leadership status and pioneering spirit, Samsung yesterday launched the world’s first curved UHD TV along with several other innovative and technologically advanced products at the World Forum in Bali, Indonesia.
The range of category-defining products unveiled by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. at its Southwest Asia Forum in Bali included TVs, home appliances, printing and mobile devices.
Samsung’s U9000 Curved UHD TV provides a wider field of view, a panoramic effect that makes the TV seem even bigger than it is, offering twice the enhanced contrast ratio of a flat TV. Samsung’s Curved UHD TV has a curve of 4,200 radii, making it the most curved TV in the world, and creates the perfect viewing experience so everyone watching the TV can enjoy the best seat in the house.

Smaller planes in demand as Asia travel boom deepens

SINGAPORE, February 16, 2014 (AFP) - Smaller passenger planes are increasingly in demand in Asia as budget carriers cash in on the region's growing middle classes by expanding their reach to less prominent cities, industry executives say.

So-called "regional" jets -- short to medium-haul aircraft that generally seat under 100 passengers -- were among the best-sellers at the Singapore Airshow which ended at the weekend. Jimmy Lau, managing director of show organiser Experia Events, said demand for smaller aircraft will rise as Asia's burgeoning middle class sustains the growth in air travel that began in metropolitan areas.
"The people who will be likely making good inroads are the Embraers and the Bombardiers who will be selling their smaller regional jets to countries like Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia," Lau told reporters as the Airshow ended with deals totalling a record $32 billion.
Embraer, the Brazilian plane maker, forecasts that Asia-Pacific carriers will take delivery of 1,500 new jets in the 70- to 130-seat segment over the next 20 years, with a total value of $70 billion. This would represent nearly 20 percent of global demand.

Altair awards construction contract to Dubai giant Shapoorji Pallonji

The $ 3 billion construction giant Shapoorji Pallonji, whose contributions to the skylines of planet earth include India’s tallest residential towers – the Imperial of Mumbai – and several skyscrapers of Dubai, has been appointed the main contractor for Sri Lanka’s Altair residential twin tower in Colombo.

The contract awarded to Shapoorji Pallonji International operating out of Dubai, covers construction of the foundations, superstructure and civil works and overseeing finishes for the unique diagrid-supported towers of Altair; a 63-storied tower leaning into a 240 metre, 68-storied vertical tower that will be the centrepiece of South Asia’s first promenade development, on the lake front of the Beira.
Construction of the 400 luxury apartment development designed by the international celebrity architect Moshe Safdie is to be completed in 2017.

Kadapila - Asia-Pacific needs nearly 13,000 new planes by 2032: Boeing

SINGAPORE, February 10, 2014 (AFP) - The Asia-Pacific will require almost 13,000 new airplanes worth $1.9 trillion over the next 20 years, Boeing said Monday, as booming wealth in the region fuels demand for air travel.

Ahead of the Singapore Airshow, the US plane maker said 12,820 extra aircraft would be needed by 2032 and that in the same period the region would account for 36 percent of global commercial deliveries for both passenger and freight.

How to save for your future - 40-56 year olds

How do you picture your retirement - travelling the globe? Living by the seaside and enjoying the sun? Sadly, millions of people will find such a comfortable existence out of reach, unless they start saving more into their pension.

Four in 10 people are not saving enough for their retirement and two in 10 are not saving anything at all, according to research from AXA.

Andy Zanelli, head of retirement planning at AXA Wealth, says: "Rising longevity means retirement is likely to be longer than ever before. Planning ahead and taking control of your financial future as early as possible is vital."

The good news is that it is never too late - or too early - to begin saving for the future. We explain how to get started whatever your age.