18th Nov Biz Round Up

ATTN: CHANDIMA UDABAGE – MD-ART TV BIZ ROUND UP – NOVEMBER 18, 2007 TRADE

VTR

-15TH NOV

CHAMI

EDUCATION

VTR

-12TH NOV

LASHINI

TOWN

VTR

-14TH NOV

LASHINI

TEA

VTR

-16TH NOV

LASHINI

TRANSPORT

VTR

-13TH NOV

RIYAD/CHAMI

BREAK WRAP – NEWS IN BRIEF MAIN NEWS 1.

POLIO

VTR

- 15TH NOV

ANOUK

2.

TRAVEL

CARD

- 14TH NOV

CHAMI

3.

ADB

CARD

- 12TH NOV

CHAMI

CORPORATE NEWS 1.

CEYLINCO

VTR

- 14TH WED

NILANTHA

2.

CEYLINCO VIP VTR

- 15TH NOV

CHAMI

3.

ABANS

- 12TH MON

ANOUK

BREAK 2 SHORT BRIDGE

VTR

WEEKLY FOCUS WEEKEND DIALOG SHORT BRIDGE STOCKS ANCHOR: ANOUK PRODUCER: NISHANI HEADLINES 1. AUTHORITIES 2.

PLAN ON STRINGENT LAWS TO REGULATE PRIVATE AND INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS, AND BUILDING THE FUTURE- LOCAL CONSTRUCTION PLAYERS EXPLORES NEW AVENUES IN THE MIDDLE EAST

1. TRADE – VTR HIGHER GROWTH OF EXPORTS OVER THE GROWTH OF IMPORTS HELPED SRI LANKA NARROW ITS TRADE DEFICIT FOR THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 2007 TO STAND AT 2.4 BILLION DOLLARS. THIS IS A MARGINAL IMPROVEMENT COMPARED TO THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD LAST YEAR IN WHICH THE DEFICIT STOOD AT 2.59 BILLION DOLLARS. THE CENTRAL BANK SAYS THIS IMPROVEMENT WAS BACKED BY AN EXPORT SURGE IN SEPTEMBER OF 19.2 PERCENT BRINGING IN EARNINGS OF 725 MILLION DOLLARS. ROLL VTR 2. EDUCATION – VTR THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION IS PLANNING TO BRING IN STRINGENT LAWS TO REGULATE THE PRIVATE AND INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS IN SRI LANKA. THIS, THE MINISTRY SAYS IS PART OF ITS PLANNED EDUCATION REFORMS TO BRING IN EQUITY, QUALITY, EFFICIENCY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE TO THE SYSTEM. AUTHORITIES ANNOUNCED THESE DETAILS LAST WEEK WHILE PRESENTING THE PROPOSED FRAMEWORK FOR THE NEW EDUCATION ACT FOR GENERAL EDUCATION. ROLL VTR 3. TOWN PLANNERS-VTR THE INSTITUTE OF TOWN PLANNERS LAST WEEK WARNED THAT THE COASTAL BELT AND THE CENTRAL HILL COUNTRY ARE PRONE TO MAJOR NATURAL DISASTERS IN THE FUTURE. THE TOWN PLANNERS WHO MET THE MEDIA IN COLOMBO ON TUESDAY TO MARK THE THEIR 25TH ANNIVERSARY, ADDED THAT PERADENIYA, MATALE, AND KOTTE ARE AMONG THE RISK AREAS. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT PROMPT AND EXTENSIVE TOWN PLANNING IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS WOULD HELP AVERT THIS POSSIBLE DANGER AND THE LIVES AND PROPERTIES OF THOUSANDS. ROLL VTR

4. TEA – VTR THE SRI LANKA TEA BOARD LAST FRIDAY ANNOUNCED THE DECISION TO WAIVE THE DOCUMENT LODGMENT FEES CHARGED FROM EXPORTERS WHO SUBMIT CUSTOMS DECLARATION FORMS OR CUSDEC’S ONLINE. THIS STEP WAS TAKEN TO ENCOURAGE TEA EXPORTERS TO USE THE ONLINE SUBMISSION FACILITY WHICH WAS INTRODUCED BY ESERVICES LANKA LIMITED EARLIER THIS YEAR. THE TEA BOARD SAYS THE TOP TEN EXPORTERS IN THE COUNTRY ARE ALREADY UTILIZING THIS FACILITY. ROLL VTR 5. VEHICLE EMISSIONS THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR TRAFFIC HAS DECIDED TO INTRODUCE A MANDATORY EMISSION TESTING CERTIFICATE FOR ALL MOTOR VEHICLES STARTING FROM APRIL NEXT YEAR. THIS STEP, AUTHORITIES SAY IS BEING TAKEN IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE AIR POLLUTION VIA VEHICLE EMISSIONS, WHICH IS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO THE CAUSE. THIS WAS REVEALED TO THE MEDIA LAST WEEK IN COLOMBO. ROLL VTR

BREAK

AND NOW FOR A LOOK AT MORE NEWS IN BRIEF, 1. POLIO THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH URGES ANY PERSON TRAVELING TO INDIA ON A PILGRIMAGE TO OBTAIN AN ORAL POLIO VACCINATION AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE. THIS APPEAL MADE DURING A PRESS BRIEFING AT THE HEALTH MINISTRY LAST THURSDAY, COMES IN THE WAKE OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION NOTIFYING THE MINISTRY THAT 4 NEW CASES OF POLIO HAVE BEEN DETECTED IN INDIA’S BUDDA-GAYA WHICH IS A POPULAR PILGRIM DESTINATION SITUATED IN THE STATE OF BIHAR. THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE W.H.O. AND THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR CERTIFICATION OF POLIO ERADICATION HAS URGED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC VISITING INDIA ON PILGRIMAGES TO OBTAIN THE ORAL POLIO VACCINATION FREE OF CHARGE FROM ANY MEDICAL OFFICERS OF HEALTH ISLAND WIDE, PREFERABLY TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. ANY INDIVIDUAL MAKING SUCH A PILGRIMAGE CAN ALSO OBTAIN THE VACCINATION AT THE PORT HEALTH OFFICE OR THE AIRPORT HEALTH OFFICE SITUATED AT THE BANDARANAIKE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, WHICH HEALTH OFFICIALS STRESS, IS VITAL TO KEEP SRI LANKA FREE OF POLIO. READ ON 2. TRAVEL ADVICE – CARD UNITED KINGDOM HAS AMENDED ITS TRAVEL ADVICE TO SRI LANKA CAUTIONING ITS CITIZENS TO AVOID VISITING THE YALA NATIONAL PARK DUE TO SECURITY CONCERNS. THE UK GOVERNMENT HAS SAID, QUOTE “WE ADVISE AGAINST ALL TRAVEL TO YALA NATIONAL PARK” UNQUOTE. THE AMENDED TRAVEL ADVICE ALSO SAYS THAT SINCE OCTOBER 2007 THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INCIDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN THE PARK AND IT IS CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO SECURITY CONCERNS. READ ON

3.

ADB RESEARCH - CARD

THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK SAYS IT HAS DECIDED TO INVEST 1.2 MILLION DOLLARS TO PROMOTE REGIONAL ECONOMIC COOPERATION IN SOUTH ASIA BY BOOSTING THE REGION’S RESEARCH CAPACITY. ACCORDINGLY THE GRANT WILL GO INTO STRENGTHENING THE REGION’S RESEARCH INSTITUTES, THINK TANK AND EXPERTS OF SEVEN COUNTRIES INCLUDING SRI LANKA. THE GRANT COVERS AREAS SUCH AS CONSULTANCY SERVICES, REGIONAL CONFERENCES, RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PUBLICATIONS, WHICH THE ADB SAYS HELPS MOLD PUBLIC OPINION. READ ON….

AND IN CORPORATE WRAP, 1.

CEYLINCO – VTR

CEYLINCO TAKAFUL INSURANCE LIMITED LAUNCHED A NEW INSURANCE SCHEME RECENTLY BACKING THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR. ACCORDING TO THE INNOVATIVE NEW SCHEME, DAIRY FARMERS CAN NOW INSURE THEIR “MILKING COWS”. UNDER THE INSURANCE SCHEME, COMPENSATION WILL BE PAID TO THE OWNER OF THE INSURED COW IN THE EVENT OF ITS DEATH CAUSED BY NATURAL CAUSES, WHILE COMPENSATION WILL ALSO BE MADE AVAILABLE IN CASE OF TOTAL DISABILITY. THE SCHEME ALSO MEETS MEDICAL EXPENSES IN THE EVENT THE INSURED COW MEETS WITH AN ACCIDENT. READ ON 2. CEYLINCO VIP – VTR CEYLINCO INSURANCE LAST WEEK INTRODUCED ANOTHER SET OF BENEFITS TO ITS “CEYLINCO VIP” CUSTOMERS, WHICH THE company SAYS IS YET ANOTHER REVOLUTIONARY INNOVATION. THE BENEFITS TITLED “VIP 3 IN ONE” AIMS TO OFFER AN ADVANCED SERVICE TO ITS EXISTING CUSTOMERS AND ATTRACT NEW ONES TO ITS VIP FOLD.

ENHANCING THE INSURED VALUE OF THE VEHICLE BY 10 PERCENT EVERY YEAR IS ONE NEW BENEFIT OUT OF THE 3 OFFERED. THE INSURANCE FIRM SAYS THAT DESPITE THESE LATEST OFFERINGS THE PREMIUM CHARGED FROM CUSTOMERS WILL REMAIN SAME. ENDS. 3. ABANS THE NEXT@ABANS TECHNO SHOW KICKED OFF RECENTLY AT THE GRAND BALLROOM OF THE HOTEL GALADARI WHERE SEVERAL OF THE LATEST I.T. PRODUCTS WERE UNVEILED. WORLD RENOWN BRANDS IN LAPTOPS, DESKTOPS AND ACCESSORIES SUCH AS LG, HP, MICROSOFT, IBM AND TOSHIBA JUST TO NAME A FEW WHICH ARE SOLD AT NEXT@ABANS WERE ON DISPLAY AT THE TEHNO SHOW. THE SHOW ALSO SAW THE UNVEILING OF THE LG PIANO LAPTOP, THE LG CORE2 QUAD WITH FINGERPRINT READER AND THE PANASONIC WIRELESS MULTIMEDIA PROJECTOR AMONG OTHERS. READ ON BREAK

WEEKLY FOCUS QATARI CONSTRUCTION IN THE PAST FEW YEARS SRI LANKA’S CONSTRUCTION SECTOR EXPERIENCED A RENAISSANCE AND SOON BECAME A THRUST AREA OF THE ECONOMY. BUT EXPERTS SAY NOW THAT THE POST TSUNAMI RECONSTRUCTION WORK IS DRYING UP, THE LOCAL INDUSTRY WILL HAVE TO VENTURE BEYOND BORDERS TO MAINTAIN ITS HEALTHY GROWTH. WITH THIS IN MIND THE CHAMBER OF CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY ORGANIZED A 20 MEMBER LOCAL CONSTRUCTION CONTINGENT TO EXPLORE FUTURE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING ECONOMIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. ROLL VTR …………………………FROM………………………TELLS US WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE STOCK MARKET IN THE COMING WEEK AND THAT’S A LOOK AT BIZ ROUND UP FOR THIS WEEK, THANKS FOR WATCHING, GOOD NIGHT!