28th Nov 07

ATTN: MR CHANDIMA UDABAGE RUNDOWN THE STATE OF BUSINESS – 28TH Nov, 2007 BOMB

FLASH

ADB

VTR

RIYAD

0:55

CHAMINDA

LOGISTICS BRIDGE LOGISTICS

VTR

TREASURY BILLS DEALING

RAVI

02:00

CARD

BRIDGE

NTB

VTR

RIYAD

BREAK 1 - ADD STATE OF BUSINESS BRIDGE CMA

VTR

LASHINI 03.00

BREAK 2 - STOCK WATCH STOCK UPDATE CURRENCY

CARDS CARDS

LINE UP EDITOR ANCHOR

- ANOUK - DAKSHITHA

01.30 00.20

headlines 1. minister douglous devananda escapes suicide bomb attack this morning, and 2. adb extends 80 million dollars to revitalize country’s secondary and tertiary education 1. bomb- vtr / flash minister of social welfare and social services douglas devananda was the target of another suspected ltte suicide bomber this morning but he once again escaped the attack. the minister’s public relations officer, r. t. stephen peiris who was critically injured when the female suicide cadre detonated herself inside the ministry complex, later succumbed to his injuries at the colombo national hospital. roll vtr 2. adb – vtr the asian development bank today announced its decision to extend 80 million dollars to the sri lankan government to improve the nation’s secondary and tertiary education sector. this 80 million dollars is expected to be invested in improving the skills necessary to meet the expanding and evolving needs of the labor market. roll vtr logistics bridge 3. logistics hub – vtr the asian development bank says sri lanka has still not got its act together in converting colombo into a logistics hub, and adds that any further delay will lead to the country losing out to chennai. while making this observation, the adb emphasizes that developing colombo as a logistics hub is important, not only for sri lanka but also for the region. roll vtr

4. now for a look at this week’s treasury bill primary market auction rates 5. now we join azreen from nations trust bank for a closer look at this week’s open market operations. break 6. cma – vtr the canadian high commissioner angela bogdan says canada believes that sri lanka’s business community can contribute to finding a lasting solution to the country’s northern conflict thorough exercising corporate social responsibility. she made this comment while speaking at a businesses management conference organized by the society of certified management accountants of sri lanka last night in colombo. the society was established in june 2000, with the technical assistance and guidelines of cma canada in order to meet the need for a professional management accounting body in sri lanka. roll vtr break stox the market picked up in mid day trading but ended in the red. analysts say there was a dearth of activity today, adding however that most plantation stocks grabbed interest. the highest volumes for the day came from balangoda trading 0.66 million shares followed by malwatte and tess agro which traded 0.46 million and 0.45 million shares respectively. malwatte was the main contributor to turnover injecting 13.14 million rupees, while commercial bank and balangoda came in next.

foreign buying was at 39.61 million and foreign selling was recorded at 40.81 million. the all share dipped 0.93 points to close the day on 2,562.86 while the milanka also lost 4.65 points ending the day at 3,379.24. turnover was at 174 million rupees. the top gainers today were metropolitan resource holdings, bogawantalawa, morisons, hapugastenne, and udapussellawa, while heading the losers were lb finance, hunas falls, confifi hotels, asian alliance and trans asia. coming up is a look at the day’s forex rates!

SEGMENT: DATE: REPORTER: EDITOR: SLUG:

MAIN 27TH NOVEMBER 2007 RIYAD R. ANOUK T. BOMB- VTR / FLASH

MINISTER OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND SOCIAL SERVICES DOUGLAS DEVANANDA WAS THE TARGET OF ANOTHER SUSPECTED LTTE FEMALE SUICIDE BOMBER THIS MORNING BUT HE ONCE AGAIN ESCAPED THE ATTACK THE MINISTER’S PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, R. T. STEPHEN PEIRIS WHO WAS CRITICALLY INJURED WHEN THE SUICIDE CADRE DETONATED HERSELF INSIDE THE MINISTRY COMPLEX, LATER SUCCUMBED TO HIS INJURIES AT THE COLOMBO NATIONAL HOSPITAL. INSERT VISUALS THE SUSPECTED LTTE SUICIDE BOMBER HAD ENTERED THE SOCIAL SERVICES MINISTRY LOCATED AT 61, ISIPATHANA MAWATHA AT 8 A.M. TODAY UNDER THE GUISE OF MEETING THE MINISTER AS IT IS ON WEDNESDAYS THAT THE PUBLIC IS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO FORWARD THEIR GRIEVANCES TO THE MINISTER IN PERSON. WHEN THE SUSPECTED LTTE SUICIDE BOMBER HAD COME UNDER SUSPICION, THE MINISTER’S PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER HAD INSTRUCTED A POLICEWOMAN TO SEARCH HER PERSON, AT WHICH TIME SHE HAD DETONATED HERSELF, CRITICALLY INJURING STEVEN PEIRIS AND TWO SECURITY PERSONNEL. PEIRIS WHO SUCCUMBED TO HIS INJURIES WAS 69 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH. INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE INCIDENT ARE STILL UNDER AWAY. READ ON

SEGMENT: DATE: REPORTER: SLUG:

MAIN 28 / 11 / 2007 CHAMINDA ADB – VTR

THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK TODAY ANNOUNCED ITS DECISION TO EXTEND 80 MILLION DOLLARS TO THE SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT TO IMPROVE THE NATION’S SECONDARY AND TERTIARY EDUCATION SECTOR. THIS 80 MILLION DOLLARS IS EXPECTED TO BE INVESTED IN IMPROVING THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO MEET THE EXPANDING AND EVOLVING NEEDS OF THE LABOR MARKET. ROLL VTR ‘ADB FINANCING’ ADB: SL school system is currently oriented towards conventional university education ADB: Money will used to upgrade 150 schools in poorest areas ADB: Lack of skills have created Unemployment among youths in SL

VOICE OVER – ADB – CHAMINDA – 28 / 11 THE ADB WILL PROVIDE 65 MILLION DOLLARS AS A LOAN WHILE THE REST OF THE 15 MILLION DOLLARS COMES IN AS A GRANT TO SUPPORT THE EDUCATION FOR KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY PROJECT. THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT WILL PUMP IN 25.3 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE TASK. THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY AND THE INTRODUCTION OF CAREER GUIDANCE AND SOCIAL MARKETING PROGRAMS ARE THE AREAS THE MONEY WILL BE DIRECTED TOWARDS. THE ADB SAYS GLOBALIZATION AND THE IMPACT OF ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE IN ASIA ARE OPENING UP OPPORTUNITIES AND CREATING CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE LABOR FORCE OF SRI LANKA. AYAKO INAGAKI, SENIOR EDUCATION SPECIALIST OF THE ADB’S SOUTH ASIA DEPARTMENT SAYS, THEREFORE THE SRI LANKAN EDUCATION SYSTEM NEEDS TO ADJUST TO THE CHANGING NEEDS OF THE MODERN ECONOMY. THE ADB GRANT WILL ALSO FUND A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, FOR INNOVATIVE TEACHING PROGRAMS FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY AND AN HIV/AIDS HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM. ENDS.

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MAIN 28/11/07 LASHINI CMA – VTR

THE CANADIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER ANGELA BOGDAN SAYS CANADA BELIEVES THAT SRI LANKA’S BUSINESS COMMUNITY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO FINDING A LASTING SOLUTION TO THE COUNTRY’S CONFLICT SITUATION THOROUGH EXERCISING CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. SHE MADE THIS COMMENT WHILE SPEAKING AT A BUSINESSES MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE ORGANIZED BY THE SOCIETY OF CERTIFIED MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANTS OF SRI LANKA LAST NIGHT IN COLOMBO. THE SOCIETY WAS ESTABLISHED IN JUNE 2000, WITH THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND GUIDELINES OF CMA CANADA IN ORDER TO MEET THE NEED FOR A PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING BODY IN SRI LANKA. ROLL VTR INFO TAGS: ‘CMA CONFERENCE’ The Society of CMA has 1250 members & 8000 registered students SUPER: Angela Bogdan High Commissioner for Canada

VOICE OVER – LASHINI – 28/11/07 – CMA – VTR THE TOPIC OF THE TWO DAY CONFERENCE WAS ‘CORPORATE BOTTOM LINE MANAGEMENT’. SPEAKING HERE THE CANADIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER FURTHER THAT SINCE SRI LANKA WILL BE UNABLE TO REACH ITS DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL UNTIL THE CONFLICT IS RESOLVED, THE COUNTRY AND THE BUSINESS SECTOR WOULD BENEFIT EXERCISING CSR EFFORTS DIRECTED TOWARDS PEACE.

SAID FULL BOTH FROM

10:36 CANADA BELIEVES THAT THE WAY FORWARD FOR SRI LANKA DURING THESE DIFFICULT TIMES INCLUDES MOST IMPORTANTLY YOU THE BUSINESS LEADERS OF THIS COUNTRY. SRI LANKAN BUSINESS COMMUNITY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO FINDING A LONG LASTING SOLUTION TO THE CURRENT SITUATION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY IN EXERCISING CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. 11:00 SHE SAID CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IS AN OPPORTUNITY AND A CRITICAL WAY FOR BUSINESS LEADERS TO PRACTICALLY CREATE THE LINK BETWEEN PROSPERITY AND PEACE. 18:47 MAKE A CONCIOUS EFFORT TO MAKE SURE YOUR ADVERTISING REFLECT THE DIVERSITY OF SRI LANKA BY REPRESENTING ALL REGIONAL REALITIES BY USING IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO SOURCE GOODS AND SERVICES FOR SEVERELY UNDERDEVELOPED PROVINCES TO CONTRIBUTE TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THERE BY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED YOUTHS JOINING THE ARMED GROUPS OR REMAINING UNEMPLOYED 19:20 SHE ALSO CITED EXAMPLES AS TO HOW BUSINESS COMMUNITIES IN OTHER CONFLICT AFFECTED AREAS IN THE WORLD HAVE SUCCESSFULLY CARRIED OUT CSR PROJECTS TARGETED AT BRINGING PEACE. 15:20 IN EL SALVADOR A COUNTRY WITH MASSIVE PROBLEMS OF GUN RELATED PROBLEMS HAS BUSINESS LEADERS CARRYING OUT WEAPONS COLLECTION SCHEMES WEAPONS ARE TRADED IN FOR VOUCHERS FOR ANYTHING FROM GROCERIES TO CONSUMER ELECTRONICS. THIS INITIATIVE IS FUNDED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR 15:42

ALSO ADDRESSING THE GATHERING OF MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANTS AND BUSINESS LEADERS THE MINISTER OF EXPORT DEVELOPMENT AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE PROFESSOR G. L. PERIS SAID CONSCIOUS EFFORTS MUST BE MADE TO TAKE THE BENEFITS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO THE RURAL MASSES. THE EVENT ALSO SAW THE PRESENTATION OF AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT TO SEVERAL TOP BUSINESS LEADERS OF THE COUNTRY. ENDS

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MAIN 28/11/2007 RAVI LOGISTICS HUB – VTR

THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK SAYS SRI LANKA HAS STILL NOT GOT ITS ACT TOGETHER IN CONVERTING COLOMBO INTO A LOGISTICS HUB, AND ADDS THAT ANY FURTHER DELAY WILL LEAD TO THE COUNTRY LOSING OUT TO CHENNAI. WHILE MAKING THIS OBSERVATION, THE ADB EMPHASIZES THAT DEVELOPING COLOMBO AS A LOGISTICS HUB IS IMPORTANT, NOT ONLY FOR SRI LANKA BUT ALSO FOR THE REGION. ROLL VTR Anthony Bayley – Consultant Asian Development Bank ‘LOGISTICS HUB OF COLOMBO’

VOICE OVER/28th NOVEMBER 07/ LOGISTICS HUB/ RAVI THE CONSULTANT FROM THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK SPEAKING AT A RECENT SEMINAR SAID THAT IN SRI LANKA THE MEANING OF THE WORD “LOGISTICS” IS NOT UNDERSTOOD PROPERLY AND IS MERELY USED AS AN ALTERNATE TERM FOR TRANSPORTATION. VC – BAYLEY 26:58 LOGISTICS IS THE NEW BUZZ WORD. EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT IT. BUT WHAT THEY ACTUALLY MEAN IS TRANSPORT. 27:06 ++ 27:14 THAT’S NOT LOGISTICS. THAT’S ONLY PART OF THE LOGISTIC CHAIN. LOGISTICS IS MUCH MORE THAN THAT. AND WE CONFUSE IT AS AN INDUSTRY AS WELL. YOU CAN GO TO COLOMBO AND SEE EVERY TRUCK HAS ‘AND LOGISTICS’ BUT THEY ARE DOING ACTUALLY WHAT THEY DID BEFORE. 27:34 HE SAID IN SRI LANKA COMPARED TO ITS COUNTERPARTS IN THE REGION, THERE IS LIMITED DEMAND FOR “ADVANCED LOGISTICS SERVICES” BOTH IN THE DOMESTIC AND RETAILING SECTORS. BAYLEY ALSO SAID THAT THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLOMBO AS A REGIONAL HUB IS IMPORTANT FOR MANY NATIONS IN THE REGION AS WELL. VC – BAYLEY 35:22 WE NEED EXPANSION OF COLOMBO AS A REGIONAL HUB. THAT’S IMPORTANT TO THE REGION NOT JUST TO YOU. IT’S IMPORTANT TO BANGLADESH, NEPAL. IT’S IMPORTANT WHAT RESPONSE YOU MAKE TO THEM, NOT JUST FOR YOURSELVES. 35:46 BAYLEY NOTED THAT COLOMBO POSSESSES IMMENSE POTENTIAL IN TERMS OF BEING A REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER, BUT SHOULD ACT FAST BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE. VC – BAYLEY 43:29 IMPORTANCE OF COLOMBO REGIONALLY, IT’S THE ONLY PORT WITH THE CAPACITY TO TAKE THE FUTURE VESSEL SIZES. IT’S THE CENTER OF THE NETWORK. SO ITS GOT THE POTENTIAL TO ACT AS THE REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER. AND TO HOLD STOCKS FOR THE MULTI NATIONALS TO DISTRIBUTE TO THE WHOLE BAY OF BENGAL. BUT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING BECAUSE INDIA PARTICULARLY CHENNAI WILL TAKE THE OFFSHORE BUSINESS IF WE DON’T DO IT. 44:00 - END

STOX THE MARKET PICKED UP IN MID DAY TRADING BUT ENDED IN THE RED. ANALYSTS SAY THERE WAS A DEARTH OF ACTIVITY TODAY, ADDING HOWEVER THAT MOST PLANTATION STOCKS GRABBED INTEREST. THE HIGHEST VOLUMES FOR THE DAY CAME FROM BALANGODA TRADING 0.66 MILLION SHARES FOLLOWED BY MALWATTE AND TESS AGRO WHICH TRADED 0.46 MILLION AND 0.45 MILLION SHARES RESPECTIVELY. MALWATTE WAS THE MAIN CONTRIBUTOR TO TURNOVER INJECTING 13.14 MILLION RUPEES, WHILE COMMERCIAL BANK AND BALANGODA CAME IN NEXT. FOREIGN BUYING WAS AT 39.61 MILLION AND FOREIGN SELLING WAS RECORDED AT 40.81 MILLION. THE ALL SHARE DIPPED 0.93 POINTS TO CLOSE THE DAY ON 2,562.86 WHILE THE MILANKA ALSO LOST 4.65 POINTS ENDING THE DAY AT 3,379.24. TURNOVER WAS AT 174 MILLION RUPEES. THE TOP GAINERS TODAY WERE METROPOLITAN RESOURCE HOLDINGS, BOGAWANTALAWA, MORISONS, HAPUGASTENNE, AND UDAPUSSELLAWA, WHILE HEADING THE LOSERS WERE LB FINANCE, HUNAS FALLS, CONFIFI HOTELS, ASIAN ALLIANCE AND TRANS ASIA. COMING UP IS A LOOK AT THE DAY’S FOREX RATES!