Biz Briefs

Mobitel marks Children's Day

Mobitel in a CSR initiative hosted an eventful day complete with entertainment, food and gifts for 350 children in an orphanage in Killinochchi to mark World Children's Day yesterday.

The Mobitel team lent a helping hand to support the children of the Mahadeva Achchirama Children's Home who received an opportunity to watch the 3D cinema screening of the animated movie 'Frozen', at the Cargills complex in Jaffna followed by lunch and refreshments.

The children were thereafter taken to the children's park. A number of competitions was also conducted.

"It is an absolute privilege for team Mobitel to be a part of this initiative as it gives us the opportunity to care for society.

Bankers to discuss 'Access to Finance'

Three senior banking executives will take the stage at the upcoming National Forum on SME Empowerment organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce to discuss on 'Lending' to the SME sector.

CEO, NDB, R. Theagarajah, CEO, Sampath Bank, Aravinda Perera and Managing Director and CEO, Hatton National Bank Jonathan Alles will sit for a plenary session on the theme 'Making Financial Services Accessible, Available and Affordable - A commercial Banker's perspective'.

The banking trio will be joined by a partner at Ernst and Young, Arjuna Herath and also the President of ICASL, Chamlee Gunaseele.

BoC helps reconstruct Jaffna railway station

The Jaffna railway station reconstructed with the help of the Bank of Ceylon (BoC) will be opened on October 13.

It resumes operations after 23 years. With the accomplishment of this project, commuters could travel to the North or the South more conveniently.

Understanding its responsibility as a prominent government bank, BoC involved itself in the Uthuru Mithuru project by making a significant contribution in rebuilding the largest railway station on the northern railway line.

The re-opening of the Jaffna Railway station will pave the way for a new economic and social awakening by helping to overcome infrastructure and livelihood barriers.

HK protests to cost retailers HK$2b

Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests may have cost the city's retailers more than $2 billion n Hong Kong dollars (£175.7 million), ANZ bank estimates.

The demonstrations have coincided with mainland China's Golden week holiday, which usually prompts a huge influx of shoppers from the mainland.Chinese tourists account for two-thirds of all visitors to Hong Kong.

But China suspended travel permits for domestic tour groups hoping to visit Hong Kong because of the protests. The China National Tourism Administration told travel agencies on Monday to stop organising Hong Kong-bound tours until further notice.

The decision doesn't affect tours that have already been sold, but nonetheless, there are concerns the move will lead to a further dip in business.

- BBC

Tea production drops in August

The national tea crop for August 2014 has declined by 1.8 million kilograms over the corresponding month last year with all three elevations showing a drop in production.

The Medium Grown elevation has shown a noticeable decline of 1.6 million kilograms while the Low Growns and High Growns have seen declines of 118,911 kgs and 85,516 kgs.