Biz Briefs  

Ukraine to raise gas prices

Ukraine's interim government said it will raise gas prices for domestic consumers by 50 percent to secure an International Monetary Fund (IMF) aid package.

An official at Ukraine's Naftogaz state energy company said the price rise would take effect on May 1, and further rises would be scheduled until 2018. Ukrainians are accustomed to buying gas at heavily subsidised rates.

But the IMF has made subsidy reform a condition of its deal. Ukraine currently buys more than half of its natural gas from Russia's Gazprom, and sells it below market prices.

- BBC
 

SLIM marketing course in the Maldives

The first batch of students who completed the Preliminary Certificate in Marketing (PCM) conducted by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) in the Maldives, through the SLIM accredited Study Centre, Focus Education Centre, received their certificates in Male recently.

SLIM created history in 2013, by taking a indigenous Sri Lankan marketing qualification overseas and the popularity of this program is an endorsement of the international relevance of SLIM educational products.

CSE launches twitter handle @CSE_Media

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) launched the twitter handle @CSE_Media, to keep investors informed on market updates of the Stock Exchange via a twitter feed.

The twitter handle is aimed at retail investors, media personnel, and students eager to receive on-the-go information from the stock exchange.

The venture into social media follows the CSE’s launch of an Android Mobile Application.

The twitter handle offers updates on corporate disclosures, CSE circulars, SEC directives, CSE media releases, and upcoming and ongoing events.

Earl's Regent opens in Kandy
 

Earl's Regent is the newest addition to the Earl's hotels in Kandy. ‘Earls Regent’, tagged as the ‘Pearl of the Kandyan Kingdom’ was opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the invitation of the Chairman of the Earl's Court Hotel Management (Pvt) Ltd Earl Gunasekara recently. Earl's Regent comprises 70 luxury rooms, an international spa and wellness centre, gymnasium, laundry, outdoor pool area and star class services.

Union Bank opens branch in Nawalapitiya
 

Union Bank opened its 54th branch in Nawalapitiya recently to add value to the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the area. The new branch at Dolosbage Road, Nawalapitiya was opened by Chief Operating Officer, Union Bank, Nilanth de Silva.

Sampath introduces findmyfare for card holders

Sampath Bank has introduced findmyfare, a novel program, for credit card holders.

The findmyfare.com offer enables card holders to fly at the lowest possible rates which also assures additional savings.

findmyfare.com is one of Sri Lanka’s largest online travel booking companies. It offers attractive and economical fares to most destinations.

Arc Tech to boost IT industry

Arc Tech (Pvt) Ltd, an ICT company, provides cutting edge IT solutions to leading Sri Lankan corporates and companies in the SME sector.

Arc Tech which has completed five years, has strategic links with some of the world's leading technology companies including HP, IBM, Microsoft, VM ware, Fortinet and Kespersky. Arc Tech enables clients in more than 25 industries in Sri Lanka to out-perform their competition and stay ahead by adapting the latest innovations in technology.

“We help small, medium and enterprise businesses to transform and thrive in a challenging business environment through solutions,” said Arc Tech, General Manager Anusha de Silva.

Unilever's Saubhagya program empowers rural women

Unilever Sri Lanka conducted its annual Diriya Pranama awards ceremony to recognise best performers of its Saubhagya initiative.

The Saubhagya initiative is aimed at empowering rural women and the award ceremony at Cinnamon Lakeside also marked International Women’s Day.

The most deserving and needy women of rural Sri Lanka are provided a source of income as Unilever ambassadors, selling Unilever brands to households in villages.

This year more than 150 Saubhagya entrepreneurs who achieved sales targets were rewarded, out of which the top 100 were felicitated at the ceremony for their commitment and dedication.

Dialog extends eZ cash facility
 

Dialog Axiata, with Central Bank approval, extended its eZ cash mobile money platform to include Etisalat last week. Here Etisalat Lanka, Acting CEO Wail Salma and Dialog Axiata Group Chief Executive Dr Hans Wijesuriya shake hands after completing a transaction between the two telephone service operators. Dialog Axiata, Senior General Manager, Mobile Money Payments, Fariq Cader looks on. Pic: Vipula Amarasinghe