ATTN: MR CHANDIMA UDABAGE

RUNDOWN

THE STATE OF BUSINESS – 09TH Jan, 2008

WORLD BANK VTR RIYAD 02:07

SRI LANKAN VTR ANOUK 02:05

ICTA CARD CHAMI 00:48

ADD T-BILLS

ADD DEALING ROOM BRIDGE

MURRAY @ NDB

ADD STATE OF BUSINESS BRIDGE

TOURISM VTR SHASHIKA

ADD CORPORATE BRIDGE

CIMA VTR SAMANTHA 01.45

ABANS CARD RAVI

BREAK 2 - STOCK WATCH

STOCK UPDATE CARDS 01.30

CURRENCY CARDS 00.20

LINE UP EDITOR - ANOUK/ NISHANI

ANCHOR - NISHANI
HEADLINES
1. WORLD BANK PROVIDES ADDITIONAL 40 MILLION
DOLLAR FUNDING FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECT,
AND
2. SMOOTH FLIGHT- GOVERNMENT FOCUSED ON BUILDING
LOCAL MANAGERIAL CAPACITY OF SRI LANKAN
AIRLINES

1. WORLD BANK RENEWABLE POWER

THE TREASURY THIS MORNING SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE
WORLD BANK FOR THE PROVISION OF 40 MILLION DOLLARS
ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE ONGOING RENEWABLE ENERGY
FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT OR ‘R.E.R.E.D’ PROJECT.

THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING WILL BOOST THE GRID-CONNECTING

CAPACITY BY A FURTHER 50 MEGA WATTS WHILE OFF-GRID
ELECTRICITY SERVICES WILL BE EXTENDED TO 60,000 ADDITIONAL
HOUSEHOLDS AND 500 RURAL MICRO AND SMALL-SCALE ENTERPRISES
IN RURAL AREAS.

ROLL VTR

2. SRI LANKAN

MEANWHILE TREASURY SECRETARY DR P.B. JAYASUNDARA ALSO

EXPLAINED TODAY THAT A COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY THE
GOVERNMENT WILL BE WORKING WITH EMIRATES TO ENSURE THAT THE
TRANSITION OF THE MANAGEMENT OF SRI LANKAN AIRLINES FROM
EMIRATES TO THE GOVERNMENT OF SRI LANKA IS A SMOOTH ONE.

HE ADDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS FOCUSED ON BUILDING THE

LOCAL MANAGERIAL CAPACITY OF THE NATIONAL CARRIER.

ROLL VTR

3. ICTA – CARD

THE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY AGENCY HAS

INTRODUCED A GRANT SCHEME TO PROVIDE OVERSEAS TRAINING FOR
LOCAL ICT MANAGERS WHO ARE IN SENIOR POSITIONS.

ACCORDINGLY INTERESTED ICT MANAGERS CAN NOW APPLY TO GAIN

ACCESS TO OVERSEAS TRAINING VIA THIS SCHEME, FOR WHICH THE
ICTA SAYS, IT WILL BEAR 75 PERCENT OF THE COST, SO THAT
ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES CAN FOLLOW INTENSIVE OVERSEAS SHORT
COURSES.

CARD IN

ISSUING A MEDIA RELEASE THE ICTA SAYS THAT A TRAINING NEED

ANALYSIS ON THE LOCAL ICT SECTOR HAS FOUND THAT 10 PERCENT
OF THE INDUSTRY’S HUMAN RESOURCES ARE IN THE EXPERT OR
SENIOR LEVEL AND ONLY 3 PERCENT OF ALL ICT TRAINING IS
DIRECTED AT DEVELOPING THIS TIER OF INDIVIDUALS.

THIS PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY THE ICT CAPACITY BUILDING

PROGRAMME WHICH IS A 5.2 MILLION U.S. DOLLAR PROGRAM.

INTERESTED CANDIDATES NOW CAN VISIT WWW.ICTA.LK/ICBP TO

DOWNLOAD APPLICATIONS.

CARD OUT

READ ON

4. NOW IT’S A LOOK AT THIS WEEK’S TREASURY BILL PRIMARY

MARKET AUCTION RATES.
5. MURRAY OF NDB BANK JOINS US FOR AN OVERVIEW OF DEALING
ROOM OPERATIONS FOR THIS WEEK.

BREAK

6. TOURISM – VTR

A REVENUE DROP COUPLED WITH THE NEGATIVE ARRIVAL GROWTH

DURING 2007, RENEWED VIOLENCE AND THE TERMINATION OF THE
EMIRATES DEAL WITH THE NATIONAL CARRIER ARE SOME OF THE
SERIOUS IMPENDING CHALLENGES SRI LANKA TOURISM IS FACED
WITH AT THE BEGINNING OF 2008.

THE STATE OF BUSINESS TAKES A LOOK.

ROLL VTR

7. ABANS - CARD

FITCH RATINGS HAS TODAY ASSIGNED AN 'A' LANKA NATIONAL

LONG-TERM RATING TO ABANS PRIVATE LIMITED.

THE OUTLOOK ON THE RATING IS STABLE.

CARD IN

THE RATING HAS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT ABANS'S POSITION AS ONE

OF THE COUNTRY'S LEADING RETAILERS OF CONSUMER ELECTRONICS
AND HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES, SUPPORTED BY ITS FRANCHISE FOR LG
PRODUCTS AND ITS LARGE AND STILL EXPANDING RETAIL NETWORK.

THE COMPANY'S FINANCIAL PROFILE AND KEY CREDIT METRICS IS

SOUND FOR THE CURRENT RATING.

FITCH SAYS THAT OVER THE YEARS, ABANS HAS REPORTED ROBUST
GROWTH IN SALES AND OPERATING PROFITS AND HAS GROWN ITS
MARKET SHARE WITHIN THE INDUSTRY.

IN 2007, ABANS'S TOTAL REVENUE AMOUNTED TO 10,529 MILLION

RUPEES.

READ ON
ABANS - CARD

FITCH RATINGS HAS TODAY ASSIGNED AN 'A' LANKA NATIONAL

LONG-TERM RATING TO ABANS PRIVATE LIMITED.

THE OUTLOOK ON THE RATING IS STABLE.

CARD IN

THE RATING HAS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT ABANS'S POSITION AS ONE

OF THE COUNTRY'S LEADING RETAILERS OF CONSUMER ELECTRONICS
AND HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES, SUPPORTED BY ITS FRANCHISE FOR LG
PRODUCTS AND ITS LARGE AND STILL EXPANDING RETAIL NETWORK.

THE COMPANY'S FINANCIAL PROFILE AND KEY CREDIT METRICS IS

SOUND FOR THE CURRENT RATING.

FITCH SAYS THAT OVER THE YEARS, ABANS HAS REPORTED ROBUST
GROWTH IN SALES AND OPERATING PROFITS AND HAS GROWN ITS
MARKET SHARE WITHIN THE INDUSTRY.

IN 2007, ABANS'S TOTAL REVENUE AMOUNTED TO 10,529 MILLION

RUPEES.

READ ON
SEGMENT: MAIN
DATE: 09 / 12 / 2007
REPORTER: CHAMINDA
SLUG: ICTA – CARD

THE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY AGENCY HAS

INTRODUCED A GRANT SCHEME TO PROVIDE OVERSEAS TRAINING FOR
LOCAL ICT MANAGERS WHO ARE IN SENIOR POSITIONS.

ACCORDINGLY INTERESTED ICT MANAGERS CAN NOW APPLY TO GAIN

ACCESS TO OVERSEAS TRAINING VIA THIS SCHEME, FOR WHICH THE
ICTA SAYS, IT WILL BEAR 75 PERCENT OF THE COST, SO THAT
ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES CAN FOLLOW INTENSIVE OVERSEAS SHORT
COURSES.

CARD IN

ISSUING A MEDIA RELEASE THE ICTA SAYS THAT A TRAINING NEED

ANALYSIS ON THE LOCAL ICT SECTOR HAS FOUND THAT 10 PERCENT
OF THE INDUSTRY’S HUMAN RESOURCES ARE IN THE EXPERT OR
SENIOR LEVEL AND ONLY 3 PERCENT OF ALL ICT TRAINING IS
DIRECTED AT DEVELOPING THIS TIER OF INDIVIDUALS.

THIS PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY THE ICT CAPACITY BUILDING

PROGRAMME WHICH IS A 5.2 MILLION U.S. DOLLAR PROGRAM.

INTERESTED CANDIDATES NOW CAN VISIT WWW.ICTA.LK/ICBP TO

DOWNLOAD APPLICATIONS.

CARD OUT

READ ON
“ICTA to provide overseas training for Local ICT
Professionals who are at Senior level”

Applications via: www.icta.lk/icbp

SEGMENT: CORPORATE
DATE: 09/01/08
REPORTER: SAMANTHA
SLUG: CIMA - VTR

THE CHARTED INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT IS NOW CALLING FOR

APPLICATIONS FROM PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES TO COMPETE IN THE
CIMA – JANASHAKTHI PINNACLE AWARDS.

THE ANNUAL PINNACLE AWARDS CEREMONY WHICH HAS VENTURED INTO

ITS FIFTH YEAR IS ORGANIZED IN A BID TO RECOGNIZE SRI
LANKAN BUSINESS EXCELLENCE.

MORE DETAILS ON THE COMPETITION WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY

JANASHAKTHI INSURANCE WERE REVEALED TO THE MEDIA LAST
EVENING.

ROLL VTR

SUPER
Prakash Schaffter
Managing Director
Janashakthi Insurance Co. Ltd.

TAG

“PINNACLE AWARDS”

Aimed at promoting future business leaders

VOICE OVER/CIMA/SAMANTHA/09-01-08

THE FIFTH ANNUAL CIMA – JANASHAKTHI PINNACLE AWARDS

CEREMONY IS SCHEDULED TO BE HELD ON THE 2ND OF APRIL THIS
YEAR.

ORGANIZERS SAY CIMA MEMBERS, STUDENTS AND ALSO THE PUBLIC

WHO HAVE MADE RECORD BREAKING ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE BUSINESS
SECTOR CAN APPLY FOR THE COMPETITION.

AMONG THE AWARDS THAT WILL BE HANDED OUT DURING THIS YEAR
RANKS THE “BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR”, “CHIEF FINANCIAL
OFFICER OF THE YEAR” AND “THE BUSINESS MANAGER OF THE YEAR”.

THE CIMA – JANASHAKTHI PINNACLE AWARDS COMPETITION ALSO

HOPES TO RECOGNIZE THE YOUNG CIMA STAR OF THE YEAR AND
MANAGEMENT TEAM OF THE YEAR.

VOICE CUT

09:50
THERE IS PURPOSE BEHIND THIS EVENT. THE PURPOSE IS TO
REORGANIZE SRI LANKAN TALENT, TO REORGANIZE
PROFESSIONALISM, TO REORGANIZE EXCELLENCE AND LAST BUT NOT
LEAST ENTREPRENEURSHIP. ALL OF THESE ARE KEY QUALITIES OF
ANY BUSINESS LEADER.
10:20

ORGANIZERS SAY THE BUSINESS LEADER, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

AND MANAGEMENT TEAM OF THE YEAR AWARDS ARE OPEN TO PUBLIC
CANDIDATES, WHILE THE YOUNG CIMA STAR AND THE BUSINESS
MANAGER AWARDS ARE ONLY OPEN TO CIMA MEMBERS.

THE AWARDS PROCESS WILL BE BASED ON PERFORMANCE AND

ACHIEVEMENTS DURING THE LAST THREE YEARS, WITH SPECIAL
EMPHASIS GIVEN TO EVENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS THAT TOOK PLACE
IN 2007.

END/

SEGMENT: MAIN
DATE: 9TH JANUARY 2008
REPORTER: RIYAD R.
EDITOR: ANOUK T.
SLUG: WORLD BANK RENEWABLE POWER

THE TREASURY THIS MORNING SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE

WORLD BANK FOR THE PROVISION OF 40 MILLION DOLLARS
ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE ONGOING RENEWABLE ENERGY
FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT OR ‘R.E.R.E.D’ PROJECT.

THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING WILL BOOST THE GRID-CONNECTING

CAPACITY BY A FURTHER 50 MEGA WATTS WHILE OFF-GRID
ELECTRICITY SERVICES WILL BE EXTENDED TO 60,000 ADDITIONAL
HOUSEHOLDS AND 500 RURAL MICRO AND SMALL-SCALE ENTERPRISES
IN RURAL AREAS.

ROLL VTR

Super

Dr. P. B. Jayasundara
Secretary – Treasury

Nihal Fonseka
CEO
DFCC Bank

Naoko Ishii
Country Director
World Bank

TAG

‘MORE RENEWABLE ENERGY’

World Bank provides additional $ 40 Mn Funding

‘RERED’ project will boost grid-connecting

Capacity by a further 50 MW
VOICE OVER / WORLD BANK RENEWABLE POWER / RIYAD / 9TH
JANUARY 2008 / VTR

CURRENTLY OVER 100,000 HOUSEHOLDS THAT HAVE NO GRID

ACCESSIBILITY FOR POWER IN RURAL SRI LANKA ARE POWERED BY
RENEWABLE SOURCES SUCH AS SOLAR PANELS AND TO A LESSER
EXTENT BY MINI HYDRO PROJECTS.

THE RERED PROJECTED INITIATED BY THE WORLD BANK HAS ALREADY

PUMPED IN 75 MILLION DOLLARS GENERATING 140 MEGA WATTS OF
POWER TO DATE.

TODAY THE TREASURY RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL 40 MILLION DOLLAR

ZERO INTEREST LOAN FROM THE WORLD BANK AS ADDITIONAL
SUPPORT TO INCREASE THE GRID-CONNECTING CAPACITY BY A
FURTHER 50 MEGA WATTS.

ACCORDING TO THE COUNTRY DIRECTOR OF THE WORLD BANK THE

RERED PROJECT HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AS 24% OF RURAL
HOUSEHOLDS IN THE NORTH & EAST HAVE BEEN POWERED BY THIS
PROJECT.

6.58 NAOKO
AT THIS MOMENT 25% OF THE POPULATION OF THE HOUSEHOLD HAS
NO ACCESS TO ELECTRICITY. 7.06 AND WE ARE VERY PLEASED THAT
THIS PROJECT HELPED THE RURAL TO BE CONNECTED 7.12
+++++
7.27 NAOKO
AND IT HELPS THE POOR IN THE NORTH AND EAST TO BE CONNECTED
TO ELECTRICITY 7.38
+++++
7.42 NAOKO
BECAUSE THIS IS IMPLEMENTED BY DFCC PROJECT MANAGEMENT
UNIT, SINE IT’S PRIVATE SECTOR BANK, THE IMPLEMENTATION HAS
BEEN QUITE SMOOTH AND IT HAS ACTUALLY BROADENED OPTIONS FOR
ELECTRICITY. 8.00

MEANWHILE THE CEO OF DFCC BANK NIHAL FONSEKA SPEAKING AT

THE EVENT ALSO STATED THAT IN THE LAST DECADE, SRI LANKAN
COMPANIES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE RENEWABLE ENERGY
BUSINESS HAVE BEEN BENCHMARKED IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD.

10.21 FONI
AS OF TODAY THERE ARE PROJECT IMPLEMENTERS THAT HAS
SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED PROJECTS HERE WHO HAVE GOT
IMPLEMENTATION CONTACTS IN AFRICA WHO ARE WORKING IN
AFRICAN COUNTRIES ON TURN KEY BASIS 10.36 TO IMPLEMENT
PROJECTS IN RWANDA, BURUNDI, NEPAL AND THEY ARE LOOKING AT
OTHER COUNTRIES AS WELL 10.42

ENDS/
SEGMENT: MAIN
DATE: 9TH JAN 08
REPORTER: RIYAD/ ANOUK
SLUG: SRI LANKAN

MEANWHILE TREASURY SECRETARY DR P.B. JAYASUNDARA ALSO

EXPLAINED TODAY THAT A COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY THE
GOVERNMENT WILL BE WORKING WITH EMIRATES TO ENSURE THAT THE
TRANSITION OF THE MANAGEMENT OF SRI LANKAN AIRLINES FROM
EMIRATES TO THE GOVERNMENT OF SRI LANKA IS A SMOOTH ONE.

HE ADDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS FOCUSED ON BUILDING THE

LOCAL MANAGERIAL CAPACITY OF THE NATIONAL CARRIER.

ROLL VTR

Dr. P. B. Jayasundara
Secretary – Treasury

TAG

‘MANAGING SRI LANKAN’

VOICE OVER/ 9TH JAN 08/ SRI LANKAN

FOLLOWING EMIRATES NOTIFYING ITS DECISION OVER THE WEEKEND

NOT TO RENEW ITS SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT WITH SRI LANKAN
AIRLINES WHICH EXPIRES ON 31ST MARCH, THE GOVERNMENT
YESTERDAY ANNOUNCED THAT IT WILL TAKE OVER CONTROL OF SRI
LANKAN AIRLINES ON THE 1ST OF APRIL.

HOWEVER, MANY ARE PONDERING THE FATE OF THE 43.6% STAKE

EMIRATES HOLDS IN THE NATIONAL CARRIER.

VOICE CUT
(15:52)
WE DO NOT THINK THEY WILL SELL IN THE 1ST PLACE. ANY
SHAREHOLDER CAN HAVE THESE OPTIONS. THE GOVERNMENT ITSELF
MAY CONSIDER TAKING OVER OR VARIOUS OTHER OPTIONS. SO NO
DECISION HAS BEEN MADE OTHER THAN TWO SHAREHOLDERS WORKING
TOWARDS A NEW MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE STARTING FROM APRIL 1ST
(16:20)

HE SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS LOOKED AT TAKING A DIRECT

INVOLVEMENT IN SRI LANKN AIRLINES.

VOICE CUT
(19:45)
THROUGHOUT THAT HAS BEEN HE CASE. THE COMMITTEE WAS
APPOINTED TO LOOK AT MORE FAVOURABLY TO BE MORE BIASED
TOWARDS SRI LANKA BECAUSE IT HAS GONE THROUGH A 10-YEAR
PHASE WHICH HAS MADE TO A MORE COMMERCIAL NETWORKING AND
NOW SRI LANKA ITSELF SHOULD THINK OF THE NEXT PHASE.
BUILDING OUR OWN MANAGERIAL CAPACITY THERE BECAUSE LOT OF
SRI LANKAN ARE ACTUALLY MANAGING IT. (20:20)

HE ALSO EMPHASIZED THAT MERGING MIHIN LANKA WITH SRI LANKAN

IS NOT ON THE CARDS.

VOICE CUT
(17:38)
MIHIN LANKA IS A GOVERNMENT BUDGET AIRLINE THAT WILL BE
DEVELOPED AS A BUDGET AIRLINE, AND SRI LANKAN IS OUR
NATIONAL CARRIER WHICH IS BASICALLY LOOKING AFTER MUCH MORE
COMMERCIAL MARKETS, AND THE TWO AIRLINES WILL SUN AS TWO
SEPARATE AIRLINES (18:02)

ENDS/
SEGMENT: MAIN

DATE: 08 / 01 / 2008

REPORTER: RAVI

SLUG: ABANS - CARD

FITCH RATINGS HAS TODAY ASSIGNED AN 'A' LANKA NATIONAL

LONG-TERM RATING TO ABANS PRIVATE LIMITED.

THE OUTLOOK ON THE RATING IS STABLE.

CARD IN

THE RATING HAS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT ABANS'S POSITION AS ONE

OF THE COUNTRY'S LEADING RETAILERS OF CONSUMER ELECTRONICS
AND HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES, SUPPORTED BY ITS FRANCHISE FOR LG
PRODUCTS AND ITS LARGE AND STILL EXPANDING RETAIL NETWORK.

THE COMPANY'S FINANCIAL PROFILE AND KEY CREDIT METRICS IS

SOUND FOR THE CURRENT RATING.

FITCH SAYS THAT OVER THE YEARS, ABANS HAS REPORTED ROBUST
GROWTH IN SALES AND OPERATING PROFITS AND HAS GROWN ITS
MARKET SHARE WITHIN THE INDUSTRY.

IN 2007, ABANS'S TOTAL REVENUE AMOUNTED TO 10,529 MILLION

RUPEES.

READ ON

CARD

Fitch Rates Abans Limited at 'A (lka)'

* Rating outlook is stable

* Revenue growth in FY07 was 26%

* Financial Profile and Credit metrics is sound

* Over the years reported robust growth

SEGMENT: MAIN
DATE: 09.01.2008
REPORTER: SHASHIKA
SLUG: TOURISM – VTR

A REVENUE DROP COUPLED WITH THE NEGATIVE ARRIVAL GROWTH

DURING 2007, RENEWED VIOLENCE AND THE TERMINATION OF THE
EMIRATES DEAL WITH THE NATIONAL CARRIER ARE SOME OF THE
SERIOUS IMPENDING CHALLENGES SRI LANKA TOURISM IS FACED
WITH AT THE BEGINNING OF 2008.

THE STATE OF BUSINESS TAKES A LOOK.

ROLL VTR

SUPER

Renton de Alwis – Chairman

Sri Lanka Tourist Board

INFO TAGS

‘THE TOURIST’

12 % Drop in 2007

November, December 07 sees

positive growth

Revenue in 2007 $ 395 Mn

VOICE OVER / TOURISM / SHASHIKA / 08/01/08

LAST YEAR SAW SRI LANKA’S TOURISM SECTOR EXPERIENCING

SETBACKS DUE TO VARIOUS FACTORS.

THE MOST SIGNIFICANT AMONG THEM WAS SECURITY ISSUES SUCH AS

THE LTTE ATTACK ON THE AIR FORCE BASE ADJOINING THE
KATUNAYAKE AIRPORT.

THIS SITUATION FOLLOWED A NUMBER OF NEGATIVE TRAVEL

ADVISORIES ISSUED BY COUNTRIES SUCH AS FRANCE, ENGLAND, AND
AUSTRALIA ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS.

THUS THIS SITUATION RESULTED IN LAST YEAR’S TOURIST

ARRIVALS DROPPING TO 492,000, FROM THE 559,000 TOURISTS THE
COUNTRY WELCOMED IN 2006.

VOICE CUT – RENTON – IN – 00:00:41

SINCE 2006 SEPTEMBER THERE WAS A DECLINE THAT BEGAN IN
TOURISM CASE OF THE COUNTRY’S SITUATION. BUT WE SORT OF
PEAK IN MAY. WE HAD CURFEW ON LADING FLIGHTS IN THE NIGHT.
THAT WAS ON MAY. AFTER SEVERAL INCIDENTS THEN WE HAD A DROP
OF 40% THAT MONTH.
OUT – 01:22

THE YEAR 2007 BEGAN WITH POSITIVE TOURIST ARRIVALS, WITH

JANUARY RECORDING A GROWTH OF 5.6 PERCENT, BUT THEREAFTER
IT WAS A STEADY DECLINE.

BUT DURING THE LATTER PART OF THE YEAR THE SECTOR STARTED
RECOVERING WITH NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER SHOWING POSITIVE
GROWTH.

TOTAL ARRIVALS FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2007 HAVE

INCREASED BY 54 PERCENT AMOUNTING TO 59,000 TOURISTS THE
HIGHEST DURING A MONTH IN 2007, WHICH HELPED NARROW THE
DROP.

VOICE CUT – RENTON – IN – 01:46

THE YEAR WHICH WE HAD ORIGINALLY ESTIMATED AS THE MAY END
WITH ABOUT A 20 PERCENT DROP. I’M HAPPY TO SAY WE ABLE TO
REDUCE IT TO 12 PERCENT.
OUT – 02:00
THE SITUATION HAS ALSO REDUCED THE EARNINGS OF THE SECTOR
FROM 410 MILLION DOLLARS IN 2006 TO 395 MILLION LAST YEAR.

BUT WITH TROUBLE BREWING IN THE DEFENCE FRONT AND THE

IMPACT OF THE CANCELLATION OF THE CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT YET
TO BE FELT, AUTHORITIES ARE STILL CONFIDENT OF KEEPING THE
SECTOR MOVING DURING 2008.

VOICE CUT – RENTON – IN – 14:25

ANY SUCH INCIDENT HAS IMPACT. BUT MANAGING THAT IMPACT IS
THE JOB OF TOURISM. BECAUSE WE HAVE TO SHOW THE WORLD THAT
THE SAFETY OF OUR VISITORS AND THEIR SECURITY IS ENSURE.
OUT – 14:53

NO COUNTRIES REVISED THEIR TRAVEL ADVISORIES AFTER THE

CANCELLATION OF THE CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT WHICH AUTHORITIES
BELIEVE IS A POSITIVE SIGN.

MEANWHILE, RENTON DE ALWIS ALSO TOUCHED ON THE EMIRATES

DECISION ON SRI LANKAN AIRLINES.

VOICE CUT – RENTON – IN – 13:28

THERE WILL BE A SHORT TERM IMPACT BUT THINGS WILL GET BACK
TO NORMAL. BECAUSE SRI LANKAN HAS GOT ITS OWN MANAGEMENT
TEAM. ITS ONLY A FEW GAPS THAT HAS TO BE FILLED, EMIRATES
HAS RETAIN THEIR SHARES. IN THE LONG TERM WE WILL ABLE TO
GET THINGS RIGHT.
OUT – 14:03

END/
STOX

TRADING AT THE CSE WAS ON A DOWNWARD TREND THROUGHOUT THE

DAY TODAY AS WELL WITH A HEAVY FALL WITNESSED IN TURN OVER
AND VOLUME LEVELS.

TWO CROSSINGS TOOK PLACE FOR THE DAY.

AITKEN SPENCE SAW 51,300 SHARES CHANGE HANDS AT 400 RUPEES
WHILE 100,000 SHARES OF HNB CROSSED AT 122.

THE HIGHEST TRANSACTION OF SHARES FOR THE DAY OF 0.82

MILLION TOOK PLACE ON TOKYO NON VOTING WHICH WAS FOLLOWED
BY SIERRA CABLES AND VALLIBEL.

AITKEN SPENCE WAS THE MAIN CONTRIBUTOR TO TURN OVER PUMPING

IN 57.7 MILLION RUPEES AND WAS FOLLOWED BY HNB AND TOKYO
NON VOTING.

THE DAY SAW FOREIGN PURCHASES WORTH 112.3 MILLION AND

FOREIGN SALES OF 18.8 MILLION.

CARD 1