Cinnamon could fight Parkinson’s

Sunday Times - 13/07/2014

Cinnamon could be a secret weapon in the battle against Parkinson’s disease. Scientists have found that the spice is the source of a chemical that can protect the brain.

Our liver converts cinnamon into sodium benzoate, an approved drug used in the treatment for neural disorders.

In a study of mice at Rush University Medical Centre in Chicago, a team of researchers found that the chemical then enters the brain, stops the loss of proteins that help protect cells, protects neurons and improves motor functions.

Rapid growth in IT/BPM revenue

nation.lk - 13/07/2014

SLASSCOM says untapped potential lies outside Fortune 500 firms Sri Lanka has witnessed a brisk growth in export revenue in the field of Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT/BPM) with revenue for 2013 estimated to have increased to US$ 720 million from US$ 605 million in 2012 and projected to rise to US $850 million by end this year. According to a recent industry report by the Sri Lanka Association of Software and Service Companies (SLASSCOM), the primary IT/BPO business association in Sri Lanka, the industry has shown an impressive revenue growth trend of about 238% since year 2007 whilst total employment grew from 33,700 in 2007 to an estimated 75,100 employees in 2013, and the number of companies in the industry grew from 170 in 2007 to over 220 in 2013.

UAE lifts ban on Sri Lanka's export of chicken, eggs

Daily News - 11/07/2014

The UAE government announced the lifting of the ban on Sri Lanka's export of chicken and eggs to the UAE market with immediate effect. UAE had previously imposed a blanket ban on Asian countries including Sri Lanka, covering the export of chicken meat and eggs due to Notifiable Avian Influenza (NAI).

Sri Lanka made a presentation to the Animal and Agricultural Affairs of the UAE Water and Environment Ministry to lift the ban as Sri Lanka is now free of Avian Influenza.

Industry and Commerce Ministry Commerce Department officials took up the matter through the Sri Lanka Consulate General in Dubai and submitted the documents with the support of the Department of Animal Production and Health, Peradeniya and the Industry stakeholders to UAE authorities to prove that Sri Lanka is now free of Avian Influenza.

Colombo hosts historic Lanka-Belarus trade talks

Daily FT - 11/07/2014

The first-ever Sri Lanka-Belarus official trade talks commenced in Colombo yesterday amidst avowed assertions from both sides towards forging sustainable trade links while making inroads to the huge ‘New Asian’ and upcoming Eurasian Union markets. The first Colombo talks have now paved the way for a prospective future visit of the President of Belarus to Sri Lanka.
“I am pleased to note that Belarus is Sri Lanka’s first gateway to the promising EEU new single market. Our Free Trade Agreements with Pakistan and India have opened gateways to a South Asian market of 1.2 billion. Equally important is Sri Lanka’s forthcoming FTA with China. Therefore, we invite you to partner with Sri Lanka and take advantage of the new Asian opportunity,” said Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen on 9 July in Colombo.

First ever Lanka-Belarus bilateral trade meeting begins today

news.lk - 09/07/2014

First ever bilateral trade meet between Sri Lanka and a key member of upcoming Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) starts tomorrow 09 July in Colombo. “Our newest trade effort with Balarus strengthens the historic relations and more importantly, gives us direct access to the world’s newest single economic market” said  Rishad Bathiudeen (Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka) onTuesday (08).

Minister Bathiudeen was in discussions with his officials on the first ever Sri Lanka-Belarus Joint Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation to be held in Colombo on 9-10 July with the participation of  Valentin B. Rybakov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Belarus.  Deputy Minister Rybakov arrived in Sri Lanka Tuesday (08) leading a 20 member strong official delegation of the Government of Belarus, for this historic trade meeting.

Sri Lanka biz forum in Israel a success

Daily FT - 07/07/2014

A successful business forum from Sri Lanka consisting of 40 business leaders led by Deputy Minister of External Affairs, Sri Lanka Neomal Perera, who himself is a business leader completed a successful forum interacting with business leaders, L.R. Group, Sri Lanka-Asia Chamber of Commerce and the community on various aspects including tourism, hi-tech, water, energy, medical, apparel, employment, agriculture, greenhouse cultivation, dairy, fish, flowers, diamonds, gems, jewellery, rubber, education and other topics suggested by prospective delegates.

Sri Lanka takes first step aiming $20B Export target by 2020

news.lk - 07/07/2014

Sri Lanka in a bid to achieve its $ 20 B export target by 2020, handed over on July 01, the task of producing an initial way forward blueprint by August to an international consultancy firm.

“Today we are launching the first step of EDB’s Strategic Plan creation which aims to achieve $ 20 Bn by 2020. Hilmy’s enormous experience and expertise will definitely enhance the total process of EDB in a positive way” said Bandula Egodage (Chairman/CEO, EDB) addressing the session on July 01..  He further said, " We also thank VEGA USAID for the contribution towards this initiative. We all know that our national target is $ 20 Bn by 2020 but there is a big mismatch-our current export strategic plan ends in 2015 and there is a strategy gap from 2015-2020; We are launching today’s initiative to bridge this gap and draw the plan till 2020 to complete this in a professional and a focused way.”