ATTN: CHANDIMA UDABAGE – MD-ART TV

BIZ ROUND UP – NOVEMBER 18, 2007

TRADE VTR -15TH NOV CHAMI

EDUCATION VTR -12TH NOV LASHINI

TOWN VTR -14TH NOV LASHINI

TEA VTR -16TH NOV LASHINI

TRANSPORT VTR -13TH NOV RIYAD/CHAMI

BREAK

WRAP – NEWS IN BRIEF

MAIN NEWS

1. POLIO VTR - 15TH NOV ANOUK

2. TRAVEL CARD - 14TH NOV CHAMI

3. ADB CARD - 12TH NOV CHAMI

CORPORATE NEWS

1. CEYLINCO VTR - 14TH WED NILANTHA

2. CEYLINCO VIP VTR - 15TH NOV CHAMI

3. ABANS VTR - 12TH MON ANOUK

BREAK 2

SHORT BRIDGE
WEEKLY FOCUS

WEEKEND DIALOG

SHORT BRIDGE

STOCKS

ANCHOR: ANOUK
PRODUCER: NISHANI

HEADLINES
1. AUTHORITIES PLAN ON STRINGENT LAWS TO REGULATE
PRIVATE AND INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS, AND
2. BUILDING THE FUTURE- LOCAL CONSTRUCTION PLAYERS
EXPLORES NEW AVENUES IN THE MIDDLE EAST
1. TRADE – VTR
HIGHER GROWTH OF EXPORTS OVER THE GROWTH OF IMPORTS HELPED
SRI LANKA NARROW ITS TRADE DEFICIT FOR THE FIRST NINE
MONTHS OF 2007 TO STAND AT 2.4 BILLION DOLLARS.

THIS IS A MARGINAL IMPROVEMENT COMPARED TO THE

CORRESPONDING PERIOD LAST YEAR IN WHICH THE DEFICIT STOOD
AT 2.59 BILLION DOLLARS.

THE CENTRAL BANK SAYS THIS IMPROVEMENT WAS BACKED BY AN

EXPORT SURGE IN SEPTEMBER OF 19.2 PERCENT BRINGING IN
EARNINGS OF 725 MILLION DOLLARS.

ROLL VTR

2. EDUCATION – VTR

THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION IS PLANNING TO BRING IN STRINGENT

LAWS TO REGULATE THE PRIVATE AND INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS IN
SRI LANKA.

THIS, THE MINISTRY SAYS IS PART OF ITS PLANNED EDUCATION

REFORMS TO BRING IN EQUITY, QUALITY, EFFICIENCY AND GOOD
GOVERNANCE TO THE SYSTEM.

AUTHORITIES ANNOUNCED THESE DETAILS LAST WEEK WHILE

PRESENTING THE PROPOSED FRAMEWORK FOR THE NEW EDUCATION ACT
FOR GENERAL EDUCATION.

ROLL VTR

3. TOWN PLANNERS-VTR

THE INSTITUTE OF TOWN PLANNERS LAST WEEK WARNED THAT THE

COASTAL BELT AND THE CENTRAL HILL COUNTRY ARE PRONE TO
MAJOR NATURAL DISASTERS IN THE FUTURE.

THE TOWN PLANNERS WHO MET THE MEDIA IN COLOMBO ON TUESDAY

TO MARK THE THEIR 25TH ANNIVERSARY, ADDED THAT PERADENIYA,
MATALE, AND KOTTE ARE AMONG THE RISK AREAS.

THEY RECOMMENDED THAT PROMPT AND EXTENSIVE TOWN PLANNING IN

THE NEXT FEW YEARS WOULD HELP AVERT THIS POSSIBLE DANGER
AND THE LIVES AND PROPERTIES OF THOUSANDS.

ROLL VTR
4. TEA – VTR

THE SRI LANKA TEA BOARD LAST FRIDAY ANNOUNCED THE DECISION
TO WAIVE THE DOCUMENT LODGMENT FEES CHARGED FROM EXPORTERS
WHO SUBMIT CUSTOMS DECLARATION FORMS OR CUSDEC’S ONLINE.

THIS STEP WAS TAKEN TO ENCOURAGE TEA EXPORTERS TO USE THE

ONLINE SUBMISSION FACILITY WHICH WAS INTRODUCED BY E-
SERVICES LANKA LIMITED EARLIER THIS YEAR.

THE TEA BOARD SAYS THE TOP TEN EXPORTERS IN THE COUNTRY ARE
ALREADY UTILIZING THIS FACILITY.

ROLL VTR

5. VEHICLE EMISSIONS

THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR TRAFFIC HAS DECIDED TO INTRODUCE A

MANDATORY EMISSION TESTING CERTIFICATE FOR ALL MOTOR
VEHICLES STARTING FROM APRIL NEXT YEAR.

THIS STEP, AUTHORITIES SAY IS BEING TAKEN IN ORDER TO

MINIMIZE AIR POLLUTION VIA VEHICLE EMISSIONS, WHICH IS A
MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO THE CAUSE.

THIS WAS REVEALED TO THE MEDIA LAST WEEK IN COLOMBO.

ROLL VTR

BREAK
AND NOW FOR A LOOK AT MORE NEWS IN
BRIEF,
1. POLIO

THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH URGES ANY PERSON TRAVELING TO INDIA

ON A PILGRIMAGE TO OBTAIN AN ORAL POLIO VACCINATION AS A
PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE.

THIS APPEAL MADE DURING A PRESS BRIEFING AT THE HEALTH

MINISTRY LAST THURSDAY, COMES IN THE WAKE OF THE WORLD
HEALTH ORGANIZATION NOTIFYING THE MINISTRY THAT 4 NEW CASES
OF POLIO HAVE BEEN DETECTED IN INDIA’S BUDDA-GAYA WHICH IS
A POPULAR PILGRIM DESTINATION SITUATED IN THE STATE OF
BIHAR.

THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE W.H.O. AND

THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR CERTIFICATION OF POLIO
ERADICATION HAS URGED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC VISITING INDIA
ON PILGRIMAGES TO OBTAIN THE ORAL POLIO VACCINATION FREE OF
CHARGE FROM ANY MEDICAL OFFICERS OF HEALTH ISLAND WIDE,
PREFERABLY TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.

ANY INDIVIDUAL MAKING SUCH A PILGRIMAGE CAN ALSO OBTAIN THE

VACCINATION AT THE PORT HEALTH OFFICE OR THE AIRPORT HEALTH
OFFICE SITUATED AT THE BANDARANAIKE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT,
WHICH HEALTH OFFICIALS STRESS, IS VITAL TO KEEP SRI LANKA
FREE OF POLIO.

READ ON

2. TRAVEL ADVICE – CARD

UNITED KINGDOM HAS AMENDED ITS TRAVEL ADVICE TO SRI LANKA

CAUTIONING ITS CITIZENS TO AVOID VISITING THE YALA NATIONAL
PARK DUE TO SECURITY CONCERNS.

THE UK GOVERNMENT HAS SAID, QUOTE “WE ADVISE AGAINST ALL

TRAVEL TO YALA NATIONAL PARK” UNQUOTE.

THE AMENDED TRAVEL ADVICE ALSO SAYS THAT SINCE OCTOBER 2007
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INCIDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN
THE PARK AND IT IS CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO SECURITY
CONCERNS.

READ ON
3. ADB RESEARCH - CARD

THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK SAYS IT HAS DECIDED TO INVEST

1.2 MILLION DOLLARS TO PROMOTE REGIONAL ECONOMIC
COOPERATION IN SOUTH ASIA BY BOOSTING THE REGION’S RESEARCH
CAPACITY.

ACCORDINGLY THE GRANT WILL GO INTO STRENGTHENING THE

REGION’S RESEARCH INSTITUTES, THINK TANK AND EXPERTS OF
SEVEN COUNTRIES INCLUDING SRI LANKA.

THE GRANT COVERS AREAS SUCH AS CONSULTANCY SERVICES,

REGIONAL CONFERENCES, RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PUBLICATIONS,
WHICH THE ADB SAYS HELPS MOLD PUBLIC OPINION.

READ ON….

AND IN CORPORATE WRAP,

1. CEYLINCO – VTR

CEYLINCO TAKAFUL INSURANCE LIMITED LAUNCHED A NEW INSURANCE

SCHEME RECENTLY BACKING THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR.

ACCORDING TO THE INNOVATIVE NEW SCHEME, DAIRY FARMERS CAN

NOW INSURE THEIR “MILKING COWS”.

UNDER THE INSURANCE SCHEME, COMPENSATION WILL BE PAID TO

THE OWNER OF THE INSURED COW IN THE EVENT OF ITS DEATH
CAUSED BY NATURAL CAUSES, WHILE COMPENSATION WILL ALSO BE
MADE AVAILABLE IN CASE OF TOTAL DISABILITY.

THE SCHEME ALSO MEETS MEDICAL EXPENSES IN THE EVENT THE

INSURED COW MEETS WITH AN ACCIDENT.

READ ON

2. CEYLINCO VIP – VTR

CEYLINCO INSURANCE LAST WEEK INTRODUCED ANOTHER SET OF

BENEFITS TO ITS “CEYLINCO VIP” CUSTOMERS, WHICH THE company
SAYS IS YET ANOTHER REVOLUTIONARY INNOVATION.

THE BENEFITS TITLED “VIP 3 IN ONE” AIMS TO OFFER AN

ADVANCED SERVICE TO ITS EXISTING CUSTOMERS AND ATTRACT NEW
ONES TO ITS VIP FOLD.
ENHANCING THE INSURED VALUE OF THE VEHICLE BY 10 PERCENT
EVERY YEAR IS ONE NEW BENEFIT OUT OF THE 3 OFFERED.

THE INSURANCE FIRM SAYS THAT DESPITE THESE LATEST OFFERINGS

THE PREMIUM CHARGED FROM CUSTOMERS WILL REMAIN SAME.

ENDS.

3. ABANS

THE NEXT@ABANS TECHNO SHOW KICKED OFF RECENTLY AT THE GRAND

BALLROOM OF THE HOTEL GALADARI WHERE SEVERAL OF THE LATEST
I.T. PRODUCTS WERE UNVEILED.

WORLD RENOWN BRANDS IN LAPTOPS, DESKTOPS AND ACCESSORIES

SUCH AS LG, HP, MICROSOFT, IBM AND TOSHIBA JUST TO NAME A
FEW WHICH ARE SOLD AT NEXT@ABANS WERE ON DISPLAY AT THE
TEHNO SHOW.

THE SHOW ALSO SAW THE UNVEILING OF THE LG PIANO LAPTOP, THE
LG CORE2 QUAD WITH FINGERPRINT READER AND THE PANASONIC
WIRELESS MULTIMEDIA PROJECTOR AMONG OTHERS.

READ ON

BREAK
WEEKLY FOCUS
QATARI CONSTRUCTION

IN THE PAST FEW YEARS SRI LANKA’S CONSTRUCTION SECTOR

EXPERIENCED A RENAISSANCE AND SOON BECAME A THRUST AREA OF
THE ECONOMY.

BUT EXPERTS SAY NOW THAT THE POST TSUNAMI RECONSTRUCTION

WORK IS DRYING UP, THE LOCAL INDUSTRY WILL HAVE TO VENTURE
BEYOND BORDERS TO MAINTAIN ITS HEALTHY GROWTH.

WITH THIS IN MIND THE CHAMBER OF CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

ORGANIZED A 20 MEMBER LOCAL CONSTRUCTION CONTINGENT TO
EXPLORE FUTURE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN ONE OF THE FASTEST
GROWING ECONOMIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

ROLL VTR

…………………………FROM………………………TELLS US WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE STOCK

MARKET IN THE COMING WEEK

AND THAT’S A LOOK AT BIZ ROUND UP FOR THIS WEEK, THANKS FOR
WATCHING, GOOD NIGHT!