ATTN: MS ANNIKA SENANAYAKE

RUNDOWN
THE STATE OF BUSINESS – 30TH JAN, 2008

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY VTR RAVI

CEPA VTR SAMANTHA 1:50

T-BILLS

ADD DEALING ROOM BRIDGE

WIJAY@ SAMPATH

ADD STATE OF BUSINESS BRIDGE

MAS VTR SAMANTHA 1:30

ADD CORPORATE BRIDGE

ROYAL CERAMICS CARD RIYAD 0:45

STANDARD CHARTERED VTR ANOUK 1:30

ADD STOCK WATCH BRIDGE

STOCK UPDATE CARDS 01.30

CURRENCY CARDS 00.20

LINE UP EDITOR: ANOUK

ANCHOR: ANOUK
HEADLINES
1. EXPERTS SAY 35% ELECTRICITY TARIFF INCREASE NECESSARY FOR CEB TO
BREAK EVEN, AND
2. INCLUSION OF TRADE IN SERVICES VITAL FOR EXPLOITING POTENTIAL OF
CEPA SAYS MINISTER
1. ENERGY - VTR

AMIDST REPORTS OF A POSSIBLE ELECTRICITY TARIFF HIKE ENERGY EXPERTS

POINT OUT THAT THE CEYLON ELECTRICITY BOARD WILL HAVE TO INCREASE
RATES BY AT LEAST 35% TO BREAK EVEN.

THIS WAS STATED BY ENERGY EXPERT DR. TILAK SIYAMBALAPITIYA TODAY

WHEN WE INQUIRED FROM HIM AS TO WHAT CONSUMERS SHOULD EXPECT IF THE
CEB INCREASES ELECTRICITY TARIFFS.

CEB OFFICIALS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED TO THE MEDIA THAT A PRICE HIKE IS

AN OPTION THEY ARE LOOKING AT IN ORDER TO CUT DOWN PRESENT LOSSES
EXPERIENCED DUE TO SELLING ELECTRICITY AT LOWER RATES.

ROLL VTR

2. CEPA- VTR

MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE PROFESSOR G.L PIERIS SAYS THE

INCLUSION OF TRADE IN SERVICES TO THE COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC
PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO ENTER INTO WITH
INDIA IS VITAL TO DRIVE THE ECONOMY.

PROFESSOR PEIRIS MADE THIS COMMENT LAST EVENING WHEN HE ADDRESSED A

SEMINAR ATTENDED BY A GROUP OF ENGINEERS IN COLOMBO ON THE PROPOSED
TRADE AGREEMENT.

ROLL VTR

3. NOW WE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS WEEK’S TREASURY BILL PRIMARY MARKET

AUCTION RATES
4. WIJAY DAMBAWINNE FROM SAMPATH BANK GIVES US AN OVERVIEW OF THIS
WEEK’S DEALING ROOM OPERATIONS

BREAK

5. MAS- VTR

MAS HOLDINGS ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF THE MAS INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT

AND TECHNOLOGY OR MIMT LOCATED AT THE MAS FABRIC PARK, THULHIRIYA.

THE CEREMONIAL OPENING OF MIMT WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED AT AN

INVESTMENT OF 1 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW.

THIS WAS STATED AT A MEDIA BRIEFING HELD IN COLOMBO RECENTLY.

ROLL VTR

6. CORPORATE
ROYAL CERAMICS 3QF’08

SRI LANKA’S LARGEST CERAMICS MANUFACTURER ROYAL CERAMICS LANKA

LIMITED HAS POSTED HEALTHY 3RD QUARTER RESULTS FOR THE 2007/2008
FINANCIAL YEAR AS NET PROFIT HAS RISEN BY 58.3% YEAR ON YEAR TO
168.2 MILLION RUPEES.

CUMULATIVE EARNINGS FOR THE CURRENT YEAR HAVE GROWN BY 41.7% YEAR ON
YEAR TO 363.1 MILLION RUPEES AS REVENUE FOR THE QUARTER HAS
INCREASED BY 36.3% TO 950 MILLION RUPEES, WHILST CUMULATIVE REVENUE
DURING THE FIRST 3 QUARTERS OF 2007/2008 HAS ALSO NOTCHED UP 36.5%.

DOMESTIC SALES IS STILL VERY VIBRANT WITH 20% GROWTH, EVEN THOUGH 3 RD
QUARTER EXPORT VOLUMES HAVE EXPERIENCED A NEGATIVE GROWTH OF 14%
YEAR ON YEAR ON ITS LOW MARGIN CERAMICS EXPORTS.

CARD OUT

ANALYSTS STATE THAT THE COMPANY’S STOCK OFFERS GOOD VALUE ON 4.2
TIMES BOTTOM LINE FORECAST FOR THE 2008 FINANCIAL YEAR AND 2.8 TIMES
PROJECTED EARNINGS FOR THE 2009 FINANCIAL YEAR, WHILE TRADING ON 1.0
TIMES PRICE TO BOOK VALUE DURING THE 2008 FINANCIAL YEAR.

READ ON

7. STANDARD

THE REPLICA OF THE GOLDEN BATONS WHICH ARE TO BE AWARDED TO THE

WINNERS OF THE GREATEST RACE ON EARTH MARATHON ARRIVED IN SRI LANKA
YESTERDAY.

CREATED AND SPONSORED BY STANDARD CHARTERED BANK SINCE 2004, THE

GREATEST RACE ON EARTH IS NOW ENTERING ITS FOURTH SUCCESSFUL SERIES,
WITH 1.08 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS IN PRIZE MONEY.

THE BATON WAS WELCOMED BY THE NATIONAL MARATHON TEAM, ATHLETICS

ASSOCIATION OFFICIALS AND STANDARD CHARTERED BANK CEO AND MANAGEMENT
COMMITTEE MEMBERS.

ROLL VTR

BREAK

STOX
THE MARKET WAS ON POSITIVE GROUND TILL MID-DAY TODAY AND THEN LOST
MOMENTUM.

HAYCARB SAW A CROSSING OF 300,000 SHARES AT 40 RUPEES AND 50 CENTS.

DIALOG WAS THE HIGHEST TRADED COUNTER FOR THE DAY WITH 690,000
SHARES CHANGING HANDS. CEYLON GLASS FOLLOWED TRADING 360,000 SHARES
WHILE 330,000 HAYCARB SHARES ALSO CHANGED HANDS.

AITKEN SPENCE MADE THE MAIN CONTRIBUTION OF 13.53 MILLION RUPEES TO

THE DAY’S TURNOVER WHILE HAYCARB AND DIALOG INFUSED 13.51 MILLION
AND 12.52 MILLION RUPEES RESPECTIVELY.

FOREIGN BUYING WAS AT 44.3 MILLION WITH FOREIGN SELLING TAGGED AT

29.3 MILLION.

THE ALL SHARE SLIPPED 10.92 POINTS CLOSING AT 2,433.79 WHILE THE
MILANKA ENDED ON 3,091.62 AFTER LOSING 28.96 POINTS.

TURNOVER WAS AT 136.9 MILLION RUPEES.

THE DAY’S MAIN GAINERS WERE CEYLON BREWERY, KAHAWATTE, SERENDIB

HOTELS, MORISONS AND KEELLS FOOD, WHILE ARPICO, SEYLAN MERCHANT,
COLOMBO LAND, SIERRA CABLE AND TAJ LANKA LED THE LOSERS LIST.

JOHN KEELLS HOLDINGS AND COMMERCIAL LEASING MADE DIVIDEND

ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE DAY.

LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT TODAY’S FOREX RATES!

SEGMENT: MAIN
DATE: 30/01/08
REPORTER: RAVI
SLUG: ENERGY - VTR

AMIDST REPORTS OF A POSSIBLE ELECTRICITY TARIFF HIKE ENERGY EXPERTS

POINT OUT THAT THE CEYLON ELECTRICITY BOARD WILL HAVE TO INCREASE
RATES BY AT LEAST 35% TO BREAK EVEN.

THIS WAS STATED BY ENERGY EXPERT DR. TILAK SIYAMBALAPITIYA TODAY

WHEN WE INQUIRED FROM HIM AS TO WHAT CONSUMERS SHOULD EXPECT IF THE
CEB INCREASES ELECTRICITY TARIFFS.

CEB OFFICIALS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED TO THE MEDIA THAT A PRICE HIKE IS

AN OPTION THEY ARE LOOKING AT IN ORDER TO CUT DOWN PRESENT LOSSES
EXPERIENCED DUE TO SELLING ELECTRICITY AT LOWER RATES.

ROLL VTR

Dr. Thilak Siyambalapitiya

Energy Expert

Harsha Wickramasinghe
Deputy Director General
Sustainable Energy Authority

TAG

‘POWER CRISIS’
VOICE OVER/ENERGY/RAVI/30-01-08

VC - CEB
13:32
IN MY ESTIMATES CEB NEEDS AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT 14.50 RUPEES TO BREAK
EVEN. THAT IS WITHOUT PAYING DEBTS. TO MEET ALL THE FUEL EXPENSES
AND COMMITMENTS TO ALL PVT. POWER DEVELOPERS BOTH MINISTRY ALSO AND
THERMAL AS WELL AS TO MAINTAIN THE NETWORK AND MAINTAIN THE O/H AND
STAFF. PRESENT AVG. PRICE IS ABOUT 10.25 SO IN MY ESTIMATE CEB
SHOULD BE ASKING FOR A TARIFF INCREASE OF ABOUT 35%
14:15

IT IS IN THIS BACKDROP THAT A CONFERENCE WAS HELD IN COLOMBO TODAY

UNDER THE TITLE ‘ACHIEVING SUSTAINABILITY AND EQUITY IN ENERGY:
POLICY CHOICES FOR THE FUTURE’.

SPEAKING HERE AUTHORITIES URGED THE PUBLIC TO CONSERVE ELECTRICITY

WHICH WILL HELP CUT DOWN THEIR BILLS AND REDUCE THE USAGE OF COSTLY
FUEL TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY.

VC – HARSHA
39:03
IMPORTED FOSSIL FUEL WAS 160 BILLION. OUT OF WHICH WE COULD SAVE
MORE THAN 10% THROUGH VARIOUS SECTORS. 18 BILLION IS A VERY
CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE OF OUR LOSSES. IN 2007 THE TRANSPORT LOSSES
ALONE IS 20 BILLION.
39:37

END/
CORPORATE-FITCH

FITCH RATINGS LANKA HAS AFFIRMED THE NATIONAL RATING ON THE LEASE
BACKED TRUST CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY PEOPLES LEASING COMPANY TRUST
THIRTY TWO AT ‘A’ MINUS LANKA.

THE AFFIRMATION OF THE CURRENT RATING IS BASED ON THE UN-INTERRUPTED

PAYOUTS MADE TO LBTC INVESTORS DURING THE PERIOD UNDER REVIEW FROM
MARCH 2007 TO NOVEMBER 2007, THE AVAILABILITY OF CREDIT ENHANCEMENT
TO INVESTORS IN THE FORM OF PRINCIPAL OVER-COLLATERALIZATION, THE
MEETING OF THE DEBT SERVICE COVER TRIGGER, AND THE REPLACEMENT OF
DELINQUENT AND PRE-TERMINATED LEASE CONTRACTS IN JANUARY 2008.

AROUND 27% OF THE OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL ON THE NOTES WERE PAID OFF
AS AT NOVEMBER 2007, REDUCING THE BALANCE LBTC PRINCIPAL TO 296
MILLION RUPEES.

MONTHLY COLLECTIONS OF CURRENT DUES AND OVER-DUES AVERAGED 53% AND

52%, RESPECTIVELY, FOR THE PERIOD REVIEWED.

READ ON
SEGMENT: CORPORATE
DATE: 30TH JANUARY 2008
REPORTER: RIYAD R.
EDITOR: ANOUK T.
SLUG: ROYAL CERAMICS 3QF’08

VTR/FLASH

SRI LANKA’S LARGEST CERAMICS MANUFACTURER ROYAL CERAMICS LANKA

LIMITED HAS POSTED HEALTHY 3RD QUARTER RESULTS FOR THE 2007/2008
FINANCIAL YEAR AS NET PROFIT HAS RISEN BY 58.3% YEAR ON YEAR TO
168.2 MILLION RUPEES.

CARD IN

CUMULATIVE EARNINGS FOR THE CURRENT YEAR HAVE GROWN BY 41.7% YEAR ON
YEAR TO 363.1 MILLION RUPEES AS REVENUE FOR THE QUARTER HAS
INCREASED BY 36.3% TO 950 MILLION RUPEES, WHILST CUMULATIVE REVENUE
DURING THE FIRST 3 QUARTERS OF 2007/2008 HAS ALSO NOTCHED UP 36.5%.

DOMESTIC SALES IS STILL VERY VIBRANT WITH 20% GROWTH, EVEN THOUGH 3 RD
QUARTER EXPORT VOLUMES HAVE EXPERIENCED A NEGATIVE GROWTH OF 14%
YEAR ON YEAR ON ITS LOW MARGIN CERAMICS EXPORTS.

CARD OUT

ANALYSTS STATE THAT THE COMPANY’S STOCK OFFERS GOOD VALUE ON 4.2
TIMES BOTTOM LINE FORECAST FOR THE 2008 FINANCIAL YEAR AND 2.8 TIMES
PROJECTED EARNINGS FOR THE 2009 FINANCIAL YEAR, WHILE TRADING ON 1.0
TIMES PRICE TO BOOK VALUE DURING THE 2008 FINANCIAL YEAR.

READ ON

CARD

Royal Ceramics 07/08 Q3 Performance

Profits up by 58.3%

Cumulative earnings up by 41.7%

SEGMENT: CORPORATE
DATE: 30TH JAN 08
REPORTER: ANOUK
SLUG: STANDARD

THE REPLICA OF THE GOLDEN BATONS WHICH ARE TO BE AWARDED TO THE

WINNERS OF THE GREATEST RACE ON EARTH MARATHON ARRIVED IN SRI LANKA
YESTERDAY.

CREATED AND SPONSORED BY STANDARD CHARTERED BANK SINCE 2004, THE

GREATEST RACE ON EARTH IS NOW ENTERING ITS FOURTH SUCCESSFUL SERIES,
WITH 1.08 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS IN PRIZE MONEY.

THE BATON WAS WELCOMED BY THE NATIONAL MARATHON TEAM, ATHLETICS

ASSOCIATION OFFICIALS AND STANDARD CHARTERED BANK CEO AND MANAGEMENT
COMMITTEE MEMBERS.

ROLL VTR

SUPER

Clive Haswell- CEO

Standard Chartered Bank

TAG

‘GREATEST RACE ON EARTH’

VOICE OVER/ 30TH JAN 08/ STANDARD

THE GREATEST RACE ON EARTH IS THE WORLD’S ONLY MARATHON TEAM RELAY
SERIES, WHICH RUNS ACROSS NAIROBI, SINGAPORE, MUMBAI AND HONG KONG
WITH TEAMS FROM AROUND THE WORLD PARTICIPATING UNDER THE MALE AND
FEMALE CATEGORIES.

THE SRI LANKAN TEAMS CURRENTLY LEAD IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND SOUTH
ASIAN CATEGORY.

THE GOLD BATON WHICH ARRIVED IN SRI LANKA YESTERDAY IS A 9 CARAT,

300 GRAM, SOLID GOLD RELAY BATON THAT HAS BEEN SPECIALLY
COMMISSIONED FOR THE RACE AND IS AWARDED TO THE WINNING TEAMS OF THE
GREATEST RACE ON EARTH NATIONALS CHALLENGE.

THE GOLDEN SCROLL WHICH CONTAINS THE BATON CARRIES ENVIRONMENTAL

PLEDGES MADE BY STANDARD CHARTERED REPRESENTATIVES, SPORTS OFFICIALS
AND ATHLETES WHO PLEDGE TO TAKE ACTION IN SUPPORT OF THE
ENVIRONMENT.

VOICE CUT
(6:08)
THE COUNTRY THAT ATTRACTS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF ENVIRONMENTAL
PLEDGES PER CAPITA WILL RECEIVE $ 500,000 IN SUPPORT OF THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT. THE RESULTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED FOLLOWING THE
GREATEST RACE ON EARTH MARATHON IN HONG KONG ON MONDAY THE 18TH OF
FEBRUARY 2008 (6:32)
ENDS/
SEGMENT: MAIN
DATE: 30/01/08
REPORTER: SAMANTHA
SLUG: CEPA- VTR

MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE PROFESSOR G.L PIERIS SAYS THE

INCLUSION OF TRADE IN SERVICES TO THE COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC
PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO ENTER INTO WITH
INDIA IS VITAL TO DRIVE THE ECONOMY.

PROFESSOR PEIRIS MADE THIS COMMENT LAST EVENING WHEN HE ADDRESSED A

SEMINAR ATTENDED BY A GROUP OF ENGINEERS IN COLOMBO ON THE PROPOSED
TRADE AGREEMENT.

ROLL VTR

SUPER

Prof. G.L. Peiris- Minister

Export Development & International Trade

Tag

“IMPACT OF CEPA”
VOICE OVER/CEPA/SAMANTHA/30-01-08

THE SEMINAR WAS HELD UNDER THE TITLE “EXPORT AND IMPORT OF
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, OPPORTUNITIES FOR SRI LANKAN ENGINEERS”.

THE OBJECTIVE OF THE SEMINAR WAS TO INITIATE A DEEPER DISCUSSION ON

THE INCLUSION OF TRADE IN SERVICES UNDER THE PROPOSED CEPA
AGREEMENT.

SRI LANKA AND INDIA ARE LOOKING AT 12 MAIN SECTORS OF SERVICES WHICH
FILTER DOWN TO 155 SUB SECTORS SUCH AS TELECOMMUNICATION,
CONSTRUCTION, ENGINEERING, EDUCATION, ENERGY, ICT, TOURISM AND
HEALTH AMONG MANY OTHERS.

21:27
When you are talking about apparel, spices or gem and jewellery what
you are talking about, those banking sector is important, the
insurance sector is important, the it sector is important those are
the things that drive the engine so service are absolutely necessary
21:40

NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN SRI LANKA AND INDIA BEGAN IN 2004 TO EXPAND THE
FREE TRADE AGREEMENT INTO A COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP
AGREEMENT.

SO FAR SRI LANKA HAS HAD 11 ROUNDS OF NEGOTIATIONS UNDER THE CEPA
AGREEMENT WHICH IS YET TO BE FINALIZED DESPITE SEVERAL DEADLINES
BEING PUT IN PLACE EARLIER.

A MEETING BETWEEN THE TWO COMMERCE SECRETARIES IS SCHEDULED TO BE

HELD IN MARCH TO IRON OUT THE DIFFERENCES OF THE ALMOST-FINALIZED
DRAFT OF THE CEPA AGREEMENT SUCH AS ISSUES PERTAINING TO TRADE IN
SERVICES.

END/
STOX

THE MARKET WAS ON POSITIVE GROUND TILL MID-DAY TODAY AND THEN LOST
MOMENTUM.

HAYCARB SAW A CROSSING OF 300,000 SHARES AT 40 RUPEES AND 50 CENTS.

DIALOG WAS THE HIGHEST TRADED COUNTER FOR THE DAY WITH 690,000
SHARES CHANGING HANDS. CEYLON GLASS FOLLOWED TRADING 360,000 SHARES
WHILE 330,000 HAYCARB SHARES ALSO CHANGED HANDS.

AITKEN SPENCE MADE THE MAIN CONTRIBUTION OF 13.53 MILLION RUPEES TO

THE DAY’S TURNOVER WHILE HAYCARB AND DIALOG INFUSED 13.51 MILLION
12.52 MILLION RUPEES RESPECTIVELY.

FOREIGN BUYING WAS AT 44.3 MILLION WITH FOREIGN SELLING TAGGED AT

29.3 MILLION.

THE ALL SHARE SLIPPED 10.92 POINTS CLOSING AT 2,433.79 WHILE THE
MILANKA ENDED ON 3,091.62 AFTER LOSING 28.96 POINTS.

TURNOVER WAS AT 136.9 MILLION RUPEES.

THE DAY’S MAIN GAINERS WERE CEYLON BREWERY, KAHAWATTE, SERENDIB

HOTELS, MORISONS AND KEELLS FOOD, WHILE ARPICO, SEYLAN MERCHANT,
COLOMBO LAND, SIERRA CABLE AND TAJ LANKA LED THE LOSERS LIST.

JOHN KEELLS HOLDINGS AND COMMERCIAL LEASING MADE DIVIDEND

ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE DAY.

LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT TODAY’S FOREX RATES!

SEGMENT: MAIN
DATE: 29/01/08
REPORTER: SAMANTHA
SLUG: MAS- VTR

MAS HOLDINGS ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF THE MAS INSTITUTE OF

MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY OR MIMT LOCATED AT THE MAS FABRIC
PARK, THULHIRIYA.

THE CEREMONIAL OPENING OF MIMT WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED AT AN

INVESTMENT OF 1 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE
31ST OF THIS MONTH.

THIS WAS STATED AT A MEDIA BRIEFING HELD IN COLOMBO

YESTERDAY.

ROLL VTR

SUPER

Chandan de Silva – CEO

MAS Institute of Management and Technology

TAGS
“MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY”

Fully equipped auditorium

seats 300 people
VOICE OVER/MAS/SAMANTHA/29-01-08

THE MAS INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY IS A PUBLIC

TRAINING INSTITUTE WITH EXCEPTIONAL FACILITIES AND
INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING A FULLY EQUIPPED AUDITORIUM AND
17 TRAINING ROOMS INCLUDING LABS FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND
I.T.

MIMT’S PARTICULAR FOCUS WILL BE ON THE TEXTILE, APPAREL,

I.T AND BPO SECTORS.

IT WILL OFFER A HOST OF I.T PROGRAMMERS RANGING FROM

DIPLOMA LEVEL TO DEGREE PROGRAMMES IN ADDITION TO TECHNICAL
PROGRAMMES IN THE TEXTILE AND APPAREL INDUSTRY.

VOICE CUT- MIMT,CEO

03:36
I BELIEVE THAT IMPACT OF THE MIMT WILL SPREAD A LOT FURTHER
OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE MIMT THE TRAINING GROUND TO DEVELOP
INNOVATIVE MINES THAT WILL EMPOWER PEOPLE AND ENHANCE
INDUSTRY IN SRI LANKA AND BEYOND.
03:55

++

27:10
WE WILL DO DIPLOMA PROGRAMME IN TEXTILE TRAINING, THEY
WOULD BE YEARS DURATION AND WE WOULD OFFER SIMILAR DIPLOMA
AND PERHAPS EVEN HIGHER LEVEL PROGRAMME IN IT WHICH MIGHT
TAKE YEAR OR LONGER.
27/28

MAS ALSO PLANS TO LAUNCH THE MAS BUSINESS SCHOOL LATER IN

THE YEAR FOR SENIOR EXECUTIVES WITH THE FOCUS BEING
LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION.

END/