PORTFOLIO
CORPORATE PROFILE
1. FLAGSHIP PUBLICATION
Our corporate profile revolves around the company’s flagship publication Lanka Monthly Digest (LMD). Today, it is the only magazine with Superbrand status in Sri Lanka; the only magazine to be ranked among the top 100 unlisted brands in the country; and the only Sri Lankan magazine to win a Global Commerce Excellence Award.
2. CORPORATE STATEMENTS
VISION STATEMENT
“To become the nation’s most respected and influential media organisation.”
MISSION STATEMENT
“To be a benchmark for business in this country, cultivate a team of committed professionals, enhance the quality of life of team members who contribute to team performance, and contribute to the nation’s big picture.”
3. BUSINESS AGENDA
Sri Lanka’s ‘Voice Of Business’ strives to achieve excellence in business journalism that is comparable with the best magazines in the world. In Sri Lanka, it has pioneered concepts that are now benchmarks for other publications. LMD’s focus is uniquely on the big picture of Sri Lanka’s business landscape. This encompasses most of the burning issues which confront the nation – winning the peace, bribery and corruption, professionalism and ethics, politicisation, law and order, infrastructure, technology, productivity and poverty amongst others.
LMD was the only publication of its kind in Sri Lanka at the time it was launched. It continues to blaze a trail across the corporate landscape of this country.
4. READERSHIP
LMD enjoys a monthly readership of around 30,000-40,000 (a print run of 5,000 copies on average, read by six plus people a copy). LMD’s target readership comprises business and opinion leaders, and senior managers and professionals. It is increasingly read by the academic and diplomatic communities, and civil-society organisations. LMD’s CYBER EDITION is available on the Web at www.LMD.lk
5. CONTENT
LMD covers the gamut of business, politics, current affairs and management, catering to corporate leaders, directors, managers and executives, as well as anyone who is interested in both Sri Lankan and international corporate, economic, financial, political and current affairs. The layout of the magazine is in the form of a digest, which consists of the following segments.
BUSINESS
Contains Key Biz Indicators that include economic indicators such as stock market indices, interest and forex rates, price indices, and government debt and agricultural production, to name a few.
The LMD-Nielsen Business Confidence Index (or BCI) is the only measure of corporate sentiment in Sri Lanka. LMD’s monthly update is compiled in association with Nielsen and has been tracked for over two decades. The exclusive poll is based on a survey of 100 businesspeople in the City of Colombo, and compiled from answers to a series of questions on business conditions and expectations.
The magazine contains in-depth unbiased analyses and interviews with leading personalities in the corporate world, opinion shapers, key public figures and the next generation of business leaders.
LMD’s Business Forum segment focusses on critical issues that arise in Sri Lanka’s corporate landscape including unbiased opinions on problems that exist in major sectors of the economy and how they can be resolved.
LMD provides in-depth analyses of local and regional markets, and monthly industry updates.
The magazine also covers the latest trends in management including regular columns on leadership, IT, human resources, education and marketing.
CURRENT AFFAIRS
In-depth accounts of local and international current affairs including an up-to-date news briefing from AFP.
POLITICS
LMD provides an unbiased analysis of international and national political affairs, painting a broad picture of state proceedings and international events. Political perspectives are compiled by both local commentators and through foreign correspondents.
The magazine prides itself on being fiercely independent and apolitical.
6. THE LMD STORY
A one of a kind coffee-table publication records the inside story of Sri Lanka’s pioneering business magazine, and the team behind LMD and its publishing house Media Services. The book commemorates LMD’s first 15 years and is retailed at leading bookshops. |
7. ADVERTISER PROFILE
LMD boasts what is arguably the most high profile combination of advertisers in the nation’s print media (Refer ADVERTISER INDEX in LMD).
8. SUBSCRIBERS
Subscribers receive a complimentary desk calendar each year. Readers are entitled to substantial discounts on books via the LMD-VIJITHA YAPA BOOK CLUB.
Some of the biggest names in business are LIFETIME SUBSCRIBERS to LMD, a unique concept pioneered by Media Services in July 2001. This subscription base now exceeds 1,800.
Regular competitions in the magazine offer hotel and retail vouchers, and numerous gifts to winners.
9. CORPORATE SUBSCRIBERS
LMD’s corporate subscribers include AIA Insurance Lanka, HSBC, Nations Trust Bank, Nestlé Lanka, Pan Asia Bank, and Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technological Education.
10. IN-FLIGHT READERSHIP
LMD is available in flight to Business Class passengers on SriLankan Airlines.
11. RETAIL SALES
The magazine is sold at leading bookstores and supermarkets islandwide.
12. VALUE FOR MONEY
Advertisers in LMD enjoy exclusive monthly coverage of company news via the magazine’s Advertiser Forum segment. This consists of exclusive press releases of new products, launches and activities of media interest.
13. PRE-PRESS AND PRINTING
Our chief printer Softwave has won awards for both excellence and merit in selected categories including the coveted Master Printer award. Both LMD and Living have featured prominently in these awards.
14. INNOVATIONS
LMD has gained a reputation for innovation over the years. Some of its pioneering concepts and publications include the following.
THE LMD-NIELSEN BUSINESS CONFIDENCE INDEX (BCI)Refer section 5 (Content). |
SRI LANKAN OF THE YEARLaunched in January 1996, this has been an annual feature ever since. Nominees have included Lakshman Kadirgamar (1995), Deshamanya Arjuna Ranatunga and the Sri Lankan cricket team (1996), Deshabandu Sanath Jayasuriya (1997), Deshamanya Ken Balendra (1998), Deshamanya Dr. Lalith Kotelawala (1999), Deshabandu Susanthika Jayasinghe (2000), Chandra Jayaratne (2001), Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe (2002), K. N. Choksy (2003), Dayananda Dissanayake (2004), Sri Lankabhimanya Lakshman Kadirgamar (2005), Jayantha Dhanapala (2006), Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe (2007), Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya (2008), President Mahinda Rajapaksa (2009), Muttiah Muralitharan (2010), Kumar Sangakkara (2011), Pradeep Sanjaya (2012), Susantha Ratnayake (2013), the Sri Lankan Cricketer (2014), Mahinda Deshapriya (2015), Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy (2016), Jacqueline Fernandez (2017) and Dr. Asha de Vos (2018). |
SRI LANKAN BUSINESSPEOPLE – THE A-LIST
Our annual list of leading Sri Lankan Businesspeople is based on nominations received from LMD’s contributors, as well as an in-house think tank led by the editorial and senior management teams. Launched in 2010 as Businesspeople Of The Year (BOTY), ‘Sri Lankan Businesspeople – The A-List’ is a compilation of businesspeople who have gone the extra mile to do their country and organisations proud. Our annual hall of fame showcases 50 leaders from among the best in Sri Lanka’s corporate community. LMD’s collective think tank works on the basis of financial performance (with the LMD 100 being a key point of reference), corporate respect (LMD’s Most Respected rankings come into play here), branding successes (our Brands Annual says it all) and other dimensions including entrepreneurship, the spirit of innovation and all else that make for inspiring leadership.
THE 50 GREATEST SRI LANKANS SINCE INDEPENDENCE
A celebration of the achievements of Sri Lankans and Sri Lanka in the February 1998 issue of LMD, to coincide with the nation’s golden jubilee.
LIFETIME SUBSCRIPTIONS
Lifetime subscriptions were introduced on LMD’s seventh anniversary in July 2001.
THE LMD MALLThe LMD Mall was launched in 2015. As a fledgling e-commerce site, the mall offers books, magazines, clothing, electronics, home appliances, mobile phones and tabs, as well as vouchers from star class hotels and service establishments. |
LMD PODCASTSIn a day and age when reading time has shrunk while commuting from place to place is taking longer, LMD Podcasts offers an easy listening opportunity for LMD’s target audience who wish to be on top of current affairs and corporate matters. Made available for online streaming through SoundCloud, LMD Podcasts offers selected articles from the pioneering magazine that people can listen to while on the go. |
LMD WIREMedia Services’ LMD Wire – an integrated platform for smartphone users – is an easy to use mobile gateway to articles published in LMD, Living, Discover Sri Lanka and Dirimaga, along with Benchmark, BizTalk and Shutter Buzz videos. The LMD Mall can also be accessed on LMD Wire. Available for free download on Google Play Store, LMD Wire operates on Android phones. |
BIZTALKBizTalk brings industry experts and biz personalities closer to viewers through one-on-one interviews that focus on corporate performance, the economic outlook and dynamics of the business world. While each video is around 10 minutes long, BizTalk provides Media Services’ advertisers a platform to reach out to target audiences through online channels, which include LMD’s website, Facebook page and YouTube channel. |
TELEVISION PRESENCEEconomic perspectives from Sri Lanka’s corporate community – a weekly wrap of business, for business, by business. LMD provides and presents the content for this programme, which include the following:
|
15. OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Other Media Services publications include or have included the following.
LIVINGA glossy monthly roundup of leisure and entertainment, and travel destinations across the globe, Living was launched in September 2005. The self-styled ‘celebration of life’ features travel destinations; fashion spreads and up-and-coming young designers; interior décor and architecture; Hollywood stars in one-on-one interviews; food fads by celebrity chefs and restaurateurs; motor and sport reviews; health and wellness advice from the experts; and a touch of humour to put things into perspective – all of which make it a popular ‘must read.’ |
LMD 100A ranking of the leading listed companies in Sri Lanka, the LMD 100 has come to be known as ‘Sri Lanka’s version of the Fortune 500.’ First published in May 1995 as The LMD 50, it was the first of its kind in ranking listed companies in Sri Lanka. From financial year 2003/04, the rankings have been published as a stand-alone edition. |
MOST RESPECTEDThis stand-alone edition is published annually and represents yet another pioneering venture by Media Services. The ranking of Sri Lanka’s most respected entities is based on a survey of working people undertaken by leading multinational research firm Nielsen on behalf of Media Services. |
BRANDS ANNUALA Media Services publication, Brands Annual lists and profiles Sri Lanka’s leading brands. The launch issue of the yearly publication profiled the top 200 listed, public and private sector brands in the country. Brands Annual is arguably the most comprehensive analysis of brands in this country – the rankings and analyses are compiled by Brand Finance (UK). This stand-alone edition sets yet another benchmark for business media in Sri Lanka. |
DISCOVER SRI LANKAReleased in August 2009 as the Living Colombo Guide, this biannual publication was one of the most comprehensive city guides for tourists and residents. Relaunched in January 2017 as Discover Sri Lanka, this must-have quarterly guide covers the length and breadth of our island nation with listings ranging from airlines to clothing boutiques, and diplomatic missions to restaurants and more. This unique guide also contains handy maps, a distance chart covering large towns and cities, and helpful information, addresses and contact numbers. |
DIRIMAGAMedia Services’ foray into the Sinhala language medium aims at a wider audience of Sri Lankans covering both urban and rural communities, as well as a growing diaspora. It was launched as Vyápárika Handa in June 2010 – as the ‘Best of LMD’ in Sinhala. Dirimaga is now an online publication. |
ESSENCEEssence was launched on International Women’s Day in March 2021. The magazine celebrates women who have shattered the proverbial glass ceiling in corporate Sri Lanka. Featuring both local and international figures in the top echelons of business, Essence is an inspiration to women across Sri Lanka as they overcome societal and cultural barriers to embark on lifelong careers. |
VIBEVibe reaches out to Gen Z, covering travel, tech, food, fashion, exercise, entertainment and much more. Zoomers can check out trending topics in Vibe and draw inspiration – whether they are planning a vacation, a makeover of interior spaces or a weekend movie fest. Launched in March 2021, Vibe is a quarterly publication. |
AMBIENCECapturing the essence of modern architecture while linking it to the roots of the old, Ambience showcases smart homes where just about everything is remotely controlled. This annual edition also takes readers back in time to the ancestral homes of Ceylon that have been reinstated to their former glory. Published by Media Services – in collaboration with the National Construction Association of Sri Lanka (NCASL) – Ambience opens a window to the world of architectural marvels and utopian like spaces. |
INVEST SRI LANKAPublished in March 2018, INVEST Sri Lanka showcases the island’s investment potential while presenting must-have information to international investors – from administrative aspects such as visa formalities and tax structures, to a directory of useful contacts, and the facilities and services that the country offers. In the foreword to this coffee-table book, the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy notes that “the island’s resilient economy, together with its strategic advantages in terms of geographical position and well-educated workforce, sets the stage for the next chapter of economic progress as a knowledge based, export oriented economic hub.” Captioned as being about ‘a hub in the making,’ this one of a kind guide contains interviews with global business leaders as well as a number of Sri Lanka’s highly placed businesspeople. |
DRIVEA mandatory addition to the bookshelves of motoring enthusiasts, Drive made its mark on LMD Coffee-Tables in 2018. From classic cars and collector’s wheels, to racing legends and 21st century gadgets, this is a must-have for many. And for movie buffs, the sleek Bentleys, Aston Martins, Rolls-Royce and Mercedes-Benz cars that were featured in the James Bond films add a touch of Hollywood to the pages of this coffee-table book. |
MADE IN SRI LANKAIn collaboration with the National Chamber of Exporters (NCE) of Sri Lanka, Media Services published ‘Made in Sri Lanka’ – a coffee-table book dedicated to Sri Lankan exports – the first such publication focussing on the island’s export sector. Published in December 2018, Made in Sri Lanka covers many important areas relating to exports such as international trade relations, issues affecting the sector and new developments, as well as profiles of leading exporters, interviews with state organisations in relation to international trade and other information. This unique publication also highlights ‘Brand Sri Lanka’ from a Sri Lankan perspective whilst showcasing the services offered by the chamber to the exporter community – as the ‘voice of the exporter.’ |
LIONS OF SRI LANKA – CRICKET EDITIONLions of Sri Lanka traces the island’s cricketing history by highlighting the country’s 30 greatest cricketers since 1932. A fascinating look back in time to when cricket took hold in Sri Lanka in the pre-Test era, as well as a number of milestones of the modern era – including the historic 1996 ICC World Cup victory in Lahore and the 2014 ICC T20 World Cup in Dhaka – this coffee-table book is a keepsake for Sri Lanka’s cricket fans. |
INSPIRERocell’s quarterly magazine illustrates the timeless elegance of its range of sanitaryware, surface coverings and kitchens. Many elegant homes in Sri Lanka are adorned with aesthetically pleasing fittings, and wall and floor tiles from Rocell. Inspire is indeed an inspiration for elegant living. |
ABACUSAbacus is a quarterly journal published by Media Services in collaboration with and for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka). Featuring insights from leading figures and chartered accountants in the country on a range of topics of interest to accounting professionals, as well as others in the business sphere, Abacus also covers current affairs, tech trends and economic indicators. |
CINNAMONCinnamon Hotels & Resorts’ bimonthly publication Cinnamon made its debut in October 2015. Published in collaboration with Media Services, the lifestyle magazine is aimed at guests enjoying the hospitality of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts. Whether they are flying across Sri Lanka on Cinnamon Air, touring around the country by Cinnamon taxi or simply chilling out by the pool at one of the many Cinnamon properties, this stylish magazine makes for a refreshingly good read. |
CORPORATE HERITAGEThis coffee-table publication by LMD showcases Sri Lanka’s Corporate Heritage and was published in September 2013. This special edition explores the evolution of business in Sri Lanka, harking back to the country’s first trading practice established by George Steuarts in the 1830s to turn of the century entities such as C. W. Mackie and Perera and Sons, and others with a corporate legacy spanning over 50 years. |
SUPERBRANDSMedia Services has published all Sri Lankan editions of Superbrands for Superbrands Lanka. In order to be considered for Superbrand status, a brand needs to satisfy the criteria of exceptional quality, achievement of consumer trust and confidence and consistency in delivering on its promise. Our flagship publication LMD was amongst the 50 superbrands selected by the Superbrands Council in the inaugural Consumer Superbrands edition. |
LMD CLASSICSA coffee-table book, LMD Classics was released in August 2014 to commemorate the magazine’s 20th anniversary. The publication features the best of the best from the first Cover Story carried by Lanka Monthly Digest (LMD) to current affairs and sporting events across the globe. The book also features interviews with such luminaries as Sri Lankabhimanya Lakshman Kadirgamar and Sir Arthur C. Clarke, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, Imran Khan, Deshamanya Arjuna Ranatunga and Kumar Sangakkara, to heads of state, business leaders and corporate giants. LMD Classics celebrated LMD’s historic 20 year journey from 1994 to 2014. |
NOWArchitecture SRI LANKANOWArchitecture Sri Lanka – a collaboration between Media Services and the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA) – was published in February 2015. The coffee-table book explores the many facets of architecture in Sri Lanka featuring both commercial buildings and private residences of unique design. NOWArchitecture includes articles that were previously published in SLIA’s quarterly journal The Architect, as well as new features and corporate profiles. |
LIVING ICONSLiving Icons was published in August 2015 in celebration of the 10th anniversary of Living magazine. A coffee-table book featuring some of the best celebrity interviews that were published in Living over the last decade, Living Icons is a limited edition publication. With many local and international famous faces livening up its pages, Living Icons is a stylish addition to coffee tables in living rooms across Sri Lanka. |
SRI LANKA-ADB PARTNERSHIP (1966-2016)Published in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), this coffee-table book celebrates ADB’s 50 years of operations in Sri Lanka. Since its first loan to the island in 1968, the lending institution has partnered successive governments in Sri Lanka, helping uplift a range of industries and sectors. ADB has disbursed US$ 8.6 billion through loans, grants and technical assistance over the five decades since its establishment in the country in 1966. From rural electrification and road development, to projects covering education, transport and small industries, this coffee-table book illustrates ADB’s longstanding association with Sri Lanka. |
BENCHMARKING COMPETITIVENESSPublished in November 1999 in association with J. E. Austin Inc. (USA), the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) and ORG-MARG SMART (now Nielsen), this special issue focussed on competitiveness in South Asia and the global challenge. |
CRICKET WORLD CUP SPECIAL ISSUELMD’s 1999 World Cup Special Issue featured contributions from David Frith (former Editor of Wisden), Sidath Wettimuny and Anura Tennekoon, among other cricketing stalwarts. |
SRI LANKA TRAVEL PLANNERMedia Services was appointed official publisher of this annual travel publication by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board for a period of three years. The first two editions of the Sri Lanka Travel Planner were published in 1999 and 2000. The third edition, which was published in 2001, was renamed the Sri Lanka Travel Manual. |
SRI LANKA TRAVEL MANUALMedia Services published the nation’s official travel manual in 2001. The manual was Sri Lanka’s guide for international tour operators and travel agents. The venture followed the appointment of Media Services as publisher by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board. |
THE CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTMedia Services was commissioned to publish the journal of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka in 2004, commencing with the second issue for the year. |
ANNUAL REPORTSMedia Services produced the annual report of People’s Leasing Company (PLC) for two consecutive years |
