Business Times

Home » Business Times

Helicopter tours for tourists

Helicopter tours for tourists

With tourism on a roll these days, many tourists are using helicopters for sightseeing visits. Here two tourists inside a Senok Air helicopter at the Galle Face Green helipad in Colombo.   Pic by M.A. Pushpa Kumara

SEC reinforces its authority, heads roll

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has set fit and proper criteria for all major stakeholders of the capital market industry, after suspending three stockbrokers over alleged violations of securities law, while bringing in a high-powered NASDAQ surveillance system, which will go live within a month, top market officials said. SC Securities CEO – Roshantha [...]

BIA Master Plan assigned to Dutch firm

Haskoning DHV Nederland B.V, a Dutch consulting engineering firm, has been appointed to draft the master plan for the expansion project of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA). This master plan will concentrate on planning the future of the airport, taking into account capacity, efficiency, and passenger experience to ensure that it is able to accommodate [...]

Govt. readies to unveil Nation Branding campaign

The government is gearing up to launch a Nation Branding tourism campaign, to be unveiled at the end of the month. The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) has been preparing to launch a global promotion, over several months, targeting a number of key markets that will be able to cater to visitors targeting the [...]

CRIB launches new initiatives, products

With the deployment of advanced technological platforms, Credit Information Bureau (CRIB) introduced a national credit score, the CRIB Score, which now has a 70 per cent market adoption rate enabling robust risk evaluation and serving as reputational collateral in the absence of physical security, a top official said. “We are aligning ourselves with regional counterparts [...]

Hospitality finds new platform in hotel management companies

Sri Lanka’s hotel industry is expanding to an extent where some operations of a hotel are outsourced to management companies, an increasing new trend. A number of hotel management companies have taken over operations of at least 5 per cent of properties and hotels in the country amounting to around 100. A few of these [...]

Banks directed to extend more relief to SMEs

The Central Bank (CB) Governor, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe has instructed all CEOs of licensed commercial banks and licensed specialised banks to promptly put relief measures in place to help the impacted small and medium-sized businesses. In a letter to the CEO’s, he has said that the CB has observed that 1717 small and medium enterprise [...]

Conflict of interest

Conflict of interest

I was woken up on Thursday morning by a call from ‘Human Resource’ pundit HR Perera, popularly known as HR, who interestingly wanted to discuss conflict of interest. It seems we were on the same page, as I too had decided the previous day to discuss this issue in this Sunday’s column. Why? Our attention [...]

Digitalising the mess

Digitalising the mess

Nihal’s jeep was stopped by the traffic police for crossing the single line in the middle of the main road, while driving to Badulla from Colombo. He was transporting a group of foreign guests for an event in Badulla. As they navigated the winding mountain roads, he attempted to overtake a public bus that was [...]

Sri Lanka cuts foreign borrowing, boosts domestic financing

Sri Lanka has recorded a significant shift in its budget financing pattern, with official data showing net foreign debt repayments of US$ 0.09 billion (Rs. 27.9 billion) during the first four months of 2025. This marks a steep rise from the amount repaid in the same period last year, indicating that the government is continuing [...]

Prime Lands wins ‘Developer of the Year Sri Lanka’ at Singapore event

Prime Lands wins ‘Developer of the Year Sri Lanka’ at Singapore event

Prime Lands Residencies PLC was selected as ‘Developer of the Year – Sri Lanka’ at the Real Estate Asia Awards 2025 gala held on July 5 at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Center in Singapore. The event united Asia’s most influential real estate titans, industry pioneers, and investment leaders in an evening that [...]

SLNAC advancing Sri Lanka’s role in Regional Arbitration

The Sri Lanka National Arbitration Centre (SLNAC) represented the nation at the prestigious SCO Arbitration Forum recently, hosted by the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC). SLNAC Board Member, Prof. Chitra Weddikkara, attended the forum as Sri Lanka’s delegate and featured speaker, reinforcing the country’s growing role in international legal collaboration and cross-border [...]

Vallibel One reports strong FY24/25

Vallibel One PLC, a leading diversified holding company, during the year ending March 2025, has recorded consolidated revenue of Rs. 122.8 billion, reflecting a marginal year-on-year increase from Rs. 122.3 billion in the previous financial year. The group reported a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs. 16.02 billion and EBITDA of Rs. 34.5 billion, with [...]

Sri Lanka, with more than 160 ship wrecks, attractive destination for marine tourism

Sri Lanka, with more than  160 ship wrecks, attractive destination for marine tourism

Sri Lanka, with 167 ship wrecks submerged across its seas, is an ideal location for a niche tourism segment – marine tourism.  This view emerged at a weekend conference in Colombo organised by the newly-formed Indian Ocean Divers Association (IODA) where Sri Lanka’s potential as a sustainable tourism product was highlighted. So far dive tourism, [...]

DFCC Bank lists bond on India’s NSE International Exchange

DFCC Bank lists bond on India’s NSE International Exchange

DFCC Bank PLC has become the first foreign corporate entity to list a bond on the National Stock Exchange – International Exchange (NSE IX) at GIFT City, India – marking a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s capital markets and reinforcing DFCC Bank’s position as a regional leader in sustainable finance. This listing completes a strategic [...]

Adfactors PR Lanka declared APAC Agency of the Year

Adfactors PR Lanka declared APAC Agency of the Year

PROI Worldwide, the world’s largest partnership of entrepreneurial communications agencies with partners in 72 countries, has named Adfactors PR Lanka as its Agency of the Year (AOY) winner for the APAC region. The award was received by its CEO, Rezani Aziz, at the PROI Global Summit, held recently in Stresa, Italy, her company said in [...]

Pelwatte Dairy’s Pension Scheme for Dairy Farmers

In a historic move, Pelwatte Dairy Industries has announced the launch of Sri Lanka’s first pension scheme for dairy farmers, reinforcing its commitment to both national self-sufficiency and the welfare of the farming community. Pelwatte Dairy, one of Sri Lanka’s foremost homegrown dairy brands, has long been a pillar in the push to replace imported [...]

LOLC Al-Falaah Wadi’ah gold storage facility hits Rs. 3 b milestone

LOLC Al-Falaah, the Alternate Financial Services unit of LOLC Finance PLC, offers the ‘Wadi’ah Gold Storage Facility’, with alternative features to address conventional gold loan offerings. Driven by consistent and progressive growth, Wadi’ah has achieved a remarkable milestone by surpassing a benevolent cash-advance portfolio exceeding Rs. 3 billion. This momentous achievement signifies the growing demand [...]

Empowering Renewable Energy in Sri Lanka

As a patriotic layperson, I feel compelled to bring to the attention of the nation and our policymakers a critical discussion hosted online by a panel of highly distinguished academics and experts in the field of renewable energy. This initiative was voluntary, unbiased, and carried out solely for the benefit of the country. Sri Lanka [...]

Singapore firm joins with apparel manufacturer Hela

Q Collection Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based apparel manufacturer recognised for its operational excellence and product diversification, has announced the establishment of manufacturing operations in Sri Lanka with strategic support from Hela Apparel Holdings PLC, a leading global apparel solutions provider. As part of this process, Q Collection has acquired and assumed operational control of Hela [...]

Regional finalists for Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Competition 2025

The regional rounds of the Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Competition 2025 have concluded, with regional finalists announced in the Professional category. Organised by Nestlé Professional Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Chefs Guild of Lanka and the Sri Lanka Hospitality Graduates Association, the competition highlights emerging culinary talent across two categories: the Professional and the [...]

UK delegation visits Haleon’s Manufacturing Facility in Ratmalana

Haleon’s Sri Lanka manufacturing facility in Ratmalana, recently hosted UK’s Trade Envoy to Sri Lanka Lord Hannett of Everton who was visiting Sri Lanka with a high-powered delegation. He was accompanied by Andrew Patrick, British High Commissioner, Ms. Anna Shotbolt, Deputy Trade Commissioner, South Asia, Ms. Mara Waters, Director of Trade, Sri Lanka, Ms. Asanthi [...]

Government disburses over Rs. 1 t in SME support funds

The government is focused on revitalising and supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through financial assistance in the form of loans amounting to over Rs. 1 trillion, business development services, and measures to improve the operating environment, the Finance Ministry revealed. Over Rs. 1 trillion has already been disbursed to Small and Medium Enterprises via, [...]

Africa’s Creative Boom

WASHINGTON, DC – In February, Afrobeats singer Tems won the Grammy for Best African Music Performance. Her achievement underscores the genre’s growing popularity, exemplified by more than 15 billion streams on Spotify. It is also part of a broader cultural renaissance, as Africa’s creative industries – from music and film to fashion – rapidly expand [...]

CVF-V20 and Dilmah joins in sustainable agriculture and climate finance

CVF-V20 and Dilmah joins in sustainable agriculture and climate finance

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed in Colombo recently between the Climate Vulnerable Forum and V20 (CVF-V20) and Genesis by Dilmah, an agri-entrepreneurship and sustainability innovation hub. The MoU aims to strengthen collaboration on sustainable agriculture and low-carbon technology strategies in Sri Lanka. The partnership is a significant step toward harnessing innovative, climate-smart solutions [...]

Sri Lanka celebrates winners of Young Lions 2025

Sri Lanka celebrates winners of Young Lions 2025

Metal Factor, the Sri Lankan representative of the Cannes Lions programmes and the Sri Lankan advertising and marketing community has announced the winners of the Young Lions Competition 2025 and the Next Generation Leader 2025 initiative, both vital components in nurturing the next wave of creative leadership in the industry. The Young Lions Competition received [...]

HNB, Mediccon Health Care offer leasing solutions

HNB has partnered with Mediccon Health Care to promote leasing solutions for advanced medical diagnostic equipment across the country. Through this collaboration, HNB aims to facilitate greater access to cutting-edge medical diagnostic products, ensuring that, healthcare providers benefit from innovative and efficient solutions. This initiative is in line with HNB’s ongoing efforts to support key [...]

Ceylon Chamber to host Bangladesh delegation for trade talks

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the Sri Lanka – Bangladesh Business Council, will host a visiting business delegation from the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI), Bangladesh, on June 17 at the Hilton Colombo Residence. The delegation comprises 24 representatives from 22 Bangladeshi companies, spanning a wide range of sectors including [...]

DFCC Bank secures $12 m for Green Financing

DFCC Bank has supported businesses that aim to grow while minimising their environmental impact for years. Now, with a new US$12 million funding facility from European impact investment platform Symbiotics, the bank is scaling up that effort – this time with a focus on solar energy and small businesses across Sri Lanka, it said in [...]

Top IMF official visiting Sri Lanka on Sunday

Dr. Gita Gopinath, First Deputy Managing Director (FDMD) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka on June 15-16 June 2025, the Central Bank said on Tuesday. This visit is significant, as it marks the first time since 2005 that a serving FDMD of the IMF visits Sri Lanka. During this [...]

Association of Local Stationery Manufacturers launched

The Association of Local Stationery Manufacturers (ALSM) was officially inaugurated this week, marking a significant milestone for Sri Lanka’s stationery sector, under the aegis of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. Speaking at the event, the Chamber CEO Buwanekabahu Perera emphasised the importance of the stationery industry, which, despite being fundamental to the nation’s education and [...]

Advertising Rates

Please contact the advertising office on 011 - 2479521 for the advertising rates.