New hotel training programme
Veteran actor and comedian Wilson Gunaratna, addressing parents and students participating at the recent launch of the “Sathkaraye Shrama Sena – Hotel Operations Multitasker Programme” conducted by the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management in collaboration with the Samurdhi Development Department. The programme aims to develop essential skills of youth preparing them as [...]
Govt. moves ahead with landmark Public Private Partnership Law
Sri Lanka’s Public Private Partnership (PPP) Act will soon be introduced by the government with the enabling bill having been prepared by the Finance Ministry. The law has been framed to give a holistic legal and institutional base for PPP projects in Sri Lanka and create a dedicated National Agency for Public Private Partnerships to [...]
Malpractices at Coastal Leisure Park project
When the government introduced the Coastal Leisure Park Development Project under its “Clean Sri Lanka” national programme, it had promised to transform 43 coastal belts in 14 districts into leisure havens. With pathways, viewing points, and greenery, tourism was to be developed while creating much-needed recreational facilities for citizens. But at Mahamodara Beach in Galle, [...]
INFOTEL sparks interest in digitalisation efforts
The National Cyber Security Operations Centre (NCOC), which will detect real-time threats and monitor them, will be operationalised soon, a top official said. The NCOC, established with the support of the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team and the Ministry of Digital Economy, plays a pivotal role in this initiative operating, 24/7, providing monitoring, threat [...]
New Tourism Act eyewash to fend off high spending?
Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is today seeking much-needed support from the state to carry out promotions and changing of the 2005 Tourism Act is being seen as an eyewash by the industry something the government insists is a requirement to move ahead, industry officials said. Cabinet approval was granted to the Tourism Ministry to carry [...]
Manufacturing firms leap from factories to pharmacies
Manufacturing companies in Sri Lanka are venturing into the most unlikely of industries, such as pharmaceutical manufacturing, owing to the large import substitution opportunity, high growth potential, and the capacity to earn foreign exchange through exports of generic drugs and herbal medicines. Maliban Biosimilars Pvt Ltd, which is part of the Maliban biscuit manufacturing group, [...]
W-Terminal II EOI next year, says SLPA MD
The Colombo Port is likely to get busier as authorities are planning to call for an Expression of Interest (EOI) for West Terminal II next year. Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Managing Director Ganaka Hemachandra told The Sunday Times Business that currently the detailed designing of the terminal is being carried out. And prior to [...]
Labour pains
I watched with relish, from the kitchen window, just as Aldoris, the choon-paan karaya, stopped at the gate. I was hankering for a ‘maalu paan’ and this time Aldoris was singing a different tune – meaning playing a new song on his battered loudspeaker. It was the newest creation by the legendary Gypsies and the [...]
Sri Lanka’s FTA allergies
Why did Sri Lanka fail to convince investors to do business and get its exports right for decades unlike our neighbouring countries? Sri Lanka’s export earnings remained as low as US$13 billion, while neighbouring countries now record export values in the range of $200–500 billion? Or to put it differently, as we know Sri Lanka [...]
NEXUS probes SL’s next economic steps
The current stabilization mix in Sri Lanka has suppressed investment—the essential driver of expansion, says Shiran Ilanperuma, Researcher, Tricontinental Institute for Social Research, Journalist and a Political Economist. Speaking at the 4th Public Policy Dialogue Forum organised by the NEXUS Research Group held recently in Colombo, he said this highlighted weak net fixed capital formation [...]
CEAT acquires CAMSO unit business
CEAT Ltd has made a substantial advancement in its Off-Highway Tyres (OHT) growth strategy by officially acquiring Michelin Group’s CAMSO Construction Compact Line Business, including their Sri Lanka-based Midigama plant and Casting Product plant in Kotugoda. This transaction also grants CEAT global ownership of the CAMSO brand, which will be permanently assigned across categories after [...]
Englander mattresses available in Sri Lanka
Richard Pieris & Company PLC, one of Sri Lanka’s largest and most diversified conglomerates, recently introduced Englander International, a globally recognised brand in mattress technology, to the Sri Lankan market. The store reaffirms Richard Pieris Group’s dedication to offering its customers cutting-edge innovation, comfort, and craftsmanship. Now licensed to produce Englander Mattresses in Sri Lanka, [...]
SL secures Japanese Projects’ restart
Sri Lanka’s efforts to restore investor confidence are paying off, with Japanese-funded development projects restarting after 2-3 years of suspension. The clearest signal came this week as the government marked the completion of the Habarana-Veyangoda Transmission Line Project, a long-stalled initiative that has now become the first major Japanese-backed project to be completed since the [...]
Domestic Workers Union continues advocacy efforts
Earlier this year in January, worker-leaders from the Domestic Workers Union of Sri Lanka (DWU) travelled from across Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Batticaloa, Kandy, Colombo, Hatton, and Maskeliya to meet with the Deputy Minister of Labour, Mahinda Jayasinghe. They discussed the issues they faced, highlighting the need for legal protection, and presented him with a legal [...]
CCCI applauds Northern coconut triangle initiative
This week’s launch of the Northern coconut triangle by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is a step towards unlocking the full potential of the coconut industry and uplifting rural livelihoods in the northern province of Sri Lanka, the Ceylon Chamber of Coconut Industries (CCCI) said in a statement recognising this landmark development. Coconut has long been [...]
Ogilvy Sri Lanka wins at Dragons of Sri Lanka
Ogilvy Group Sri Lanka won multiple awards across advertising, digital, and media categories at the 2025 Dragons of Sri Lanka Awards recently, the company said in a media release. Phoenix Ogilvy secured the Silver Award in the “Innovative Idea or Concept” category for its campaign for SriLankan Airlines titled, The Ramayana Trail. The campaign was [...]
Dilmah Tea recognised at Reuters Global Sustainability Awards
Dilmah Tea has been named a finalist at the Reuters Global Sustainability Awards 2025, honoured for its leadership in supply chain decarbonization towards Net Zero. It is the only Sri Lankan brand recognised in this category, the company said in a media release. This recognition reflects Dilmah’s ambitious, science-based climate commitments validated by the Science [...]
Sri Lanka opens banana tissue lab
The North Central Provincial Department of Agriculture recently inaugurated a state-of-the-art Banana Tissue Culture Planting Material Production Laboratory at the In-Service Training Institute in Maha Illuppallama, North Central Province, with technical assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) under the South-South Cooperation (SSC) Programme with the People’s Republic of China. [...]
NDB Bank’s SME loan to drive business growth
NDB Bank’s SME Re-Energizer Loan is designed to fuel the growth ambitions of Sri Lanka’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and start-ups. Launched in collaboration with the Sri Lankan Government, this timely initiative underscores NDB’s role as a steadfast partner in enabling entrepreneurship and empowering businesses that form the backbone of the national economy, [...]
Maliban wins Gold at Dragons of Sri Lanka
Maliban, Sri Lanka’s iconic biscuit manufacturer with a legacy spanning over 70 years, has secured 1 Gold, 1 Silver, and 3 Black Dragons across multiple categories at the Dragons of Sri Lanka Awards 2025, in its first attempt. The Dragons of Sri Lanka, part of the prestigious Dragons of Asia network, celebrate breakthrough creativity and [...]
CMA’s 25 years of management accounting leadership
The Institute of Certified Management Accountants of Sri Lanka (CMA Sri Lanka) will be celebrating 25 years of management accounting leadership with the inauguration of its landmark Silver Jubilee International Management Accounting Conference 2025 on September 16 followed by the Technical Sessions the following day at Cinnamon Life, Colombo, under the theme ‘Redefining Management Accounting: [...]
Sri Lanka’s New Rs.2000 Note: Stability for Prosperity
On August 29 the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CB) marked its 75th anniversary with the release of a commemorative Rs 2000 note. At first glance, the blue, green, and purple design is striking, and the inclusion of landmarks and motifs seems celebratory. Yet, a closer look reveals several unusual features, departures from tradition, and [...]
DMS Software Technologies, Rajarata University sign MoU
DMS Software Technologies and Rajarata University of Sri Lanka entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking a significant step towards strengthening collaboration between academia and the corporate sector. The ceremonial signing took place at the university premises on August 28. The DMS delegation was led by Lasantha Bogoda, Director and CEO, alongside Aruna Basnayake, [...]
Policy certainty vital for growth of Ceylon Tea
Sri Lanka’s tea industry wants stability in terms of government policies to ensure commercial progress that will increase investments into the sector, the apex plantation body stated at an annual gathering. This industry’s future depends on the adoption of technology, raising productivity, consolidating for scale, diversifying on science, and policy certainty on leases and agreed [...]
SL small businesses, women entrepreneurs encouraged in AI strategy
Special attention will be given to Sri Lanka’s small and medium enterprises and women entrepreneurs, providing them with dedicated support and incentives to embrace AI technologies through the country’s AI strategy. Acknowledging that the private sector plays a crucial role in driving innovation and economic growth in the country, Digital Ministry officials emphasised the importance [...]
SL’s Renewable Energy Sector: No clear direction
Sri Lanka’s renewable energy (RE) journey has seen moments of great promise, but today it finds itself in limbo. The lack of a clear policy framework and implementation mechanism has left the solar industry, once a beacon of progress, struggling to survive. The government’s shifting stance on feed-in tariffs (FIT) has created uncertainty, discouraging both [...]
Is Trump the President of Europe?
PARIS – EU leaders “jokingly call me the president of Europe,” Donald Trump claimed at a recent press conference. As bizarre as that sounds, it does have a slight ring of truth. For seven months, Europe has desperately sought to placate the US president, usually with groveling displays of sycophancy designed to play to Trump’s [...]
ComBank champions QR innovation at Dambulla
The Commercial Bank of Ceylon recently reaffirmed its position as a trailblazer in digital payments and one of the main drivers of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s (CB) island-wide initiative to promote QR payments, when it actively championed QR-based financial transactions at the CBSL ‘Pay Digital Dambulla’ Promotional Campaign. Held at the Dambulla Dedicated [...]
Hishan Singhawansa, new CEO of Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts
Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts, has appointed Hishan Singhawansa as its new Chief Executive Officer, unveiling the vision to strengthen the brand’s role as one of the largest contributors to Sri Lanka’s tourism sector and position the country’s standing as a global destination. With 17 years at John Keells Group (JKH), Mr. Singhawansa takes on the [...]
Ceylinco Life’s premium income of Rs. 22.45 bn in 1H’25
Ceylinco Life’s premium income for the six months ending June 30, 2025 was up 12.5 per cent over the corresponding period of last year, while investment and other income for the period totalled Rs. 14.04 billion, resulting in consolidated income growing by 7.3 per cent, according to the company’s financial statements released to the media. [...]
WindForce’s new Employee Share Option Scheme
WindForce PLC recently launched its Employee Share Option Scheme (ESOS), following shareholder approval at the Extraordinary General Meeting held on August 21, 2025. The introduction of ESOS marks a significant step in recognising and rewarding the contribution of employees, while also reinforcing the company’s commitment to creating a culture of ownership, motivation, and shared success. [...]
Hambantota Port’s marine biodiversity hotspot
A new baseline study by the Department of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, at Ocean University of Sri Lanka has revealed a thriving ecological marvel beneath the waters of Hambantota International Port (HIP). Despite being an artificial breakwater, the reef at HIP now supports the highest diversity of reef-associated fish in Southern Sri Lanka, outperforming natural [...]
People’s Bank’s Mini POS Payment Solution
People’s Bank has officially launched its Mini POS merchant payment solution, aimed at strengthening financial inclusion and supporting the national digital economy plan. The official launch event was recently held through the collaborative efforts of the People’s Card Centre and the Liberty Plaza Branch. At the event, the first five Mini POS devices were presented [...]
Driver demerit-point system rollout delayed
Sri Lanka’s road crisis has come to a point of no return, yet the much-awaited driver demerit-point system remains in bureaucratic oblivion. Despite the awarding of its contract in September 2024 the system is yet to be launched, with errant drivers walking scot-free and thousands of lives at risk. The 2024 official figures paint a [...]
Building values-driven organisations
In a world obsessed with scale and speed, we often overlook the quiet strength of small beginnings. Yet, history and experience shows us that the most transformative organisations – those that shape industries, communities, and even nations – often start with little more than a dream, a handful of committed individuals, and a deep sense [...]
Restore Japanese investor confidence in SL, key diplomat says
There is a need to need to restore Japanese investors’ confidence in the economic landscape in Sri Lanka following the recent economic crisis, Japanese Ambassador in Sri Lanka Akio Isomata has said. Speaking at the recent AGM of the Sri Lanka – Japan Business Council (SLJBC) held in Colombo, the ambassador underscored the importance of [...]
EDB’s awareness session for handicrafts, toy sectors
The Export Development Board (EDB) recently conducted a specialised awareness session for potential exporters in the handicrafts, giftware, lifestyle, and toy sectors. The programme brought together 100 Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs from these sectors, who demonstrated strong potential to enter export markets, the EDB said in a media release. Welcoming the participants, Ms. [...]
Growth prospects at SL’s Economic Summit
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce will open the Sri Lanka Economic & Investment Summit 2025 on 2nd December at the Shangri-La Colombo with an eminent line-up that sets the stage for two days of high-level dialogue. Conducted this year under the theme ‘Gateway to Growth – Asia’s Emerging Opportunity’ the day will begin with opening [...]
CMU concerns over new labour law reforms
The Ceylon Mercantile Union (CMU) has urged workers to fight against attempts to repeal some existing laws with the aim of attracting foreign investors. “Almost all tax bills have been repealed with the aim of encouraging and providing concessions to Chinese investors in the port city, and the only law that provided job security to [...]
Thunder & Neon, first signage manufacturer to be ISO certified
Thunder & Neon (Pvt) Ltd, announced a key milestone this month by becoming the first and only signage manufacturer in the country to achieve the ISO 9001:2015 certification for robust quality management. The prestigious ISO label of quality was conferred after a rigorous audit of internal processes, and confirms the company’s standards as on par [...]