People’s Bank flying high
‘People’s Tower’, the slick new head office building of People’s Bank, was ceremonially declared open on Tuesday in Colombo 2. Seen here are the dignitaries at the event releasing balloons to mark the occasion. The shift to a new office complex is the first time since the People’s Bank head office was opened in Fort [...]
Bottlenecks at Colombo Port threaten exports, imports
Rumblings of discontent at Sri Lanka’s premier port, mainly at the two state-run terminals, among exporters and importers over long delays plus frustration among workers over what many see as ‘political’ transfers, may have forced the government to change the minister in charge of this key institution. On Friday, Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and [...]
Israel Stock Exchange among applicants for new exchange
Five parties have applied for the Multi-Asset Class Derivatives Exchange, while only the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) has applied to operate this exchange with the National Commodities Exchange of India. The Israel Stock Exchange is among the foreign parties that have applied. The Securities and Exchange Commission is in the process of reviewing these proposals [...]
Ceylon Tea facing worse price levels in 2 years
Ceylon Tea is currently facing its worse price levels in two years as the industry is incurring a high cost of production resulting in low demand and stiff competition from competitive markets. Sri Lanka is facing low prices with this year’s National Average currently at Rs.1160 and High Grown at Rs.1083 compared to 2022 figures [...]
1200 work visas required for foreigners in SL
Sri Lanka is currently in need of approximately 1,200 one-year work visas for foreign workers who have established offices in top locations and rented more than 200 apartments in Colombo, officials said. “They have set up officers in locations such as Shangri-La, Mireka, and Cinnamon Life, and have rented over 200 apartments in Trizen and [...]
SEC urges stockbrokers to expand beyond Colombo
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is reconsidering renewing stockbroker licences of broker firms which do not have branches outside of Colombo, officials said. The licence is renewed every three years. Out of the 25 stock brokers, only a handful has branches outside Colombo. The SEC, together with the market operator, the Colombo Stock Exchange [...]
Physician heal thyself
Have you ever encountered a situation where a doctor’s prescription is illegible and cannot, in some cases, even be read by the pharmacist (who generally is able to read such handwriting)? According to current practice, prescriptions by doctors appear as a ‘scrawl’ or ‘scribble’, not legible, with the patient often left wondering whether he or [...]
“Penny wise, pound foolish”
Why is Sri Lanka still dragging its feet on implementing FTAs with Thailand and Singapore?” Curious about the delay, I assumed there must be solid reasons behind it—so I did some digging. What I found was amazing. One response stood out: “If we implement the FTA with Thailand, motor cars manufactured there will enter Sri [...]
SMEs benefit from collateral-free loans
Sri Lanka’s small and medium enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs numbering around 77000 have been given a lifeline by providing access to loan facilities under a new scheme initiated under the 2025 budget, the Finance Ministry disclosed. It has met the biggest challenge for small business owners – providing loans without pledging property or other assets as [...]
Sri Lanka’s Silver Jewellers redefine tradition
Sri Lanka’s gem and silver jewellery industry, long famed for precision craft, is experiencing a strong comeback in export markets abroad powered by technology, export diversification, and government assistance. As evolving consumer tastes demand ethically produced, handmade items, the sector is redirecting itself to tap premium demand in Europe and Asia. According to the Export [...]
FentonsIT secures ‘Most Popular Technology Website’
FentonsIT, the information technology arm of Hayleys Fentons, has received the ‘Most Popular Technology Website’ Special Recognition at the recent BestWeb.LK 2025 Awards Ceremony. Presented under the Best Technology Website category, this award highlights FentonsIT’s outstanding digital strategy, customer-centric engagement, and innovative online solutions, enhancing brand presence and affirming its leadership as a premier technology [...]
Baby Cheramy launches ‘Baby Cheramy Diaper Helpdesk’
Baby Cheramy, Sri Lanka’s No. 1 baby care brand, has launched the country’s first-ever Generative AI-based diaper expert – the ‘Baby Cheramy Diaper Helpdesk’. This service reinforces Baby Cheramy Diapers’ role as a trusted parenting partner, offering parents instant, expert-validated guidance on diaper hygiene care, breaking language barriers by offering personalised guidance in Sinhala, Tamil [...]
Strong growth expected to slowdown in 2026
The World Bank forecasts a 4.6 per cent growth for Sri Lanka this year and believes the reforms in sectors like public institutions and land need to get underway even as the threat of malnutrition still looms and food prices continue to be high. With an incomplete recovery and a growth still below pre-crisis levels [...]
Elderly savers plead for relief as WHT deepens hardships
Sri Lanka’s decision to double the Withholding Tax (WHT) on interest income to 10 per cent has dealt a severe blow to thousands of senior citizens who depend entirely on their bank deposits to survive. For many retirees, the interest earned on years of careful savings is their only source of income used to buy [...]
Hello Amma’s Return-to-Work Workshop
Hello Amma, a pioneering social-impact initiative, has launched Sri Lanka’s first Return-to-Work Workshop to support mothers re-entering the workforce after career breaks. Held on September 30 at WSPACE Colombo, the event marked a milestone in advancing gender equality, workplace inclusivity, and sustainable growth in line with SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 8 (Decent Work [...]
DFCC Bank to launch Sri Lanka’s First Blue Bond
DFCC Bank has announced plans to issue Sri Lanka’s first-ever Blue Bond, targeting Rs. 3 billion to finance ocean, marine, and water-related investments across the country. Supported by the provision of technical assistance from the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) on the development of its Sustainable Bond Framework and through the provision of capacity building, [...]
Hayleys Travels wins gold at SATA awards
Hayleys Travels was honoured with the Gold Award for “Leading Travel Agency – Outbound” at the 9th South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) 2025, held recently at the Cinnamon Grand Colombo. The South Asian Travel Awards, recognised as the region’s premier platform celebrating excellence in tourism and hospitality, brought together industry leaders, tourism authorities, and partners [...]
HNB joins global lenders in $1 b-syndicated financing facility
Singapore-based Aster Chemicals & Energy Pte Ltd has successfully raised US$ 1 billion through an oversubscribed sustainability-linked syndicated term loan (SLL) facility, backed by a consortium of leading international lenders and credit funds including Sri Lanka’s HNB. The initial $ 700 million facility was upsized by an additional $ 300 million via the exercise of [...]
FitsAir celebrates three years
FitsAir, Sri Lanka’s first privately-owned international airline, is celebrating three years of international scheduled passenger operations, marking another defining moment in its journey to transform air travel for Sri Lankans. The past year has been one of exceptional growth and achievements for the airline. FitsAir successfully launched Kuala Lumpur as a new destination on its [...]
NDB Bank-DIMO offers for passenger and commercial vehicles
NDB Bank recently entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with DIMO, a leading diversified conglomerate in Sri Lanka, to extend affordable and accessible leasing facilities to a wide spectrum of customers. This partnership reflects NDB’s continued focus on enabling mobility and empowering individuals and businesses through flexible, customer-friendly financial solutions. Through this collaboration, customers [...]
SL’s discount image barrier for economic growth
Sri Lanka has to actively pursue high-end tourism, as simply 2 million tourists will not be adding anything to the GDP, a top international hotel chief said. Minor International Group CEO Dillip Rajakarier used his keynote at CA Sri Lanka’s 46th National Conference to highlight that Sri Lanka should elevate the destination as a top [...]
Galle Literary Festival: Catalyst for High-Value Tourism
With Sri Lanka’s tourism industry redefining itself from mass arrivals to high-value, discerning travellers, Galle Literary Festival (GLF) has emerged as one of Sri Lanka’s most powerful cultural and economic drivers. More than a celebration of literature and art, GLF has become a proven mechanism for attracting high-spending international visitors who seek immersive experiences, stay [...]
Seylan Bank helps to empower MSMEs
The Government of Sri Lanka, working with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), has introduced a special programme for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). This initiative allows MSMEs lacking adequate collateral to obtain loans through 13 selected banks and financial institutions, including Seylan Bank. Through the collaborative launch of the National Credit Guarantee Institution Ltd [...]
ComBank powers ‘Coolest Projects Sri Lanka 2025’ to inspire Young Innovators
The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has supported an initiative to encourage young people to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems through technology, with the successful hosting of Coolest Projects Sri Lanka 2025 in yet another demonstration of the Bank’s commitment to youth empowerment and education. Organised by the STEMUP Educational Foundation in collaboration with Commercial [...]
IMF urges Sri Lanka to fast-track governance reforms before next tranche
The Government is compelled to speed up the implementation of governance reforms outlined in its action plan as it is crucial for the country giving priority to upcoming 2026 budget parameters to be in line with its External Fund Facility (EFF) program. This will be a prior action before the IMF Executive board approves the [...]
Can digitisation and AI clear SL’s 1.1 m case backlog?
In Sri Lanka, a simple land dispute may outlive the litigant. By the time the judgment is delivered, the litigant may already be gone. Can digitisation and artificial intelligence change this story and finally deliver justice faster? Sri Lanka faces a staggering 1.1 million pending cases across various levels of the judiciary. The reasons being [...]
DiabSense wins Venture Engine 2025
The grand finale of Venture Engine 2025 took place on September 17 at Cinnamon Life – The Studio, spotlighting Sri Lanka’s most promising entrepreneurs and marking another milestone for the country’s growing startup ecosystem. From more than 175 applicants, 12 exceptional start-ups reached the finals after months of mentoring and pitching. Their ideas showcased the [...]
NCINGA receives prestigious certification
NCINGA has received prestigious certification from the Modular Open Source Identity Platform (MOSIP), strategically positioning the company as a trusted technology partner for governments worldwide building secure, inclusive Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). MOSIP is a global, open-source technology that enables governments and other public bodies to implement foundational digital identity systems in a cost effective [...]
Ceylinco Life’s Green Club drives meaningful sustainability impact
The Green Club of Ceylinco Life has made a powerful statement on environmental responsibility in the first half of 2025, mobilising customers, employees and their families to drive a series of impactful sustainability initiatives that are helping shape a greener, more conscious corporate culture. The Green Club is a volunteer-driven group at Sri Lanka’s biggest [...]