Favourite visiting place
A tour guide takes a picture on Friday of tourists at the Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple in Colombo, a favourite stop for visitors on a city tour. Tourism is set to break new records this year. Pic by Akila Jayawardena
Iranian turmoil, storm in a teacup for Sri Lanka’s tea exporters
Turmoil in Iran has caused a stir among Sri Lankan tea exporters but shipments continue under the tea-for-oil barter deal between the two countries. Iran is one of the biggest buyers of Ceylon Tea. The Iranian Rial that fell sharply against the US dollar has reportedly sparked protests initially among traders there that later spread [...]
Sahasya’s collapse exposes costly gaps in state governance
When Sahasya Investment Company was established in October 2020, it was billed as a turning point in the management of Sri Lanka’s expressway network. Designed as a state-owned commercial entity, Sahasya was meant to bring corporate discipline to an infrastructure system weighed down by heavy debt and long-standing inefficiencies. Instead, five years on, the company [...]
Centralised ERP for all state agencies
A common enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform, such as a centralised marketplace for all state entities, is being developed by the Digital Ministry. Deputy Minister Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratna told the Sunday Times Business that his ministry is working on integrating all systems in government departments into one common platform. “We are in the final [...]
Government carefully drives data centres amid Ditwah
The government has initiated a systematic, technology-based approach to deploy data centres, opening opportunities for industry participation, but recent natural disasters have raised serious concerns over the feasibility and risks associated with establishing the much-anticipated data centre, a top official said. “After Cyclone Ditwah, the selection of land for the data centre must be examined [...]
Single tax reform aims to unlock SL’s gem wealth
Sri Lanka’s gem and jewellery industry is set to enter a decisive new phase as the Government moves forward with a landmark tax reform designed to simplify trade, curb illegal exports and revive a sector with vast unrealised economic potential. At the heart of this policy shift is a proposed single tax per parcel on [...]
Trying times last year
Come sun or rain, Aldoris, the choon-paan karaya, will come down the lane on any January 1st of the year, hoping for some calendars and diaries from customers. But wait a minute! In recent years, diaries are few and far between with corporates and public institutions focusing more on calendars and notebooks. Is this because [...]
Riding nowhere: Tuk-tuk parable of protectionism
Sri Lanka’s tourism boom in 2025 ended not with fireworks, but with a tuk-tuk turmoil. While Sri Lanka proudly celebrated over 2.3 million tourist arrivals during the year, the final weeks were overshadowed by ugly tuk-tuk chaos in several popular destinations. Organised groups of local tuk-tuk drivers were reported to have harassed tourists and clashed [...]
People’s Bank’s assistance to support distressed customers and businesses
People’s Bank, one of Sri Lanka’s leading state-owned commercial banks, has taken steps to provide concessions and financial support to strengthen and uplift small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) affected by the recent Cyclone Ditwah. Amid almost every disaster that has impacted Sri Lanka, People’s Bank says it has always taken steps to uplift the people [...]
Sunshine Holdings PLC joins S&P Sri Lanka 20 Index
Diversified conglomerate Sunshine Holdings PLC has been included in the S&P Sri Lanka 20 Index, following the 2025 year-end index rebalance announced by the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and S&P Dow Jones Indices. The inclusion takes effect from December 22, 2025. The S&P Sri Lanka 20 Index represents the 20 largest and most liquid companies [...]
BIA introduces E-Gates for Faster, Smarter Border Clearance
New Automated Border Control Gates (e-gates) system is set to operate at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), enabling travellers faster, smarter and more secure travel following the completion of installations four more departure gates and IT/ OT ( operational technology) integration, the Ministry of Ports and Aviation said. Four e-gates have been installed at the arrival [...]
Trend in national rubber production is alarming
The national rubber production has declined from 98.6 to 69.2 thousand Metric tonnes(MT) from 2014 to 2024. During the same period the land extent under rubber has also come down from 133 to 84 thousand hectares. Accordingly, natural rubber production and land extent have shown a negative growth of 7 per cent and 6.3 per [...]
Prime Group donates Rs. 200 m to Rebuilding Sri Lanka fund
Prime Group has contributed Rs. 200 million to the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund, which it believes is the highest contribution made by a corporate body, so far, to this fund. Prime Group is strongly committed to supporting education and healthcare initiatives, seeing it as the company’s responsibility to maintain and uplift these essential facilities for [...]
NDB contributes Rs. 50 m to Rebuild Sri Lanka Fund
National Development Bank PLC (NDB Bank) has extended its support with a Rs. 50-million contribution to the Rebuild Sri Lanka Fund. The contribution was officially handed over at the Presidential Secretariat, underscoring NDB Bank’s continued partnership with national institutions in advancing collective efforts aimed at restoring livelihoods, rebuilding infrastructure, and fostering sustainable recovery. Representing NDB [...]
ComBank launches Dynamic Currency Conversion for online payments
As part of Commercial Bank of Ceylon’s sustained efforts to strengthen tourism-related businesses and improve convenience for foreign travellers, the bank has partnered with Mastercard to introduce Sri Lanka’s first Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) capability for online payments, marking a significant milestone in the country’s digital payments landscape. Enabled via the Mastercard Payment Gateway Services [...]
George Keyt Foundation donates Rs. 3 m to relief efforts
The George Keyt Foundation has extended support worth Rs. 3 million to the Government of Sri Lanka’s disaster relief efforts following the severe devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah. In 2023, the Foundation undertook its first major fundraiser in recent years by issuing 30 numbered limited edition prints of Kangodi Rangi, a painting by George Keyt [...]
Central Bank shuts Public Debt Dept.
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CB) has closed the Public Debt Department (PDD) on January 1, in line with a previously agreed decision. It also transferred the LankaSecure Division of PDD to the Payments and Settlements Department (PSD). A statement said the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) has been established within the Ministry of [...]
Sri Lanka’s LNG strategy brings US Gas firm into focus
Sri Lanka is currently facing a transitional period in the energy field, using Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) for a changeover, aiming for a target of 70 per cent of renewable-based power by the year 2030. The government through the Power and Energy Ministry has brought back the plan to establish an import terminal for LNG, [...]
Tea: Record earnings vis-a-vis climate change
Sri Lanka’s tea industry, the historic backbone of our economy, is entering a period of storage contradictions. As of late 2025, the news from counting houses is good: export earnings for the first 10 months of the year reached US$1.29 billion, a healthy 9 per cent increase compared to last year. However, walking through estates [...]
Kandy City Centre year-end shopping fiesta draws large crowds
The Kandy City Centre’s “Splash Shopping Fiesta 2025” drew large crowds during the event on December 24-28. It was a vibrant shopping experience for customers in the Central Province during the year-end season. NDB Bank was the official banking partner of the event. In the picture, a bank official with a mother and her daughter, [...]
SPAR Group provides Rs. 35 m to Rebuild Sri Lanka Fund
SPAR Group, South Africa has pledged Rs. 35 million to the Rebuild Sri Lanka Fund with the contribution officially handed over by the Chairman of SPAR Sri Lanka, Rob Philipson. The funds will be utilised to restore critical infrastructure, assist displaced families, and revive livelihoods in regions most affected by the cyclone, including support for [...]