The ubiquitous postman!
One of the professions that will never fade away with time is the humble postman – unless replaced by a robot! Whether it’s sun or rain, he faithfully delivers your letters at the doorstep often pushing his rickety-old bicycle up a hill or walking door-to door. The Postal Department, it is reported, had recorded a [...]
Legal dispute over Sheraton Colombo property, premises
The Sheraton Colombo hotel premises and its properties are to be sold by public auction following a default in making payments on loans obtained from two commercial banks. But the hotel owner states that negotiations are currently underway with the banks. People’s Bank and the National Development Bank (NDB) have announced, in newspaper advertisements, the [...]
Iranian tensions, US tariffs a new setback
The Iranian barter deal to pay off Sri Lanka’s oil debt continues to be facing ‘documentation’ delays causing concern to tea exporters amidst the growing tensions in Iran and pressure from the US. By the end of last year and this time also there was delay in the documentation process from Iran but it gets [...]
No problem in forex debt repayments by 2028-Governor
Central Bank Governor Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe this week allayed fears in Sri Lanka, which he blamed on the media, about the foreign debt repayment schedule being affected. The schedule for repayments starts from 2028 onwards. “There is no repayment problem as projected in the media. We cannot delay repayment of loans,” he told a group [...]
CSE drama: Who cooked the system?
The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) is reassessing its risk management processes and procedures, while the capital market regulator is flexing for a series of probes, after some stockbrokers managed to game the trading system and falsify transactions last week. Meanwhile the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is probing to find out whether this was deliberate [...]
Crunching numbers in tourism
Before aiming for a phenomenal 3 million tourist arrivals this year, as promised by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath, shouldn’t we consider whether the carrying capacity – the number of tourists that the country can cater to, based on its resources – is adequate? This was the discussion I [...]
Growth that lasts, not just rebuilds
Sri Lanka recorded a historic milestone in 2025: foreign remittances from migrant workers reached US$8 billion, the highest in 40 years of overseas employment. This marks a 23 per cent jump from the previous year. I am not sure whether to weep or chuckle. At a meeting with Dr. Dirk Willem te Velde and Dr. [...]
MSI for SLUDI by March
The National Institute for Smart Government (NISG) has requested more time to incorporate changes in the final document before the techno-commercial bidding after discussions with the five systems operators shortlisted for Sri Lanka Unique Digital ID who were in Colombo last November. Top officials said the potential master systems integrators discussed the way forward and [...]
SLIC hosts General Insurance Pinnacle Achiever Awards in Indonesia
Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation General Ltd. (SLICGL), recently hosted the 2nd Annual General Insurance Pinnacle Achiever (GIPA) Awards Ceremony in Indonesia, honouring the Top 33 Sri Lankan and 10 Indonesian General Insurance sales professionals. The Indonesian ceremony, held in collaboration with J.B. Boda, Indonesia, celebrated multi‑faceted excellence that extends past sales volumes, recognising sustainable practices, [...]
SL’s stock market watchdog warns against Blue Ocean Securities
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) on Thursday urged the public not to engage with the entity operating as Blue Ocean Securities Ltd or its mobile application BOMate for investing in the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE). This entity is not licensed by the SEC to function as a market intermediary, the SEC [...]
Climate shocks accelerate Sri Lanka’s push for financial sector consolidation
The Sri Lankan banking and financial sector enters into a critical phase of transformation as a result of the combination of the shock implications by climatic changes and inherent inefficiencies in the system. This has prompted the Central Bank (CB) to expedite the long-term plan for consolidation. The damage inflicted by Cyclone Ditwah in the [...]
Sri Lanka Expo 2026 to boost exports and investment
Sri Lanka’s ambition to strengthen its position as a regional trade and investment hub received renewed momentum with the official launch of Sri Lanka Expo 2026, an international exhibition aimed at showcasing the country’s export capabilities and investment potential to global markets. Announced by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) on January 9, the [...]
Need to restructure university education in Sri Lanka
The university education system in Sri Lanka has traditionally played a central role in producing batches of civil servants and other professionals, including clusters of lawyers and medical professionals. It has also produced a thin band of graduates in humanities, social sciences, and arts and artisanry. Attention given to STEM subjects (medicine, biology, physics, computer [...]
Asia Siyaka Warehouse first ZeroCarbon® certified tea logistics company
Asia Siyaka Warehousing (Pvt) Ltd, the largest auction logistics provider in Sri Lanka’s tea sector, has secured a global benchmark in sustainability, becoming the world’s first and only ZeroCarbon® certified company in tea auction logistics. The achievement was awarded by the Sustainable Future Group (SFG), Sri Lanka’s premier sustainability certification body. It highlights the company’s [...]
Industry bodies flag gaps in draft National Electricity Policy–CCC
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, together with the American Chamber of Commerce, Exporters Association of Sri Lanka, Federation of Renewable Energy Developers, Joint Apparel Association Forum, National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka Association for Software and Services Companies, have submitted joint observations on the Draft National Electricity Policy, highlighting that several [...]
IASL launches E-Motor Card, donates 500 e-tabs to Police
The Insurance Association of Sri Lanka (IASL) recently held the official launching ceremony of the E-Motor Insurance Digital Card and the handover of 500 tablets to the Sri Lanka Police Department at Ministry of Public Security and Parliament Affairs Auditorium, Suhurupaya Battaramulla. At the ceremony, IASL, together with its 13 General Insurance member companies, handed [...]
Port City Colombo secures $300 m FDI commitment
CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd., the primary developer of Port City Colombo, has pledged approximately US$300 million in foreign direct investment to advance Phase II of the Port City Colombo project. The investment commitment follows the completion of the relevant regulatory processes and enables the next phase of development of Sri Lanka’s largest and [...]
DRC Gridlock: System failures, reforms loom
The Department of the Registrar of Companies (DRC) is functioning at a snail pace as its primary online platform, the eROC system, has experienced significant slowness and service unavailability issues since the mid-2025 due to a technical collapse and expired maintenance contract. Technical teams have been working to restore full functionality, with the system experiencing [...]
AI in Schools: Preparing for the Next Technological Leap
This summary document is based on a webinar conducted by the Bandaranaike Academy for Leadership & Public Policy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqZGjlaMC08). I participated in the session, which featured multiple speakers with exceptional knowledge and experience who discussed various aspects of incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into the education system and other sectors. There was strong consensus that this [...]
Hambantota Port records 175% Cargo Growth in 2025
Hambantota International Port (HIP) closed 2025 with a landmark performance, recording a 175 per cent year-on-year increase in total cargo volumes despite what has been widely recognised as one of the most challenging years for the global port industry. HIP handled 8.24 million metric tonnes of cargo in 2025, up from 3 million metric tonnes [...]
Hemas opens 75th Piyawara Preschool in Homagama
The Hemas Outreach Foundation has opened its 75th Piyawara Preschool, marking a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s early childhood development landscape. The new preschool is established under the Homagama Pradeshiya Sabha and in partnership with Fly & Help, Germany, the company said in a media release. Founded in collaboration with the National Secretariat for Early [...]
SLIIT and global partners combine to strengthen NetZero Skills in Sri Lanka
The Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), together with a consortium of leading Sri Lankan and international partners, have officially launched the Empowering Net Zero Skills for Sri Lanka’s Sustainable and Resilient Future (ENSURE) project. The Sri Lankan consortium partners include the University of Jaffna, University of Peradeniya, University of Ruhuna, South Eastern University [...]
BYD records 4.6 m NEV Sales in 2025
BYD has retained its position as the world’s largest seller of New Energy Vehicles (NEVs), recording total global sales of 4,602,436 units in 2025. The achievement marks another major milestone for the company and reinforces its leadership in the global transition towards sustainable mobility. In 2025, BYD also became the world’s largest seller of battery [...]
Strategic transition at W.R. Rodrigo and Partners
W.R.Rodrigo & Co. has announced a formal transition in its professional structure, moving from a sole practitioner firm to a partnership. This evolution coincides with the appointment of Chanie Rodrigo as a Partner, joining Managing Partner Rajitha Rodrigo to lead the newly reconstituted firm, W.R. Rodrigo & Partners, Chartered Accountants. The transition marks a significant [...]
EDEX Expo returns for 2026
Sri Lanka’s largest education exhibition and job fair, EDEX Expo 2026, will return this January, reinforcing its role as a national platform that connects education, skills and employment at a time when informed career decision-making has become increasingly critical. Organised by the Royal College Union since 2004, EDEX has grown into a trusted initiative guided [...]
CDS, NDB Bank offer streamlined digital dividends pay outs
The Central Depository Systems (Pvt) Ltd (CDS), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), and National Development Bank PLC (NDB) have partnered to increase the efficiency of dividend disbursement systems for companies listed on the CSE through the provision of a streamlined dividends pay-out system. The partnership aims to strengthen capital market [...]
Colombo bourse breaks another record
The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) reached a new milestone on Wednesday (January 14) with the All-Share Price Index (ASPI) closing on 23,708.70points, breaking the previous ASPI record of 23,659.70 set on November 12, 2025. On the previous trading day, January 13, the market closed with a daily average turnover of Rs. 6.07 billion compared to [...]
SLT, Fintelex empower farmers with ‘Yaya Agro’ App
SLT‑MOBITEL Mobile, in collaboration with Fintelex (Pvt) Ltd, has launched ‘Yaya Agro’, an all‑in‑one smart agriculture app designed to empower Sri Lankan farmers with the tools they need to grow smarter, safer, and more sustainably. Yaya Agro represents a new era of digital farming in Sri Lanka combining technology, expert knowledge, and community empowerment to [...]
IMF mission puts SL’s recovery and reform process to the test
Sri Lanka is entering a critical economic juncture when an IMF fact-finding mission arrives in the country from January 22 to 28 in the aftermath of cyclone disaster disrupting the country’s economy, analysts said. Though not a formal review mission, it is expected to play a significant role in shaping policy when the IMF is [...]
AI: What happens when paid work disappears?
ZURICH – What we typically refer to as “artificial intelligence” is, in practice, a set of data-based systems (DS). These technologies are already transforming nearly every aspect of human life, giving rise to innovative business models and reordering entire economies. Over time, they promise to create new jobs, boost productivity, and provide tools that extend [...]
CMTA urges removal of 15% vehicle depreciation
The Ceylon Motor Traders’ Association (CMTA), the senior-most automotive association in South Asia affiliated with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, has urged the Government to abolish the 15 per cent depreciation currently granted on used vehicle imports. The CMTA emphasises that this policy not only lacks any plausible justification but also results in significant revenue [...]
Arpico NextGen Mattress recognised for innovation
Arpico, a key player in Sri Lanka’s mattress industry, recently received the award for 2nd Runner-Up in the category of Innovative Product of the Year at the 2025 PRISL Industry Awards. Hosted by the Plastic and Rubber Institute of Sri Lanka (PRISL), the awards honour outstanding industry contributions to the plastics, rubber, latex, and recycling [...]
IBSL to hold its landmark National Conference
The Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka (IBSL) will host its inaugural National Banking & Finance Conference on January 20 and 21 at The Kingsbury, Colombo, creating a timely national platform to advance professional dialogue, research led insights and sector wide collaboration at a moment when Sri Lanka’s financial services industry is rapidly evolving through [...]
Janashakthi Life strengthens with key leadership appointments
Janashakthi Life has announced the appointment of two industry leaders to its executive team – Ms. Namalee A. Silva joins as Chief Business Officer and Shankar Dharmaratne assumes the role of Chief Digital Officer. These strategic appointments mark a significant milestone in Janashakthi Life’s commitment to accelerating business growth, enhancing market presence and driving comprehensive [...]