Forbes & Walker’s tea tasting rooms
Forbes & Walker, one of Sri Lanka’s oldest and most influential tea brokers and a custodian of Ceylon Tea since 1881, has opened its private tasting rooms in Colombo to the public for the first time in its 140-year history. Yshan Fernando, Managing Director of Forbes & Walker, said: “Forbes remains the largest tea broking [...]
Hemas Holdings ‘Future-Proofing’ Global Domination
Hemas Holdings Group is focused on becoming a truly global Sri Lankan player, and the company is future-proofing its business verticals to be ready for this goal. “We are a step away from becoming a regional player with our entry into Africa and our efforts in becoming a global player in the medium term,” Ashish [...]
JXG to mark its footprint in Africa, East Asia and Bangladesh
JXG, the parent company of the Janashakthi Group, is bullish on expansions across diversified financial services while marking its footprint across other countries. An Initial Public Offering (IPO) aiming to raise Rs. 5 billion by offering a 21.74 per cent stake was announced by the company earlier this week, to realise these plans. “We are [...]
Iran war drops food security bombshell on Sri Lanka
As shipments get cancelled and prices surge there is serious concern whether fertiliser stocks already ordered will ever make it in time for the Yala season. Already the Maha season has faced a 10 per cent drop in yields and the country is running without a food security plan. “We don’t have a food security [...]
War spikes Ceylon Tea production costs
Ceylon Tea is facing tough times as prices for the product is dropping amidst a 10-15 per cent cost escalation. Cost of production of world renowned Ceylon Tea has increased to around Rs.1400 per kilo of tea, Hayleys Plantations Managing Director Dr. Roshan Rajadurai told the Sunday Times Business. Traders are said to purchasing stocks [...]
EWIS AEGIS to replace outdated tech
EWIS AEGIS, an innovative AI-powered platform developed in Sri Lanka, aimed at modernising outdated systems across various industries including banking, insurance, and healthcare with speed, control, and predictability was introduced by EWIS, a technology solutions provider recently. Many firms are faced with old systems which they need to either convert to newer systems which is [...]
The heat is on…
The above headline is the theme song of a popular TV series. I was reminded of this when global experts this week warned of a ‘climate emergency’ saying the earth has hit a record heat level, with Sri Lankan experts also warning of extreme heat conditions. This along with the other ‘heat’ issue – the [...]
Fresh paint, rusted engine
Uncle Thennakoon is known to me since my childhood. I guess he must now be in his eighties. He retired about 25 years ago after serving many long years at Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) as a Bus Conductor. He was not only a friendly bus conductor to the passengers and honest public sector employee [...]
More than 200 businesses choose Port City
The Port City Colombo has seen an aggressive marketing drive since the end of last year, aligned with the macroeconomic indicators of the country. Sri Lanka’s first dedicated services export zone, the Port City, has attracted more than 200 Authorised Persons (AP) to do business with a few more in the pipeline, Thulci Aluwihare, Deputy [...]
108-year old Fort Railway Station to be transformed
Sri Lanka’s iconic Colombo Fort Railway Station modelled after Manchester Victoria station in the UK is undergoing major redevelopment 108 years after the station’s original completion in 1917 under British colonial regime. The current Asian Development Bank funded project is a complete overhaul aimed at transforming the building as a “blend of heritage and modern [...]
Asiri introduces SL’s first Rapid Infectious Disease Diagnostic System
Asiri Laboratories has introduced the BioFire® FilmArray® System — a cutting-edge multiplex PCR platform that transforms pathogen detection with speed, accuracy, and confidence. This breakthrough marks a significant leap in Sri Lanka’s diagnostic capability, empowering clinicians with rapid syndromic testing that enables simultaneous detection of 20 – 30+ pathogens within 45–60 minutes, compared to days [...]
LankaPay Technnovation Awards celebrate excellence in FinTech
The 8th edition of the LankaPay Technnovation Awards 2026 concluded on a high note on March 24, with Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC clinching the Overall Gold Award for ‘Excellence in Digital Payments’ under the Banks category. Organised by LankaPay – Sri Lanka’s National Payment Network, Bank of Ceylon secured the Overall Silver Award, while [...]
From backyard workshop to a bamboo enterprise
In a small backyard workshop in Kadirana, Negombo, what began as a side experiment has gradually developed into a niche manufacturing operation centred on one of the world’s fastest growing sustainable materials. For M.A.N. Tyrone Fernando, a former manufacturing professional turned entrepreneur, bamboo represents not only a business opportunity but also a potential shift in [...]
The Gulf Is Becoming Uninsurable
BERLIN – It can take generations to build a reputation for reliability – and a matter of weeks to destroy it. That asymmetry is the most important strategic fact of the current US-Israeli war against Iran. This conflict’s most harmful consequence will figure in no damage assessment, and no postwar reconstruction fund will be able [...]
CA Sri Lanka aims to build legally-proficient chartered accountants
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) launched the Faculty of Business Law & Regulatory Compliance earlier this week. The faculty was officially launched by CA Sri Lanka President, Tishan Subasinghe, in the presence of Vice President, Ms. Anoji De Silva; Chairman of the Business Law & Regulatory Compliance Committee, Laknath [...]
Kia Tasman – double cab introduced in SL
Kia Motors Lanka has launched in Sri Lanka the all-new Kia Tasman. Marking a defining moment for the brand, the Tasman is Kia’s first pickup truck, developed from the ground up to challenge every convention associated with the category. Built to move seamlessly between the demands of work and the expectations of everyday driving, it [...]
Browns EV, PickMe deliver 125 Electric Vehicles
Browns EV, in partnership with PickMe and LOLC Holdings PLC, has handed over 125 electric vehicles under its ‘Drive to Own’ initiative. This handover reflects the forward-thinking approach and strategic collaboration between Browns EV, LOLC Holdings PLC, and PickMe, particularly in light of the evolving global geopolitical landscape and the potential fuel challenges facing Sri [...]
Central Bank signals stability as IMF Mission Review begins
Sri Lanka’s external sector is showing a mixed but resilient performance in the face of escalating tensions in West Asia, the Central Bank (CB) announced just as an International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) staff team now in the island began its combined fifth and sixth reviews of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme. The mission of [...]
HNB’s ‘Happiness Cards’ for Avurudu
HNB PLC has rolled out its ‘Happiness Cards’ campaign, bringing together a new positioning and way of living with seasonal savings, flexible payment options, and lifestyle benefits through a card proposition built around what matters most to cardholders during the season. Across shopping, travel, dining, household purchases, and festive spending, the campaign represents a stronger [...]
Plantation sector urges fair electricity tariffs
The Planters’ Association of Ceylon (PA) this week called for the implementation of a more sustainable electricity tariff framework and energy generation policy, citing the severe economic strain faced by the plantation sector and other export-oriented industries due to prohibitively high electricity tariffs. The PA’s appeal comes at a critical juncture, with public consultations on [...]
Sri Lanka’s DMT digital revamp targets corruption
The Government is expediting a comprehensive digital overhaul of motor vehicle registration database system to address decades-old inefficiencies and corruption while enabling it to automate first-time registrations and eliminate manual tampering, Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) sources confirmed. A growing number of new vehicle owners is currently experiencing significant delays in obtaining Fuel Quota codes, [...]
Standardisation and integration, crucial for elevating healthcare
While Sri Lanka has the potential to become a recognised hub for health tourism globally, standardisation and integration are crucial for elevating healthcare quality uniformly across the country. Collaboration between government and private sectors is vital, but must navigate complex ethical, legal, and economic considerations. Growing prospects in health tourism can significantly contribute to economic [...]
Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs): Process, Benefits and Challenges in Sri Lanka
In today’s globalised economy, multinational enterprises (MNEs) face complex transfer pricing challenges. Transfer pricing determines how profits are allocated among related entities across borders, often sparking disputes with tax authorities. Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) offer a proactive solution in respect of international transactions. An APA is a forward-looking contract between a taxpayer and the tax [...]
Ceylinco Life – SL’s most popular life insurer for 20th consecutive year
Ceylinco Life has been voted the ‘Peoples Life Insurance Service Provider of the Year’ for an unprecedented 20th consecutive year at the SLIM Kantar Peoples Awards, achieving a remarkable milestone of two decades as Sri Lanka’s most popular life insurance company. “This extraordinary accomplishment reinforces the company’s unique position as the only life insurer in [...]
Commercial Bank adjudged ‘People’s Private Bank’ for 4th year running
Commercial Bank of Ceylon has once again been voted the ‘People’s Private Banking Services Brand of the Year,’ securing this coveted title for the fourth consecutive year at the SLIM Kantar People’s Awards 2026 and retaining its standing as the most popular private sector bank in Sri Lanka. Presented by the Sri Lanka Institute of [...]
LOLC wins, again at SLIM Kantar awards
LOLC Holdings PLC has once again been crowned People’s Financial Services Brand of the Year at the SLIM Kantar People’s Choice Awards 2026, achieving a truly historic milestone by securing the title for the 10th consecutive year, the company said in a media release. The People’s Choice Awards conferred by Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing [...]
SEC, CSE strengthen role of Auditors of Watchlist Cos.
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) and the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) jointly organised an awareness session recently, for auditors of companies which are currently on the CSE Watchlist. The session focused on enhancing awareness of enforcement actions and timelines, reducing prolonged Watchlist durations, and fostering a more coordinated regulatory approach among [...]
NSB’s 54th anniversary welcomes newborns with savings
In line with the ‘NSB Senehase Dayada – 2026’ initiative, a special commemorative programme was recently organised at the premises of Lanka Hospitals under the patronage of the National Savings Bank, marking the 54th Anniversary of the bank, it said in a media release. Now conducted for the sixth consecutive year, the ‘NSB Senehase Dayada’ [...]
ADB provides $100 m support to help Sri Lanka
Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda met with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo this week and announced that ADB stands ready to provide US$100 million in additional budget support as part of a financial package to help countries mitigate the economic and financial impacts resulting from the conflict in the Middle [...]
Bathiya & Santhush invests in Charcoal Tandoor Fire Grill
Charcoal Tandoor Fire Grill, the acclaimed Bangkok dining concept by Soho Hospitality, is set to open its doors in Colombo with legendary Sri Lankan musical duo Bathiya Jayakody and Santhush Weeraman, alongside Mevan Gunatilleke, confirmed as co-owners. Rising to the 50th floor of Capitol TwinPeaks on Union Place, home to Colombo’s tallest sky bridge, standing [...]
Assetline Insurance Brokers secures Reinsurance Licence
Assetline Insurance Brokers (Pvt) Ltd (AIBL), a subsidiary of the David Pieris Group, has further strengthened its market position following the award of the Reinsurance Broking Licence by the Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (IRCSL). Backed by the financial strength, governance framework and institutional credibility of the David Pieris Group, this milestone marks a [...]
SL banks maintain uninterrupted services throughout the week
The Sri Lanka Banks’ Association (SLBA) has assured the public that banks will continue to operate on all five weekdays as an essential service, despite the temporary measures introduced to conserve fuel and energy resources. Accordingly, banks will remain open from Monday to Friday, including Wednesdays, with operations on Wednesdays limited to the hours of [...]