Fitch affirms Habib Bank - Sri Lanka Branch at ‘A(lka)’

Fitch Ratings has affirmed Habib Bank Limited - Sri Lanka Branch’s (HBLSL) National Long-Term Rating at ‘A(lka)’. The Outlook is Stable. The rating reflects Fitch’s expectation that HBLSL will receive support, if required, from the head office of Habib Bank Limited (HBL), Pakistan’s largest bank. The rating is underpinned by HBLSL’s status as a branch of HBL. This means it is part of the same legal entity as HBL, subject to any regulatory constra

Sunshine Holdings announces new leadership appointments

Sunshine Holdings PLC announced that Aruna Deepthikumara, Michelle Senanayake, Dr. T. Sayandhan and Shantha Bandara, who are Executive Committee members of the Group, have been appointed as Executive Directors. Commenting on the appointments, Sunshine Holdings Group CEO Shyam Sathasivam said, “As we navigate dynamic market landscapes, I am confident their leadership will further fortify our position as a leading conglomerate dedicated to delive

Hayleys Eco Solutions unveils ‘Entwine’ ESG Roadmap for 2030

Hayleys Eco Solutions, Sri Lanka’s traditional and value-added exporter of coconut fibre and coco peat-based products announced the launch of “Entwine”, its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Roadmap for 2030. Derived from the concept of intertwining, “Entwine” signifies the profound connection between the business, people and the planet. Aligned with the Hayleys Lifecode, Entwine is anchored to four pillars: Nurturing Our Planet, Optim

SLKBC hosts Business Networking Evening

The Sri Lanka - Korea Business Council (SLKBC) of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce recently hosted a networking evening for Members of the Council, diplomats, government officials and industry representatives to foster collaboration and bilateral cooperation. The Chief Guest Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Sri Lanka Miyon Lee was accompanied by the Deputy Ambassador, Consul, and Third Secretary of the Embassy. Additionally, government offi

Ceylon Chamber of Commerce celebrates 185th anniversary

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) marked its 185th anniversary yesterday. Established in 1839, initially to cater to the needs of the plantation industry, primarily rubber and coconut, it has evolved into an institution representing a wide sector of industry and commerce. Today, boasting a membership of over 500 members, including some of the largest corporations in Sri Lanka, the CCC stands as a pillar of support for businesses across variou

Striking the balance in compliance, innovation, and cyber security in SL’s financial sector

This feature is based on a panel discussion facilitated by the Centre for Banking Studies, consisting of industry experts who delved into how the elements of compliance, innovation and cybersecurity could be harmonized to ensure robust banking operations, comprehensive customer protection and sustained resilience against evolving cyber threats. The expert panel comprised keynote speaker Madu Ratnayake, Co-founder of global cybersecurity firm Scy

Brantel appointed Cisco’s partner and reseller

Brantel Lanka (Pvt) Ltd., has announced its appointment as a partner and authorised reseller in Sri Lanka for Cisco Networks. The company said its primary role as a Cisco partner would be to help build the online presence, and automate the business processes, of small and medium businesses (SMBs) in Sri Lanka by catering to their specific networking needs. “Cisco recognises that SMBs have unique requirements compared to large enterprises, and pr

SLASSCOM survey decodes future HR trends and industry practices

The Sri Lanka Association of Software and Service Companies (SLASSCOM) recently concluded its Compensation & Benefits Survey 2023, shedding light on critical HR trends and issues within the Sri Lankan IT/ BPM industry. By examining various job positions and their corresponding compensation structures, the survey aims to equip companies with valuable insights to attract and retain top talent in a competitive market. The report provides a compreh

Ceylon Chamber of Commerce celebrates 185 years today

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), the premier representative of Sri Lanka’s private sector, marks its 185th anniversary today (March 25).

February export performance shows marginal YoY growth

Sri Lanka’s merchandise exports in February increased marginally by 0.17 percent Year-on-Year (YoY) and 1.3 percent from....

Rebounding Sri Lanka tourism

After a challenging period marked by the COVID-19 crisis and the economic crisis, Sri Lanka’s tourism industry....

Apparel sector Feb. export earnings up 0.19% Year-on-Year

Sri Lanka’s apparel sector saw its revenue for the month of February expand marginally by 0.19 percent Year-on-Year....

Union Bank appoints Dinesh Weerakkody to director board

Union Bank of Colombo PLC has announced the appointment Dinesh Weerakkody, as an Independent Non-executive Director...

Fitch affirms Standard Chartered Bank, Sri Lanka at ‘AAA(lka)’; Outlook Stable

Fitch Ratings Lanka has affirmed Standard Chartered Bank, Sri Lanka’s National Long-Term Rating at ‘AAA(lka)’. The Outlook ....

BOC, SLIM Kantar People’s Banking Services Brand of Year

Reinforcing its leadership in the banking sector as ‘Bankers to the Nation’, Bank of Ceylon (BOC) clinched the prestigious SLIM Kantar....

Credit on freight should be reasonable

The business of international trade between parties often takes place with credit periods as a competition tool....

AIA Insurance opens Panadura Regional Development Office

AIA Insurance announced the grand opening of its latest Regional Development Office (RDO) situated in the heart of the Panadura...

NDB conducts FY23 Investor Earnings Call

National Development Bank PLC (NDB) recently conducted its quarterly Investor Earnings Call on March 20, 2024, following the release...

USA’s Commercial Law Development Programme trains SLPA senior staff

The Commercial Law Development Programme (CLDP) of the United States Department of Commerce implemented ....

Vallibel Finance opens new branch in Weligama

Expanding its outreach across Sri Lanka, Financial trailblazer Vallibel Finance opened its latest branch in the Southern province....

ComBank launches biggest seasonal shopping promotion

Commercial Bank of Ceylon is heralding the arrival of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year with the launch of its biggest seasonal....

Unemployment rate declines to 4.3% as economy recovers

Sri Lanka’s official unemployment rate slipped to 4.3 percent in the final quarter of last year from 4.7 percent in the quarter before as the economy expanded in the final three months of the year.

Central Bank to revisit regulatory sandbox framework

The Central Bank (CB) is planning to revisit the framework of its regulatory sandbox, relaxing some of stringent rules, after the initiative failed to gain traction among fintech players over the past four years.

Genelle opens flagship store in Colombo 7

Genelle Handcrafted Shoes opened its newest retail outlet in Horton Place recently. Reflecting on the transformative journey, Co-Founder Sheran Wickremesekere said, “We’ve traversed a remarkable path from being mere shoe manufacturers to creators of a recognized brand over the years. Along the way, we’ve encountered numerous challenges, but we’ve met them head-on, emerging stronger to establish ourselves as a formidable brand committed to offerin

HNB Finance celebrates Int’l Women’s Day

HNB Finance PLC commemorated International Women’s Day 2024 under the theme “Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress” with a special programme aimed at recognising and empowering the female workforce. The celebration, held at the Auditorium at the HNB Finance Head Office premises in Nawala on March 8, featured a range of activities to honour and support women in the workplace, and saw widespread participation from female staff from across the ranks

Samsung Sri Lanka launches ‘Awesome Avurudu’ promotion

Samsung Sri Lanka has introduced the “Samsung Awesome Avurudu” consumer promotion, aimed at bringing joy and rewards to customers celebrating the traditional Sinhala and Tamil New Year, starting from 17th March – 30th April 2024. As part of the festivities, this promotion offers an exciting array of prizes to customers who purchase a new Galaxy Mobile device or Tablet from any authorized Samsung outlet, whether online or offline. Running througho

St. Anthony’s Industries Group unveils new logo

St. Anthony’s Industries Group (Pvt) Ltd., unveiled its new logo recently. This milestone marks a new era for the Group, symbolizing its commitment to excellence, innovation, and industry leadership. Lahiru Jayasinghe, Chief Operating Officer, of St. Anthony’s Industries Group said, “This new logo reflects our commitment to excellence and our continued pursuit of innovation as we embark on a new era of transformation. We are excited to unite o

TVR Trust holds Essay and Video Competition

The award ceremony of the “Heta Dinana Sri Lankawak” (A roadmap for a secure tomorrow) Essay & Video Competition organised by the Tennyson & Vinitha Rodrigo Trust was held at the Lotus Room, BMICH. The entries had been evaluated in two stages by a 20-member panel consisting of senior academics of State universities and eminent professionals of the corporate sector covering the three language categories. Cash prizes and certificates were awarded

ComBank engages countrywide female staff at Women’s Day event

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon’s initiatives to celebrate International Women’s Day 2024, also encompassed the bank’s own female staff across the country with a special knowledge sharing session titled “Counting HER in, and Investing in HER.” Organized by the bank’s Women Banking Unit and the Staff Development Center (SDC) of the bank, the event was intended to promote inclusivity, enhance potential, and foster growth among female staff members, t

B2B Luxury Connect to kickoff in April

Boutiques Sri Lanka, renowned for promoting boutique accommodation experiences across the country, is set to host its annual ‘B2B Luxury Connect’ trade fair on April 30th. This luxury travel fair focuses entirely on the small luxury accommodation sector in Sri Lanka and will take place at Monarch Imperial, Sri Jayewardenepura, Kotte. The event, themed “Sustainability Sri Lanka,” aims to provide a platform for carefully selected small luxury bou