Sri Lanka Vanithabhimana launches 5th season

NDB Bank, in partnership with NewsFirst, announced the launch of the fifth season of the Sri Lanka Vanithabhimana Awards, the country’s premier initiative dedicated to recognising and empowering Sri Lankan women.

First Capital strengthens market dominance in 3Q of FY 2024-25

First Capital Holdings PLC has reported a total comprehensive income of Rs.4.53 billion for the nine months ended December 31, 2024, demonstrating its ability to capitalise on market opportunities and drive sustained growth.

Hayleys celebrates employees for innovation, ESG, operational excellence

The Hayleys group once again honoured the outstanding achievements of its teams across its 16 business sectors at its annual Chairman’s Awards held recently.

Delmege Forsyth Energy, new macro distributor of Shell lubricants in Sri Lanka

Delmege Forsyth Energy (Pvt.) Ltd, a subsidiary of Delmege Ltd, announced its appointment as the sole official macro distributor of Shell lubricants in Sri Lanka, effective December 2024.

DSI Samson Group’s Samsonlines marks 500th shipment

Samsonlines, the logistics arm of DSI Samson Group, has marked a significant milestone in its growth trajectory, completing its 500th shipment.

DFCC Aloka-Uber SL expand financial access for women

DFCC Aloka, DFCC Bank’s flagship women’s banking proposition, in collaboration with Uber Sri Lanka, has launched a transformative initiative to unlock greater financial opportunities for female entrepreneurs.

SL implements FX matching platform to up transparency and efficiency

The Sri Lankan foreign exchange (FX) market has successfully implemented an FX matching platform, to foster a deeper FX market, the Central Bank announced yesterday. The platform,

Public urged to be vigilant against AI-generated videos misusing CBSL Governor’s image

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has advised the public to remain vigilant against fraudulent artificial intelligence (AI)-generated videos, misusing the image of the CBSL Governor to deceive individuals online.

Hayleys Solar powers SL’s largest solar-backed battery system for Jehovah’s Witnesses

In a significant milestone for Sri Lanka’s renewable energy sector, Hayleys Solar, the country’s leading solar solutions provider, has successfully completed a groundbreaking solar energy project for the branch office of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Wattala.

Amana Bank secures BBB+ rating from Lanka Rating Agency

Amana Bank PLC, Sri Lanka’s pioneering fully-fledged non-interest-based Islamic banking institution, having Islamic Development Bank Group as the principal shareholder, has been awarded a BBB+ rating by Lanka Rating Agency Ltd, affirming the bank’s strong financial position in the Sri Lankan banking sector.

StanChart’s Global Co-Head of FI Coverage makes strategic visit to SL

Standard Chartered Sri Lanka hosted Jerry Zhang, Global Co-Head of Financial Institutions (FI) Coverage along with Regional Head of Financial Intuitions Prashant Shah, on a three-day visit to the country recently.

Bullish trend in prices at Colombo Tea Auction this week

The Colombo Tea Auction offerings totalled 5.3 million kilogrammes (M/Kgs), marginally lower to 5.6 M/Kgs on offer the previous week.

ASPI loses 2.2% during the week

The ASPI edged down as a result of price losses in counters such as Chevron Lubricants, Sampath Bank and LOLC Holdings with the turnover crossing Rs. 2.1 Bn. Meanwhile, the S&P SL20 closed in red. High net worth and institutional investor participation was noted in John Keells Holdings, Hemas Holdings and R I L Property. Mixed interest was observed in Hayleys, Sampath Bank and Melstacorp whilst retail interest was noted in HNB Finance voting and

Mixed sentiment leads to thin volumes and low activity

Market participants continued to show mixed sentiment, resulting in low volumes and limited activity.

Olu Tropical Water raises funds for leopard conservation

In a landmark effort to protect Sri Lanka’s precious wildlife and ecosystems, Olu Tropical Water, in partnership with the Wilderness & Wildlife Conservation Trust (WWCT), has donated Rs.1 million to aid in the restoration of essential wildlife pathways in the Central Highlands in view of World Wildlife Day.

TFO Welisara opens with dazzling celebration

The Factory Outlet, popularly known as TFO, took to the stage to offer a unique shopping experience for all its shoppers in Welisara with a dazzling grand opening. On March 01st, TFO, one of Sri Lanka’s leading shopping destinations for affordable and trendy fashion, celebrated a major milestone with the grand opening of its newest outlet in Welisara. The event was a stunning celebration of music and fashion.

Marketing Alumni Association of USJ holds Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Marketing Alumni Association (MAA) of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJ) took place on February 22, at Marino Beach, Colombo. The event saw the participation of lecturers from the Department of Marketing Management at USJ, as well as members of the Marketing Alumni Association.

Austin House opens with Elan

The Austin House Aesthetic Centre, the brainchild of Shirantha Peries , founder of the Mega Pharma group of companies opened to a full house with the fashion conscious and discerning elite availing themselves of the extensive services provided.

McLarens Maritime Academy holds Convocation

McLarens Maritime Academy (MMA), hosted its Convocation 2024 at BMICH recently.

Sri Lanka’s luxury SUV market warms up as new Range Rover debuts

The new Range Rover, unveiled in Sri Lanka just weeks ago, has already seen 135 units prebooked. The first shipment of this luxury SUV, offering greater refinement and personalisation than ever before, is set to arrive in the island nation in June.

US-Sri Lanka ties poised for growth in biotechnology and energy: policy expert

Sri Lanka has significant opportunities to collaborate with the United States in the fields of biotechnology and energy, according to a US policy expert.

Tourism leaders push for urgent promos to meet Sri Lanka’s 2025 targets

With Sri Lanka experiencing a rise in tourist arrivals compared to last year, industry leaders are calling for the urgent rollout of global promotional campaigns to sustain the momentum in order to achieve the government’s sector targets for the year.

CEB December quarter profit plunged amid tariff cuts

Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), the state-owned utility provider, managed to report a profit for the three months ending in December 2024 despite revenues decreasing sharply after it cut tariffs twice. But the sharp fall in the finance cost helped the bottom-line despite rising costs.

US mulls plan to disrupt Iran’s oil by halting vessels at sea

REUTERS - President Donald Trump’s administration is considering a plan to stop and inspect Iranian oil tankers at sea under an international accord aimed at countering the spread of weapons of mass destruction, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Fitch assigns Vidullanka PLC’s proposed Sukuk ‘A+(lka)(EXP)’ rating

Fitch Ratings has assigned Vidullanka PLC’s (A+(lka)/Stable) proposed listed secured sukuk issuance of Rs. 500 million an expected National Long-Term Rating of ‘A+(lka)(EXP)’.

Ceylon Chamber launches ‘Implementing the National Budget 2025’ seminar series 

As the effective implementation of the National Budget has been a key concern for many years, to enhance the feasibility of budget proposals and extend the discussion beyond just the month following a budget speech, the Ceylon Chamber is launching a seminar series titled ‘Implementing the National Budget 2025’

Crossings account for 25% of turnover

The ASPI closed in red as a result of price losses in counters such as Ceylon Tobacco Company, Melstacorp and Hatton National Bank with the turnover crossing Rs. 2.3 bn.

Yield curve remains unchanged as volumes remain moderate

The secondary market witnessed mixed activities during yesterday with the yield curve broadly remaining unchanged. Thus, several trades were observed on the 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031 and 2033 tenures, with 2027 maturities trading between 9.20%-9.44%, whilst 2028 maturities traded between 10.00%-10.40%.

Sri Lanka to reform organic agriculture laws to unlock export potential

In order to reform the organic agriculture laws in Sri Lanka to unlock the export potential, the National Organic Control Unit (NOCU), which operates under the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC), under its United Kingdom Trade Partnerships (UKTP) Programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, hosted

ComBank, Global Finance Best SME Bank in SL again

Commercial Bank of Ceylon has been recognised as the Best SME Bank in Sri Lanka in 2025 by Global Finance, honouring the bank with this title on the international stage for the third consecutive year.