Local realignments driving global growth: HNB’s vision for a diverse and digitalised SL resurgence

“Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together.” – J.C. Penney

CBSL Chief urges banks to tighten controls as SL prepares for critical AML/CFT review

Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe urged the banking sector to prepare for Sri Lanka’s third Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CFT) framework evaluation,

January apparel exports up 22% YoY

Sri Lanka’s apparel exports grew 22.18 percent year-on-year (YoY) in January 2025, reaching US$ 437 million from US$ 357 million a year earlier.

Tariff policy to be rolled out this year: Industries Ministry

The government will implement the long-awaited tariff policy this year, along with programmes aimed at supporting businesses, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe said.

Higher illicit cigarette sales weigh on CTC’s 4Q performance

Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC (CTC) reported a decline in revenue and profit for the three months ended December 2024, its fiscal fourth quarter, attributing the weaker performance to the increased presence of lower-priced smuggled cigarettes.

Shell-branded fuel station opens in Sri Lanka under RM Parks partnership

The first Shell-branded fuel station in Sri Lanka opened yesterday at B.S. Cooray Filling Station, Ambathale, following a retail brand license agreement signed by Shell Brands International AG (Shell) and RM Parks (Private) Limited.

People’s Bank gifts Apple iPhone 16 Pro to Social Media Draw winner

People’s Bank conducted the third phase of its initiative, selecting a lucky winner who took home a brand-new Apple iPhone 16 Pro by subscribing to People’s Bank social media pages.

HNB Assurance wins Effie for ‘Dola Duka’ campaign

HNB Assurance PLC was recognized with an Effie Award under the Insurance category for its ‘Dola Duka’ campaign. Notably, HNB Assurance was the only winner in this category, underlining the campaign’s creativity, effectiveness and impact.

Retail IT hosts premier tech event featuring industry experts

Retail IT (Pvt) Ltd recently reaffirmed its market leadership by hosting ‘Retail Technology Trends 2025’ at Waters Edge.

Union Assurance launches mobileapp-enabled life insurance solutions

Union Assurance has introduced a groundbreaking innovation in the sector with the launch of its mobileapp-enabled Life Insurance solutions.

Atlas wins Gold and Bronze at Effie Awards

Atlas announced its achievement at the Effie Awards 2025, securing both a Gold and a Bronze award for its campaign, ‘Write Fast with Atlas Max.’

PAYable surpasses Rs. 100 bn in transactions, empowering Lankan merchants to thrive

PAYable, Sri Lanka’s leading digital payment acceptance platform, celebrates a landmark achievement—crossing Rs. 100 billion in transactions.

‘NDB Talking Calendar’ wins Silver at Effie Awards

NDB Bank announced its triumph at the Effie Awards 2024, securing a Silver Award in the ‘Brand Experience’ category for its groundbreaking interactive AI Calendar.

Sri Lankan Women Entrepreneurs shine at Ambiente 2025

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), the host institution of SheTrades Sri Lanka Hub,in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC),

Hayleys Solar hosts Sri Lanka’s first Solar Roadshow

Hayleys Solar, the renewable energy arm of Hayleys Fentons Limited, completed Sri Lanka’s first-ever Solar Roadshow, titled “Gamin Gamata Solar Samata,” from 16th to 23rd January 2025 in the Southern region.

CleanCo Lanka along with SLVTA holds NVQ Level 4 Certificate Award Ceremony

In a significant collaboration with the Sri Lanka Vocational Training Authority (SLVTA), CleanCo Lanka Limited recently held the NVQ Level 4 Certificate Award Ceremony at the company’s head office, celebrating the achievements of its dedicated employees.

Hemas and Hatch Slingshot 2.0 nurture next generation of entrepreneurs

The Hemas ‘Slingshot’ Accelerator, powered by Hatch, recently concluded its second cohort with an inspiring Demo Day,

Allianz SE celebrates 135 years of global excellence

Allianz SE completes 135 years of global excellence, marking a significant milestone in its journey as one of the world’s leading insurers and asset managers.

Exports top US$ 1.3 bn in January

Sri Lanka’s export sector kicked off 2025 on a positive note, with total exports crossing US$ 1.3 billion in January, marking a 7.5 percent year-on-year (YoY) increase, data from the Export Development Board (EDB) showed.

Personal Data Protection Act enforcement pushed back by six months

The enforcement of Sri Lanka’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) has been delayed by six months, with the government citing public sector readiness concerns.

Finance Ministry calls for EOIs for Trade National Single Window

The Finance Ministry this week invited Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from consultancy firms to conduct a needs assessment to initiate a Trade National Single Window (TNSW) system to interconnect several government agencies engaged in international trade proceedings.

NTB sees strong 4Q performance, boosted by ISB provision reversal

Nations Trust Bank PLC posted a strong financial performance for the three months ending December 2024, fueled by a large provision reversal from its International Sovereign Bond (ISB) investments and a solid core banking performance, as demand for new loans continued to rise.

Seylan Bank 4Q gets lift from ISB related provision reversals

Seylan Bank PLC reported higher earnings for the three months ended in December 2024 on the back of provision reversals coming from its investments in International Sovereign Bonds, lower provisions for possible bad loans and expanding loan book.

ASPI continues to close in red

The ASPI closed in red as a result of price losses in counters such as Ceylinco Holdings, Commercial Bank and Hatton National Bank with the turnover crossing Rs. 2.3 bn.

Cautious approach emerges ahead of the bond auction

In yesterday’s weekly T-Bill auction, the weighted average yield rates experienced a slight further decline. The weighted average yield rates for the 3M, 6M, and 12M T-Bills stood at 7.57%, 7.87%, and 8.35%, respectively, reflecting auction yield drops of 4bps, 3bps, and 1bps.

CBL Group expands global footprint with Kenya entry

CBL Group has entered the Kenyan market by establishing a distribution hub as part of its strategic move to strengthen exports and establish a foothold in East Africa. This expansion aligns with the company’s long-term growth strategy to extend its global reach and cater to new consumer segments.

EFC Symposium lends voice to inclusive workplaces and compliance needs

The Employers’ Symposium 2025 organized by the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) which is a much looked forward to event among the EFC’s member-companies and other business stakeholders, will take place on February 28 at the Monarch Imperial.

Radisson Hotel Kandy honoured with Agoda Gold Circle Award

Radisson Hotel Kandy announced that it has been recognized with the Agoda Gold Circle Award 2024, an accolade that celebrates top-performing hotels committed to excellence in service, guest satisfaction, and industry best practices.

CEPA to host symposium on Sri Lanka’s poverty tomorrow

The Center for Poverty Analysis (CEPA) is set to host a high-level symposium on February 27th at the Hilton, Colombo, to present key findings from its comprehensive 5000-household poverty study conducted in 2023. The study, partially funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), assesses the impact of Sri Lanka’s economic crises on poverty incidence and evaluates the effectiveness of social protection programmes.

Dialog Enterprise expands AI-powered video surveillance and analytics

Dialog Enterprise, the corporate ICT solutions arm of Dialog Axiata PLC, is expanding its footprint in the Video Surveillance and Video Analytics domain through strategic collaborations with leading technology partners, along with many other renowned physical security brands. This initiative is set to redefine the standards of security and operational intelligence across industries.