Sri Lankas pioneer in vehicle emission testing services, LAUGFS Eco Sri Limited, recently engaged in an uplifting program to help restore vision for cataract patients in vulnerable communities. A subsidiary of the LAUGFS Group, the company is deeply committed to social responsibility and environmental stewardship. Accordingly, in an effort to support cataract patients in difficult circumstances, the management and staff of LAUGFS Eco Sri came together to donate intraocular lenses to several dese

Janashakthi Group (JXG), the title sponsor of the Battle of the Golden Blues, proudly announces the conclusion of the first-ever big match between St. Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa and St. Anthonys College, Wattala. Held on April 26th and 27th 2024 at the P. Saravanamuttu International Cricket Stadium, the match concluded with a gripping draw, showcasing the talent and sportsmanship of the participating teams. Despite this being the inaugural big match, both schools have a rich legacy of nurtur

Uma- Oya multipurpose project commenced paying back. Political sources note JVP leader AKD being a pioneer to propose development with waters of Uma Oya but when Mahinda walked the talk with the Iranians, those who only talk werent happy (ref media). Since SL wasnt a democracy even under the British, implementing projects for the good of the masses may have been faster till 1948. Leaving no space for negative minds in the absence of Democracy may have been an effective factor? Parakrama Samudray

Swisstek Aluminium has been recognized for its exemplary management practices, receiving the Merit Award for the third consecutive year at the Best Management Practices Company Awards 2024. Hosted annually by CPM Sri Lanka, these awards honour organizations both public and private that exhibit exceptional leadership, growth, and success through their management strategies and practices. In the Construction Sector category, Swisstek Aluminiums clinching of the Merit Award underscores its dedicati

In anticipation of the upcoming industry exhibition, the International Industry Expo 2024, excitement is building as less than two months are left until the exciting event unfolds. Recognized as the largest South Asian industry exhibition of the year covering a wide range of industries, International Industry Expo 2024 is poised to bring together diverse participants from all over the country under one roof at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) from 19th to 23rd June

President Ranil Wickremesinghe reiterated the governments commitment to maximizing the contribution of agriculture to the countrys economic advancement. He highlighted the implementation of programs aimed at popularizing cinnamon cultivation, a significant export crop in the countrys history, as part of the agricultural modernization initiative. President Ranil Wickremesinghe made these remarks while attending the Dilmah Cinnamon launching ceremony held yesterday (28) at the Galle Face Hotel in

Reuters HSBC Chief Executive Noel Quinn will retire, it said on Tuesday, in a surprise departure from the bank that he has overhauled in the past five years through a sweeping series of asset sales across the globe. The bank said has already launched a formal process to find a successor. Chief Financial Officer Georges Elhedery, appointed to the No. 2 role last January after a sabbatical before which he headed the banks markets business, is likely the leading internal candidate for the job. The

State Minister of Tourism Diana Gamage revealed plans to designate 49 additional tourist destinations as official tourist zones. These locations will be published in a gazette within a month as part of the on-going efforts to boost tourism. During a press conference held today (29) at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) under the theme Collective Path to a Stable Country, State Minister for Tourism Diana Gamage, announced plans to establish a dedicated committee tasked with preventing and monito

Applied Graphite Technologies Corporation (TSXV: AGT) (OTCQB: AGRTF) is pleased to announce that it has successfully completed the cross-listing of its common shares to the OTCQB Venture Market ( OTCQB ). AGTs common shares are now trading on the OTCQB under the ticker symbol AGRTF. Investors can find real-time quotes and market information for AGRTF on www.otcmarkets.com . Applied Graphite Technologies continues to trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol AGT. Don Baxter , CEO

Weve seen it through the blooms gracing our streets lately spring is officially upon us! And when it comes to flowers, nothing compares to the quintessential English Rose. Make way for The Body Shop s iconic British Rose collection: the brands elegant, floral-scented bath and body care range infused with rose petals, rose essence, and rosehip oil, while also enriched with Community Fair Trade aloe vera from Mexico. A long-standing favourite (just like its long-lasting fragrance), this collectio

In a significant move towards attracting export-oriented businesses to Port City Colombo, CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd recently entered into a partnership with the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB). A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the two parties to this effect at a special ceremony held on the 26 th of April 2024 at the Port City Colombo Sales Gallery. Singing on behalf of the EDB was its Chairman, Dr Kingsley Bernard, while Managing Director of CHEC Port City

Softlogic Life, Sri Lankas 2 nd largest life insurer, stepped into a New Era of Greatness and celebrated achievements of their top Sales performers at their annual Sales Convention, held at the Colombo Shangri-La Hotel on 05th April, 2024 with the participation of over 650 sales agents. The gala celebration organized under the theme A New Era of Greatness, served as a platform to recognize and celebrate the exceptional accomplishments of 2023s top performers, under its three sales verticalsAgenc

In the fiscal year concluded in March 2024, Barista celebrated the opening of 11 new outlets across the country, accompanied by a remarkable two-fold growth in sales with the expansion while doubling their bottom line. Barista has also been a foreign-exchange earner, serving tourists at the outlets located in tourist hotspots, contributing to the countrys economy. This accomplishment stands as a testament to Baristas resilience in the face of economic turbulence, tax shifts and policy reforms im

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka and the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a partnership aimed at leveraging Sri Lankas capital markets for sustainable financing. This collaboration is intended to support and encourage private sector stewardship and embed sustainability as an important element of business strategy in Sri Lanka. Specifically, the collaboration intends to actively support and engage the private sector,

Rotary International is a worldwide network comprising 1.2 million corporate leaders in over 200 countries, dedicated to causes that improve the quality of lives and create a better world. Rotary educates and equips communities to stop the spread of life-threatening diseases like polio, HIV/AIDS, and malaria, whilst also improving and expanding access to low-cost and free health care in developing areas around the world and is the only service organization in the world to be afforded a permanent

Diversified conglomerate Sunshine Holdings PLC (CSE: SUN) recently celebrated the joy, colour and the vibrant culture of the Sinhala and Hindu New Year at Sunshine Soorya Mangalyaya 2024 , the annual new year celebrations of the Group. More than 1000 employees gathered at the Steel Corporation Ground in Athurugiriya to embrace the spirit of the Sinhala and Hindu New Year with joyous activities and traditional customs. The day was filled with fun Avurudu games, from Kotta Pora (pillow fighting),

Federation of Information Technology Industry Sri Lanka (FITIS), the apex body of the ICT industry, is continuing to assist the Government of Sri Lanka in its journey towards the Digital Transformation. Working very closely with the Ministry of Technology, FITIS contributed to the formulation of National Digital Economy Strategy 2030 since its inception through representations in the Thematic Working Groups. Through its campaign Fuelling the Digital Economy, FITIS has carried out several events

DFCC Remittances partnered with Mondial Boney Services in Italy to host an Avurudu event to celebrate the Sinhala and Tamil New Year on the 14th of April 2024 in grand style, with many Sri Lankans participating in traditional events and activities. The Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in Naples, AVV Carmine Capasso, graced the occasion, along with Italian regulators, businesspeople and DFCC Remittances exchange partners. The Guest of Honour at the event was Anton Arumugam, the Senior Vice President

With representatives from several foreign embassies represented in Sri Lanka visiting the Hambantota International Port (HIP) to investigate business opportunities, the Sri Lanka Foreign Ministry organised a port visit for its ambassador designates. In line with that, Sri Lankan ambassadors designated to 8 countries were taken on a guided tour of HIP and followed a structured familiarisation course on the ports current activities and future plans. With the beginning of container operations last

SLASSCOM, the apex body representing Sri Lankas IT/ BPM industry, has unveiled a pioneering collaboration with STEMUP Educational Foundation (STEMUP), an innovative online platform dedicated to fostering an interest in STEM careers among students. This collaboration is focused on launching an online internship platform designed to enhance opportunities for aspiring tech professionals, addressing the industrys growing demand for skilled talent by providing practical, hands-on experience in the te

Minister of Foreign Affairs of JapanYoko Kamikawa is scheduled to undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka from 04-05 May 2024. During this visit, the Japanese Foreign Minister is scheduled topay courtesy calls on President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. The Japanese Foreign Minister and her delegation will haveofficial discussions with the Foreign Minister Ali Sabry during the visit. The Foreign Ministerwill be accompanied by senior officials of the Ministry of For

Driving the adoption of green energy practices across the country, Hayleys Solar, the renewable energy arm of Hayleys Fentons has entered into an agreement with the Bank of Ceylon (BOC) to provide low-interest loans for both residential and commercial customers in a bid to encourage them to make the transition to renewable energy. Customers can take advantage of the partnerships exceptional financial schemes, which offer loan plans with the lowest interest rates in the market with a 7-year repay

Toyota Lanka (Private) Limited, a leading name in the automotive industry, recently hosted its 16 th Annual Dealer Convention to honour and recognize the outstanding contributions of its 500 authorized partners nationwide. The convention served as a platform to acknowledge the pivotal role played by these partners in the distribution of Toyota Genuine Motor Oil, Toyota Genuine Spare Parts, PIRELLI, Accelera and Otani Tyres, ensuring the highest standards of quality and service for customers acro

Perera & Sons Bakers (P&S), Sri Lankas largest quick service restaurant chain, recently sponsored the Hill Club Annual Open Ranking Tennis Event for the 2 nd consecutive year. A long-standing supporter of tennis, badminton, table tennis and other sporting events, including school-level tournaments, P&S began its association with the Hill Club Annual Open Ranking Tennis Event last year, when it was held after a multiyear hiatus as a result of the global pandemic. The Hill Club Annual Open Ranking

Fairy Herbal Products Pvt. Ltd. a leading herbal based beauty products manufacturer in the country was honoured as the Best Herbal Based Beauty Institute of the Year at Golden Inmediens Awards 2023. The award was received by Fairy Herbal Products Founder and Managing Director, Kaveena Ekanayake Arachchige. Based in Mulatiyana, Matara, Fairy Herbal Products specialises in manufacturing and selling a diverse range of Ayurvedic remedies. These products are designed not only to address various healt

Launched in 2004, the John Keells English Language Scholarship Programme (JKELSP) marks its 20th anniversary of enhancing the English language skills of schoolchildren and youth across Sri Lanka. This flagship initiative under JKFs Education focus aims to empower children and youth from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds with English, IT, and career skills towards improving their higher education and career opportunities in todays competitive world. Aligned with national priorit

Net Interest Income for the quarter 2,884 Mn, up by 42% Net Fee and Commission Income for the quarter 398 Mn, up by 17% Operating Profit for the quarter 1,105 Mn, up by 43% Profit before Tax for the quarter 796 Mn, up by 47% Profit after Tax for the quarter 363 Mn, up by 12% Gross Loans and Advances 146 Bn, grew by 5%. Customer Deposit base reaches 180 Bn, grew by 3%. CASA ratio improves to 20%. Net Interest Margin 91%, Return on Assets (Pre-tax) 1.36%, Return on Equity 6.42% Stage 3 Loan Rat

Virtusa Corporation, a global provider of digital engineering and IT services, proudly hosted the first-ever LinkedIn (LI) community event in Sri Lanka, dubbed Connect Colombo. The landmark event took place at the Courtyard by Marriott, marking a significant milestone in the countrys professional networking landscape. Bringing together over 200 industry leaders and mid to senior-level executives, Connect Colombo served as a dynamic platform for discussions on pivotal topics such as Networking an

Emphasizes Peoples Role in Determining Nations Economic Trajectory. President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized the governments aim to create a highly competitive, export-oriented economy based on market economy, expressing full faith in the business community of the country. He pointed out that the current challenge facing the nation is not about maintaining the executive presidential system but rather about building a robust economic framework. The President underscored the importance of allowin

Reaffirming its commitment to excellence in carrying out responsible initiatives to reduce human impact on the environment, empowering communities through digitalisation and streamlined operations, SLT-MOBITEL, the National ICT Solutions Provider, unveiled its new ESG theme Co-Connection. The new Co-Connection theme recognises the vital role businesses play today in shaping a sustainable future and aims to take a holistic approach to ESG in nurturing a harmonious co-existence between the organis

HNB PLC, Sri Lankas leading private sector bank, recently entered a strategic partnership with Micro Cars Limited to offer unparalleled benefits and exclusive offers to customers intending to purchase vehicles from Micro Cars. Under this partnership, customers purchasing PROTON SAGA, SAIC ALMAZA and TIGGO4 PRO vehicles from Micro Cars will enjoy a range of benefits and incentives. HNB Assistant General Manager PFS, Kanchana Karunagama and Micro Cars Chairman/CEO Lawrence Perera were present at

Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC (CTC) announced the appointment of Fariyha Subhani as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective 15 th April 2024. Subhani takes over the reins as Managing Director from Monisha Abraham,whowasappointedto the position in December 2021. Prior to joining CTC, Fariyha served as Managing Director for Upfield (Private) Limited, South & Central Asia, a leading private equity food company. She also spent 28 years with Unilever PLC where she held various senior l

Sri Lankas leading intimate apparel brand, amant , unveiled its new boutique at Colombos One Galle Face (OGF) mall. The sixth addition to the brands boutiques in Sri Lanka was opened on 19th April by Chief Guest, Darshi Keerthisena, in the presence of several guests and special invitees. While famous for its premium range of intimate wear, amants offering has now expanded to include athleisure, swimwear, sleepwear and accessories. Located on Level 2 at the OGF mall, customers can now shop this f

Sun Siyam Pasikudah marked the dawn of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year at the auspicious time on 13th.April with a display of fireworks, joined by in-house guests and staffs together with the management. The sentiments of a renewed hope for tourism and prosperity in the East and across the country echoed. The following day, the recently revamped boutique five-star retreat dished out many mouth-watering traditional Sri Lankan sweets for breakfast, including a live presentation by the talented Chef

The Sri Lanka Veterinary Association (SLVA) marked World Veterinary Day on April 27, 2024, with a social media campaign emphasising the critical role veterinarians play in safeguarding public health. This years theme, Veterinarians are essential health workers, underlines their diverse contributions beyond animal care. Veterinarians are often unseen activists in safeguarding public health, stated Dr. Mohamed Ijas, President of Sri Lanka Veterinary Association. To mark World Veterinary Day, we ai

Furthering Dubais commitment to accessible travel and to raise awareness of autism, Emirates invited 30 UAE families with neurodiverse children to have a real check in experience and familiarisation flight on the 24 April, in Terminal 3 Dubai International Airport (DXB). The initiative was designed to help the children practice and alleviate anxieties before travelling, as well as providing a unique opportunity for Emirates to collaborate with key partners, and garner insights for improving acce

Keells Food Products PLC, is delighted to announce the launch of Elephant House range of Sausages to the vibrant culinary landscape of Australia through an esteemed partnership with Millennium Imports Pty Ltd, a leading importer and distributor of premium food products. This Partnership is a first for both Elephant House, the iconic Sri Lankan household brand renowned for its premium products and unparalleled taste and Millennium Imports Pty Ltd as this range is being fully manufactured in Austr

Recognized for its exceptional commitment to sustainable business practices, Sri Lanka Telecom PLC (SLT) secured the esteemed Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Award 2023 in the Other category at a recent gala event. The award was granted following a rigorous evaluation process, during which SLT competed against 33 leading corporations. The annual awards are organized by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Sri Lankas premier business chamber, to felicitate organizations committed to sustainabili

The Four As Advertising Festival, powered by Unilever Sri Lanka and globally connected by SriLankan Airlines, is gearing up to be a transformative event for the advertising and creative industry this May. With Unilever Sri Lanka as its driving force and the global mileage facilitated by SriLankan Airlines, the festival promises to be a remarkable milestone for Sri Lanka, making this event highly anticipated and significant for the local advertising and creative community, as it has been a while

g ovi.ai, a leading innovator in agricultural IoT solutions, presented a very successful program at the recent Future Harvest Exhibition held at the Bandaranayake Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) from March 29 to 31. The govi.ai team showcased their innovative agri tech solutions in a live demo station, catered to empowering farmers (from smallholder to commercial) to adopt a data-driven approach to farming. Hon. (Dr.) Harsha de Silva, M.P. was one of the many visitors to the govi.

OCTAVE, the Data and Advanced Analytics Centre of Excellence of the John Keells Group, is pleased to announce its recent strategic partnership with the University of Peradeniya, in Sri Lanka. This collaboration marks a significant step in the ongoing efforts to forge strong ties with top-tier academic institutions, particularly with the Department of Computer Science & Engineering and the Faculty of Science of the University of Peradeniya, which holds the distinction of being the countrys oldest

Inqbaytor Technologies, a leading travel technology company, recently announced a groundbreaking achievement as the first travel platform in the country to be certified for Emirates Gateway Direct NDC API. This landmark collaboration empowers Inqbaytor to directly connect its B2C platform, crazyjets.com, and B2B platform, Ticket Gadget, to Emirates through the IATA NDC standard, eliminating intermediaries and unlocking a world of benefits for both the airline and travelers. Dr. Harshani Perera,

The inaugural publication under Section 80 of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Act, No. 16 of 2023 (CBA), namely, the Annual Economic Review 2023, and the inaugural publication under Section 99 of the CBA, namely, Financial Statements and Operations of the Central Bank 2023, were presented to Honourable Ranil Wickremesinghe, the President and Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies, by Dr. P Nandalal Weerasinghe, the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, yesterday (25

In celebration of Earth Day, Sri Lanka Resorts of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts conducted a series of impactful initiatives conducted across its eight properties in Sri Lanka, under this years global theme of Plastic Vs Planet. The beach properties of Sri Lanka Resorts, including Cinnamon Bentota Beach, Cinnamon Bey Beruwala, Hikka Tranz by Cinnamon, and Trinco Blu by Cinnamon, organized beach clean-up drives in their designated regions with the support of the surrounding community. These proactive

Kaspersky, the global cybersecurity and digital privacy company, announced its expansion into new territories in Asia Pacific (APAC), including Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Bangladesh. This strategic move marks a significant milestone in the companys mission to fortify digital infrastructure across the developing economies in the region, particularly on the enterprise cybersecurity market. As cyber threats continue to evolve and proliferate worldwide, Kaspersky recognizes the imperative of extending

The Ceylon Chamber recognizes the Digital Economy as a key enabler for Sri Lankas economic growth acceleration. The National Digital Economy Strategy 2030 recently published by the Ministry of Technology provides a roadmap to unlock the benefits of the digital economy. The strategy focuses on the improvement of the digital infrastructure, implementation of the Digital ID, improving cybersecurity legislation, connected digital government and enhancing digital skills for government and industry. T