Seylan Bank records Rs.1Bn PAT in 2021 Q1 despite Covid challenges

Seylan Bank made a steady start in 2021 by posting a Profit After Tax (PAT) of LKR 1Bn in Q1 2021 amidst macro-economic challenges brought in by the COVID-19 pandemic. Statement of Financial Performances Interest income recorded a decline due to the lower interest rates and moderate book growth but net interest margin showed a […]

NCPI based inflation increased to 5.1-pct in March 2021

Headline inflation as measured by the year-onyear (Y-o-Y) change in the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI, 2013=100)1 increased to 5.1 percent in March 2021 from 4.2 percent in February 2021. This was due to the statistical effect of the low base prevailed in March 2020. Meanwhile, Food inflation (Y-o-Y) increased to 8.8 percent in March […]

World Bank approves USD80.5Mn additional financing to help SL access to COVID-19 vaccines

The World Bank today approved $80.5 million additional financing to help Sri Lanka access and distribute fairly COVID-19 vaccines and to strengthen the country’s vaccination system and pandemic response. This additional finance builds on the $217.56 million  Sri Lanka COVID-19 Emergency Response and Pandemic Preparedness Project, which was approved in April 2020. This new financing will […]

World Bank reassures support for Sri Lanka to build back better from COVID-19

 The World Bank’s Country Director for Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, Faris Hadad-Zervos, concluded a successful visit to Sri Lanka Sunday where he reiterated the Bank’s commitment to support the islands efforts towards recovery and to build back better from the COVID-19 shock. Based in Kathmandu, Nepal, this latest mission followed the Country Director’s introductory […]

Sri Lanka’s tech startup program spiralation opens for 2021 applications

Sri Lanka’s apex Government body in driving the tech-startup ecosystem, the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) is now calling applications for its national startup initiative ‘Spiralation’ for the ninthyear running. The Spiralation series has so far supported more than 90 successful startups across multiple industry verticals -including health, finance, agriculture, education […]

ICRA Lanka: Low-interest rates, Who are the winners and losers?

Key Takeaways §  Price increase in treasuries have helped primary dealers and banks to realize substantial capital gains as much as 40-to-60 percent from March 2020 price levels. §  Equities attracted a large number of local investors, as historically low interest rates on fixed income assets prompted them to seek alternative investments. Investors saw their portfolio valuations […]

ComBank becomes Sri Lanka’s first carbon-neutral bank

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has become the first Sri Lankan bank to achieve carbon neutrality for the entirety of its operations, encompassing all 268 branches and its head office – a monumental milestone in the Bank’s commitment to the environment. Becoming a net-zero carbon company was one of Commercial Bank’s Green Goals, to be […]

SL and World Bank sign USD70Mn loan to redevelop major transit terminal in Kandy

The Government of Sri Lanka and the World Bank signed a loan agreement in the amount of 69.33 million dollars for the Kandy Multimodal Transport Terminal Development Project, which will develop the Good Shed terminal in Kandy. Located at the city center and providing access to the railway station, the modernized terminal will integrate rail, bus, three-wheeler, […]

Emirates to increase services to Colombo to 7 a week from 3 May

Emirates has announced it will increase its services to Colombo from six to seven flights a week, with the seventh weekly flight commencing 3rd May. The additional service will serve rising market demand and enhance connectivity to and from Colombo via Dubai. The added flight will operate every Monday. Emirates flight EK650 will depart Dubai […]

Eco Spindles talks responsible recycling at CFW’s Responsible Fashion Summit

At the recently concluded Responsible Fashion Summit organised by the Colombo Fashion Week (CFW), Sri Lanka’s largest plastic recycler Eco Spindles was among industry experts in an invaluable panel discussion themed ‘Circularity in a Fashion Supply Chain’. Representing Eco Spindles at the discussion, Chief Executive Officer at Eco Spindles Yarns, Nalaka Seneviratne elaborated on how […]

RPCs urge priority for worker vaccination ahead of new wave of COVID cases

The Planters’ Association of Ceylon (PA) called on Government and Public Health officials to ensure that estate-sector workers made a top priority in the COVID-19 vaccination drive, given their essential contributions to the national economy. In a backdrop where COVID-19 cases are once again on the rise both locally and globally, while preparations are already […]

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