Author: Ashanthi Ratnasingham
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 […]
SL signs agreement to implement Sri Lanka transit card
Revolutionizing the transport sector, the Ministry of Transport and the Central Bank played lead roles to get the key stakeholders to sign a four-party agreement to introduce Sri Lanka Transit Card (SLTC) recently. The SLTC initiative, which had been in the drawing board for many years will finally come to light in line with manifesto […]
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 […]
Only solution for COVID-19 pandemic is vaccination: Cant afford lockdown
Sri Lanka’s President says only a vaccine can end the COVID-19 pandemic. Developing countries such as Sri Lanka cannot take lockdown measures or impose curfews that obstruct the economic activities of the country, the President’s office said issuing a statement. “The majority of our country’s income earners depend on informal livelihoods. Therefore, while the government […]
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, […]
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 […]
WB says as SL should focus on competitiveness and debt sustainability to ensure resilient rebound
Despite the heavy toll of the COVID-19 pandemic on Sri Lanka’s economy and the lives of its people, the economy will recover in 2021, though challenges remain, says the latest World Bank Sri Lanka Development Update: Economic and Poverty Impact of COVID-19 released today. The Sri Lanka Development Update (SLDU) notes that the country, hit with an unprecedented economic […]
Prime Lands Residencies expected to make IPO bid soon
Prime Lands Residencies (Pvt) Ltd, the condominium property arm of Prime Group, recently celebrated a milestone achievement upon the completion of its 35th property project. Issuing a statement to mark this occasion the firm says it will be making it’s Initial Public Offering (IPO) in the near future. This development, the company says will certainly […]
Aitken Spence acquires Waltrim Energy for Rs.900Mn
Aitken Spence PLC has acquired 100 percent of shares of Waltrim Energy Limited, a sub-subsidiary of Sunshine Holdings PLC, for a total consideration of 900 million rupees, a company statement said. The company in a stock exchange filing by Aitken Spence, Waltrim Energy operates three hydropower generation plants in Nuwara Eliya, with a total capacity […]
US-based Blackstone Group acquires 56.5-pct of Piramal Glass
US-based private equity major Blackstone Group has acquired a 56.5 percent stake of Piramal Glass Ceylon PLC. The acquisition price implies a total enterprise value of 13.9 billion rupees for the target company. Asia Securities Advisors (Pvt) Ltd. acted as the buy-side advisor and Asia Securities (Pvt) Ltd acted as the executing stockbroker to the […]