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Opinion: Sri Lanka’s need for a national school of diplomacy for state’s success for next 100 years & beyond
“From ministers and parliamentarians to ministry secretaries and administrative service officers, Sri Lanka must establish an internationally benchmarked institution to develop the diplomatic, geopolitical, economic, legal and strategic negotiating capabilities of its governing establishment. Hambantota, abandoned investments, stalled multibillion-dollar projects and the country’s sovereign debt crisis demonstrate why diplomatic education can no longer remain an […]
Opinion: Are Tax Concessions Really the Best Way to Attract Investment to Sri Lanka?
By Advocata Institute Attracting foreign investment is a priority for Sri Lanka as it seeks to strengthen growth, create jobs and expand exports. Yet the growing reliance on tax concessions deserves reconsideration. Preferential tax treatment can encourage some investments, but it carries a fiscal cost, creates disparities between businesses and does not guarantee the benefits […]
Beyond Budget Surpluses: Making Public Expenditure Work for Sri Lanka’s External Sector
“One of the great mistakes is to judge policies and programs by their intentions rather than their results.” — Milton Friedman Author: Prof. Asoka.S.Seneviratne Introduction: From economic stabilisation to external-sector strength Sri Lanka has made considerable progress in restoring macroeconomic stability following its unprecedented economic crisis. Fiscal consolidation, improved revenue mobilisation, debt restructuring and the […]
Why Sri Lanka’s plantation future demands a new investment outlook
By Shanaka Samaradiwakara, Chairman, Planters’ Association of Ceylon A tea bush planted today may take five years to produce a crop, a decade to generate meaningful returns and more than 20 years to repay the investment. Yet Sri Lanka’smregional plantation companies have only 19 years remaining on their leases. This is the contradiction at the […]
Hayleys Retail Holdings Ltd to launch & scale supermarket business on Blue Yonder Platform
Hayleys Retail Holdings Ltd, today announced that it has selected Blue Yonder to build its grocery retail operations from the ground up with AI and connected supply chain technology. Hayleys Retail plans to open a number of stores in the near future to bring reliable service and greater convenience to consumers across Sri Lanka. The […]
HIPG and Al-Futtaim Logistics explore closer cooperation to support Gulf vehicle supply chains
Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) and Al-Futtaim Logistics have discussed opportunities to expand their existing business relationship, against a backdrop of Middle East shipping disruption that has highlighted Hambantota’s role as an alternative transhipment gateway for vehicles destined for Gulf markets. The discussions took place during a courtesy visit to Hambantota International Port (HIP) by […]
Strong Q2 lifts Hemas H1 revenue to Rs. 66.6 Bn, up 9.5%, with EBITDA returning to YoY growth
Hemas Holdings PLC delivered a strong second quarter, with revenue growing 17.0% YoY to Rs. 37.8 Bn in Q2 FY27 as all four sectors recorded growth, led by Hospitals (+19.3%) and Consumer Brands (+18.3%). EBITDA rebounded to Rs. 4.5 Bn, up 10.5% YoY and nearly double the first quarter. Group earnings more than doubled from […]
Sampath Bank & Mastercard collaborate to introduce two exclusive credit card variants for Chartered Professional Managers
From Left: Chirath Samarasekara, Head of Card Centre, Sampath Bank; Buddhika Amunugama, Director of Account Management, Mastercard; Mahesha Amarasuriya, Country Manager, Sri Lanka, Mastercard; Darshin Pathinayake, Chief Business Intelligence Officer, Sampath Bank; Prof. Lakshman R Watawala, Founder and President of CPM Sri Lanka; Dr. J A Ranga Jayakody, Governing Council Member, CPM Sri Lanka and […]
Fitch Upgrades Three Sri Lanka Bank-Owned NBFIs Following Parent Rating Upgrades; Outlooks Stable
Fitch Ratings has upgraded the National Long-Term Ratings of three Sri Lankan bank-supported non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) following the upgrade of their parent banks’ ratings. — People’s Leasing and Finance PLC (PLC) has been upgraded to ‘AA-(lka)’ from ‘A(lka)’; Outlook Stable — Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka & Finance PLC (MBSL) has been upgraded to […]
Opinion: We Have a Plan to Collect More Rupees. Where Is the Plan to Earn More Dollars?
Better tax collection strengthens Government finances. But lasting economic security also depends on what Sri Lanka can earn from the world. By Eng. Lalith Kahatapitiya Sri Lanka has announced a strategy to raise Government tax revenue to at least 17% of GDP by 2031. This is welcome. Stronger public finances, lower borrowing needs and reliable […]
Fitch Revises Sri Lanka Telecom to ‘AA+(lka)’ Following National Rating Scale Recalibration
Fitch Ratings has revised Sri Lanka Telecom PLC’s (SLT) National Long-Term Rating to ‘AA+(lka)’ from ‘AA-(lka)’ following the recalibration of the Sri Lankan National Rating scale. The Outlook is Stable. The recalibration reflects changes in the relative creditworthiness among Sri Lankan issuers following Fitch’s upgrade of Sri Lanka’s sovereign Long-Term Local-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) […]
Fitch Upgrades Kotagala Plantations to ‘B-(lka)’; Outlook Stable
Fitch Ratings has upgraded Kotagala Plantations PLC’s National Long-Term Rating to ‘B-(lka)’, from ‘CCC(lka) and assigned a Stable Outlook. The upgrade factors in improving liquidity as Kotagala accessed new bank financing in the financial year ended March 2026 (FY26), and continued to deleverage by repaying debt. However, the company continues to face refinancing risk because […]