Digital maturity gap in financial services has grown wider

As the pressure for financial service companies to increase their digital capabilities continues to rise, leaders are pulling further ahead of the pack on multiple fronts, according to new research from Broadridge. The research, which surveyed 500 C-suite and senior executives globally, from firms representing anywhere from US $ 1 billion to over US $ 250 billion in AUM, highlights the strategic investments firms are making in technology and tale

ComBank opens newly-built Kegalle branch

Commercial Bank of Ceylon recently moved its Kegalle branch to a spacious new two-storey building at the same location, designed to better serve customers in this bustling municipality. The branch at No: 186, Main Street, Kegalle, is a fully-fledged banking operation that also offers two automated teller machines (ATM) and two cash recycler machines (CRM) to provide round-the-clock digital services to customers. The bank said enhanced parking fac

Fitch assigns Siyapatha Finance’s proposed senior debt ‘BBB+(EXP)(lka)’ rating

Fitch Ratings announced last week it has assigned Siyapatha Finance PLC’s proposed Sri Lankan rupee-denominated senior unsecured debentures of up to Rs.4 billion an expected National Long-Term Rating of ‘BBB+(EXP)(lka)’. The proposed debentures will mature in five years and will be listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange. The company plans to use the proceeds to support its loan book expansion. The final rating is subject to the receipt of final doc

Amana Bank’s 60th customer location in Atulugama

Amana Bank opened its 60th customer location, with the establishment of a Self-Banking Centre (SBC) in the town of Atulugama, off Bandaragama. The bank, thereby extends the bank’s people-friendly development banking model to serve those in the locality, who previously lacked convenient access to banking services. Located at No. 14, Samees Mahal Bogawatha, Atulugama, Bandargama, this SBC marks the bank’s commitment to enhancing banking accessibil

World transformed: Beyond borders and boundaries

The concept of boundaries, both physical and ideological, has long been a defining feature of human civilisation. The man has built barriers both tangible and intangible, including the Great Wall of China, Berlin Wall, Iron Curtain to the digital divide, to demarcate territories, safeguard interests and preserve identities. Interestingly, throughout the history, we have also witnessed the gradual erosion of these barriers, as the forces of globa

SLPA holds Port of Colombo Awards Night

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), in collaboration with Jaya Container Terminal (JCT), South ASIA Gateway Terminals (SAGT) and Colombo International Container Terminals (CICT), hosted Port of Colombo Awards Night 2024, at Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo, on March 15, 2024. The event was attended by Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva as the chief guest, Ports, Shipping and Aviation Ministry Secretary K.D.S. Ruwanchandra as

First bunkering of ammonia as marine fuel completed

In what may be a pivotal moment in the future of alternative marine fuels, the world’s first bunkering of ammonia and tests of adapted engines took place in Singapore aboard an offshore supply vessel retrofitted by Australia’s Fortescue Group. The testing is ongoing helping to develop the information on safety and management that might one day see ammonia become one of the leading marine fuels. The tests were carried out with the Fortescue Gre

France unveils latest plan to rebuild Lebanon’s Port of Beirut

Lebanon wants to rebuild the Beirut Port, destroyed by an ammonium nitrate explosion on August 4, 2020 and France has come forward to help. This endeavour has garnered worldwide attention, with France presenting a proposal on March 13, 2024, regarding the port’s reconstruction and reorganisation at the conference in Beirut. The plan discusses repairing the port infrastructure, designing its layout for efficient traffic flow and using solar power

Scanwell Logistics commits to gender equality, inclusion

Scanwell Logistics Colombo (Pvt.) Ltd has been empowering its female employees by breaking down barriers to entry, promoting career advancement and dedicating itself to providing equal opportunities for all employees, irrespective of gender, race, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation. In a testament to its commitment to gender diversity and inclusion, Scanwell Logistics currently boasts a workforce where over 30 percent are women occupying

IATA announces Air Cargo Digitalisation Leadership Charter signatories

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced the launch of the IATA Digitalisation Leadership Charter at the IATA World Cargo Symposium in Hong Kong. Cathay Cargo, CHAMP Cargosystems, Global Logistics System Hong Kong Company Limited, IAG Cargo, IBS Software, LATAM Cargo and Lufthansa Cargo are the inaugural signatories of the charter. The Digitalisation Leadership Charter aims to accelerate the air cargo industry’s digitalisati

Hambantota Port receives 6000 cruise passengers

There were six cruise ship calls at the Hambantota International Port (HIP) in the months of January and February 2024, carrying over 6,000 passengers to Sri Lanka. Celebrity Millennium, the largest of the cruise ships that called, sailing between the lines of Hambantota/Colombo and Phuket, Thailand, arrived at the port twice, on February 14 and 26, respectively. Silver Moon, also bound for Phuket, called at HIP on February 20, arriving from the

Boeing Dreamliner’s mid-air nosedive linked to ‘pilot-induced seat movement’

The movement of a pilot’s seat on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner may have been behind the aircraft’s sudden nosedive during a flight on Monday, March 11, 2024 that caused the injury of at least 50 passengers, according to an aviation publication. The Latam flight had departed from Sydney, Australia and was heading for Auckland, New Zealand, when it “froze” in mid-air and went into free fall, throwing passengers up in the air, with some hitting their hea

Selyn Foundation advances fight against period poverty in SL

Sri Lanka this week took a progressive step towards tackling period poverty, with the Selyn Foundation stepping up efforts to redefine access to menstrual hygiene and support for women across Sri Lanka. The Selyn Foundation this week unveiled its flagship #BleedGood initiative, which marked a pivotal moment in the fight against period poverty while championing sexual and reproductive health rights. #BleedGood encompasses an ecosystem of collecti

Tourism development needs to expand beyond coastal areas: Ranil

As Sri Lanka is regaining its position as a sought-after destination, President Ranil Wickremesinghe stressed the need to expand the tourism industry beyond the coastal areas, to strengthen the country’s economy. “Our focus must remain on tourism development, particularly in the Southern province, which holds a special significance. We’re committed to relocating the government offices from Galle Fort, to facilitate tourism promotion,” he said, ad

14 potential investors show interest in LGL and LGT divestiture

Fourteen potential investors have shown interest in the strategic divestiture of Litro Gas Lanka Ltd (LGL) and Litro Gas Terminals (Pvt.) Ltd (LGT), the State-Owned Enterprises Restructuring Unit said.

Home Lands Group of Companies expands to Australia

Home Lands Group of Companies, a leading real estate and property developer, announced the opening of Home Lands (Melbourne) Pty Ltd, the group’s latest venture, marking an expansion of its real estate operations to Australia. Located at No. 184, Whitehorse Road, Blackburn, VIC 3130, Home Lands (Melbourne) is a full-service real estate company, now open and ready to cater to the diverse needs of customers across Australia. Specialising in both a

Colombo Dockyard appoints Chanaka Jayamaha to board

Colombo Dockyard PLC on March 6, 2024, appointed Attorney-at-Law Chanaka Jayamaha as a Non-Executive Independent Director. A product of St. Joseph’s College, Colombo 10, Jayamaha presently counts 20 years of practice as an Attorney-at-Law. He is a civil/commercial lawyer, who specialises in litigation and arbitration. His areas of expertise include banking and finance, insurance, intellectual property, shipping law, construction law, land law,

LankaPay Technnovation Awards 2024 to celebrate vision beyond borders

LankaPay announced the sixth edition of the LankaPay Technnovation Awards, Sri Lanka’s pioneering and the only payment technology innovation awards programme, to recognise the payment technology innovators. The de facto recognition standard and one of the most looked forward to events amongst the country’s banking fraternity, kicked off with the much-awaited online poll for the Most Popular Digital Payment Product of the Year on February 09, 202

Tea auction sees good general demand this week

The total auction offerings this week comprised of 5.3 million kilogrammes, which was met with good general demand. The Ex-Estate offerings showed an increase over last and totalled 0.8 million kilogrammes vis-à-vis 0.7 million kilogrammes on offer over the last couple of weeks. The quality of teas from the Western slopes comprised of a fairly useful selection of teas, whilst the others showed no significant change. The Better teas continued t

Pipinya Pickleball Sri Lanka Club launched

In a historic moment for sports enthusiasts in Sri Lanka, the country unveiled its first-ever pickleball club recently. Located at 670 Galle Road in Moratuwa, the Pipinya Pickleball Sri Lanka Club, with a state-of-the-art facility, is set to mark the beginning of a new era in athletic pursuits and community engagement. Pickleball, a unique blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, has been gaining global popularity due to its accessibility a

Abans offers easy payment terms for latest LG products

As the exclusive LG agent in Sri Lanka, Abans brings down a diverse and unparalleled range of LG products, now offering up to 40 months interest free instalment plans for Sampath credit cardholders. The LG Smart Inverter Refrigerator boasts LG’s cutting-edge Smart Inverter Compressor, hailed as one of the most sophisticated and energy-conscious compressors in existence. Unlike traditional models that run continuously at maximum capacity, the LG

NDB offers exciting card deals for Avurudu

As the season of Avurudu dawns upon us, NDB Bank brings back the much-anticipated celebration with a promise to make it even more spectacular. NDB Cards is here to elevate your festivities like never before. From March 1st to April 30th, immerse yourself in the spirit of the Sinhala and Hindu New Year with NDB’s exclusive card offers. This year, the savings are grander than ever, with discounts reaching up to a staggering 80 percent. NDB Cards ar

Mackly and SEDA introduce new clothing categories

Founded in 2017, Mackly, the sleep and loungewear brand that caters to both kids and moms, has today expanded its brand portfolio with the introduction of SEDA, targeting both teens and adults. This expansion includes new categories such as SEADA Teens, SEDA Innerwear, and SEDA Black Active. SEDA’s expansion includes a stylish collection targeting teenagers, featuring trendy graphic t-shirts and versatile unisex sets designed to resonate with the

Nolimit launches ‘Garden of Glam’

Nolimit’s latest lineup, the ‘Garden of Glam’ Spring Collection was officially launched recently. The unveiling of the spring collection was elevated by the presence of special guest Rozanne Diasz. ‘Garden of Glam’ is now available at all Nolimit outlets across the Island.

Dilfer and Simply Women team up to empower the deprived

Clothing brand Dilfer celebrated International Women’s Day recently launching its ‘Women Empowering Women’ campaign, aimed at uplifting the lives of underprivileged women. Every cut-off piece from the Dilfer manufacturing process takes on a new meaning and purpose by becoming a symbol of support and solidarity for women facing various challenges in today’s society. Dilfer has partnered with ‘Simply Women’, an organisation formed to uplift the li

Singer unveils 14th-Gen ASUS ROG and ZenBook laptops

Singer recently extended its partnership with global consumer electronics manufacturer ASUS, to introduce the 14th Generation line-up of Republic of Gamers (ROG) and ZenBook laptops for the first time in Sri Lanka. The unveiling is a celebration of cutting-edge technology and innovation, bringing together Singer’s commitment to quality and customer satisfaction with the ASUS brand of pioneering innovation. The event witnessed the unveiling of AS

Dantaja launches mobile medical clinic

Dantaja Premium Dental Chambers recently introduced the ‘Dantaja on Wheels’ mobile medical clinic at BMICH with the presence of Tourism, Lands, Sports, and Youth Affairs Minister Harin Fernando. For the first time, people will get the opportunity to receive premium oral health services delivered directly to their doorstep. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology and staffed by expert doctors, the luxurious mobile bus features two treatment seat

WCIC and USAID join to empower Sri Lankan women entrepreneurs

The Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WCIC) partnered with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to help female entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka to access new markets and financial services through the launch of an upgraded website. The upgraded website was unveiled at the WCIC Women’s Leadership Forum held on March 14, 2024. This platform now features a customised online marketplace exclusive for women-led businesses

ComBank celebrates Women’s Day with knowledge sharing session

More than 200 women small and medium entrepreneurs (WSMEs) attended a knowledge sharing session organised and hosted by the Commercial Bank of Ceylon recently as part of the bank’s celebration of International Women’s Day. The event held at Waters Edge, was supported by ‘Anagi’ – the bank’s portfolio of banking products and services exclusive to female customers. The keynote speaker at the event was Dr. Dilesha Perera – Co founder of La Vivente (

PB launches Vanitha Wasana

Women’s savings scheme Vanitha Wasana was launched by the People’s Bank on March 7 to mark International Women’s Day. Actress Veena Jayakodi, entrepreneur Iyanthi Gunawardene, IP S. M. M. C. Hapugoda of Women and Chidcare Bureau of Mirihana , Lecturer Open University Sanduni Munasinghe addressed the gathering.