Business
‘2023, one of Sri Lanka’s best recovery years; tourism will support country re-building’
By Hiran H.Senewiratne
‘2023 would be one of the best recovery years for Sri Lanka and tourism will support rebuilding the economy. Aggressively promoting Indian tourism into Sri Lanka will serve that purpose to some extent, Minister of Tourism Harin Fernando said.
“Sri Lanka is looking to its big brother India to support in these ambitious endeavours to help Sri Lankans to save their smiles. Plans are underway to promote Sri Lankan tourism in all big cities in India including Kochi, Chennai and Bengaluru next year, Fernando said last week at the press conference announcing the launch of SiHiTa Cultural Fest 2022 at the Hilton Colombo. The event was organized by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Ministry of Tourism and Lands and the Indian High Commission in Colombo. The festival will take place at the Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo on December 30.
Fernando added: “Sri Lanka needs to stand out, we need tourism. And this Christamas Sri Lanka is going to show the world ‘Sri Lanka Can’ .We are a resilient nation and we always come out of troubles.”
Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Chairman Chalaka Gajabahu said: “We would like to continue this engagement in the future as this would help in terms of clearing Sri Lanka’s image and boosting the Sri Lankan tourism industry in a big way.”
Tourism sector sources added: “SiHiTa is a unique event in which India and Sri Lanka will join hands together to embark on a journey to promote tourism and to attract international markets towards the South Asian region. SiHiTa would also be an ideal platform to create much needed links between the two countries in the economic, cultural and social spheres. The festival will include a wide range of aspects, such as, Indian and Sri Lankan culture, music, travel, food, cinema, dance, fashion and hospitality.”
The event will see multiple award winning Indian artiste Srinivas performing along with well known, young Sri Lankan artistes. Proceeds from the event will be forwarded to the “Educate a Child” project.
Another long -term goal of this project is to build and maintain care centres for autism and Down syndrome children in all nine provinces. Organizers of this event are hopeful that this event would open doors for Indian tourists to experience Sri Lankan hospitality in a big way. Organizers of SiHiTa expect some 5,000 participants from both countries and plans are underway to operate special charter flights and other scheduled airlines from both India and Sri Lanka to bring down Indian fans.
Business
Constituent Change in the S&P Sri Lanka 20 Index
The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) announces the following change in S&P Sri Lanka 20 index constituents made by S&P Dow Jones Indices at the 2026 Mid-Year rebalance.
The exclusion and inclusion as announced by S&P Dow Jones Indices, effective from 22nd June 2026 (after the market close of 19th June 2026) are presented below.
The S&P SL 20 index includes the 20 largest companies, by total market capitalization, listed on the CSE that meet minimum size, liquidity and financial viability thresholds. The constituents are weighted by float-adjusted market capitalization, subject to a single stock cap of 15%, which is employed to reduce single stock concentration.
The S&P SL 20 index has been designed in accordance with international practices and standards. All stocks are classified according to the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®), which was co-developed by S&P Dow Jones Indices and MCSI and is widely used by market participants throughout the world.
To be eligible for inclusion, a stock must have a minimum float-adjusted market capitalization of 500 million Sri Lankan rupees (Rs), a six-month median daily value traded of Rs 0.25 million and have positive net income over the 12 months prior to the rebalancing reference date. For information, including the complete methodology, please visit: www.spindices.com
Effective from 22nd June 2026 the stocks in the S&P Sri Lanka 20 in alphabetical order are as above.
Business
Teejay Group navigates industry headwinds with financial strength and strategic focus
The Teejay Group recorded revenue of LKR 60.04 billion during the period, reflecting a 10% year-on-year decline, primarily due to continued softness in global textile demand. This performance was largely impacted by reciprocal tariffs imposed by the United States, intensified pricing pressures across key markets, and the resulting decline in volumes, all of which collectively weighed on topline growth.
Group Gross Profit declined by 36% year-on-year to LKR 5.02 billion, mainly attributable to lower production volumes, underutilization of plant capacity, sustained pricing pressures, and an unfavorable product mix. Together, these factors adversely affected margin performance amid a challenging operating environment.
The Group reported a Profit After Tax (PAT) of LKR 54.7 million, representing a 98% year-on-year decline. This was primarily driven by higher rupee-denominated costs and non-recurring items, provision for doubtful debts, and restructuring costs associated with right-sizing initiatives.
Ajit Gunewardene, Chairman of the Teejay Group said, “The year was marked by persistent global demand softness and pricing pressures, which impacted results. Despite this, we focused on operational efficiency, cost discipline, and strengthening our financial resilience. These actions position the Group to navigate ongoing uncertainty while remaining committed to long-term value creation for our shareholders.”
Despite these near-term challenges, the Teejay Group continues to maintain a strong financial position, supported by disciplined working capital management and a robust liquidity base. As at 31 March 2026, cash and cash equivalents stood at LKR 8.3 billion, while the Group’s net asset base increased by 3% year-on-year to LKR 32.4 billion, reinforcing the resilience of its balance sheet.
Business
Fairfirst celebrates 7 years of supporting the Sri Lanka Police K9 Unit
Fairfirst Insurance has once again partnered with the Sri Lanka Police K9 Unit, continuing its support for the seventh consecutive year. This partnership reflects the company’s long-standing commitment to giving back to the community.
Through this initiative, Fairfirst will provide comprehensive insurance coverage for the highly trained canines attached to the Sri Lanka Police K9 Unit. These dogs play a critical role in supporting police operations across the country, assisting with crime detection, narcotics investigations, search and rescue missions, and public safety efforts.
As a company that believes business should create a meaningful impact beyond insurance, Fairfirst remains committed to initiatives that support communities and recognise the vital contributions of those who help keep society safe. This shared commitment to protection and responsibility continues to drive the company’s long-standing partnership with the Sri Lanka Police K9 Unit.
Commenting on the continued partnership, Ravishankar Wickneswaran, CEO of Fairfirst Insurance, said, “It is a privilege for us to continue supporting the Sri Lanka Police K9 Unit for the seventh consecutive year. These dogs serve the country with incredible discipline and loyalty, often in challenging situations. Supporting their wellbeing is one small way for us to give back, and it reflects the FairfirstWay of standing by those who protect and serve our communities every day.”
Fairfirst looks forward to continuing this partnership and contributing to the wellbeing of the Sri Lanka Police K9 Unit in the years ahead.
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