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SINGER gets its timing and context right for the launch of Honor smartphone brand in Sri Lanka

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The Honor X Series

Singer CEO confident rebounding economic data will pave the way for better sales

By Sanath Nanayakkare

Singer PLC has picked the right moment in terms of trending economic indicators and consumer sentiment for the launch of the world-renowned, premium Honor smartphone brand in Sri Lanka.

“We are thrilled to partner with Honor and introduce the brand to our customers,” said Mahesh Wijewardene, CEO of Singer Sri Lanka PLC. “We know that the brand’s cutting-edge features and affordable prices will provide Sri Lankan consumers with a unique mobile experience. Honor has great potential in the Sri Lankan market and we are excited to help make it a success,” he said.

Mahesh Wijewardene, CEO,Singer Group of Companies

Speaking further, Singer CEO said,” The economic rebounding in progress and the positive market sentiment will definitely help for a pickup in the business landscape. So, the timing is perfect for Honor Premium Smartphone brand to enter the market and aggressively establish its presence with the backing of a strong partner like Singer that enjoys high corporate stature, stability, customer reliability and very strong marketing capabilities. Further, Honor will be formidably backed by Hayleys Group, the No. 1-rated conglomerate in Sri Lanka. In fact, three parties are going to win as a result of this tie-up. Firstly, it will be a win for the two companies, Honor and Singer. Secondly, it will be a win for the distributors, dealers and retailers. Thirdly and more importantly, it will be a win for the ultimate consumer. Therefore, this tie-up encapsulates a significant win-win-win outcome of mutual benefit for these three parties.”

Speaking to The Island Financial Review, he said “With the easing of the US dollar parity and liquidity, the coming down of the cost of essential commodities such as LP gas, fuel, vegetable prices etc., there will be some feel-good factor on the consumers. Consumers had been pressed to the bottom and now some relaxation of that condition is being felt on them. So, people may feel that they can buy something of absolute necessity although their income levels haven’t improved yet. I feel that the future will be much better than what we experienced in the past six months. Hopefully, such recent developments could drive more economic activity and build more consumer confidence going forward. Honor offers an unbeatable combination of quality and affordability that will resonate with the Sri Lankan market, especially in these challenging times,” he noted.

Emerging as the No. 1 Android smartphone in China, Honor is well-renowned in the global smartphone market and is one of the fastest-growing mobile brands in the world. The brand’s strengths lie in its commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction and the smartphones are known for their exceptional camera quality, battery life, and overall performance. Moreover, Honor has more than 8,500 global patent applications and employs a workforce of over 13,000 people, over 60% of whom are dedicated to Research and Development.

“We are excited to make our mark in the Sri Lankan market with Singer Sri Lanka. At Honor, we pride ourselves on delivering innovative products at an affordable price point, and we believe that our partnership with Singer will enable us to bring this ethos to Sri Lankan customers,” said Lang Guo, Country Director of Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Honor.



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Business

Dialog delivers strong growth, stronger national contribution in FY 2025

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Dialog Axiata PLC announced, Friday 6th February 2026, its consolidated financial results (Reviewed) for the year ended 31st December 2025. Financial results included those of Dialog Axiata PLC (the “Company”) and of the Dialog Axiata Group (the “Group”).

Group Performance

The Group delivered a strong performance across Mobile, Fixed Line and Digital Pay Television businesses recording a positive Core Revenue growth of 16% Year to Date (“YTD”). Group Headline Revenue reached Rs179.6Bn, up 5% YTD, despite the continued strategic scaling down of low-margin international wholesale business. In Q4 2025, Revenue was recorded at Rs46.5Bn up 2% Quarter-on-Quarter (“QoQ”) and 2% Year-on-Year (“YoY”).

The Group Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation (“EBITDA”) reached Rs86.0Bn up 30% YTD supported by Core Revenue performance and Cost Rescaling Initiatives. On a QoQ basis Group EBITDA demonstrated a modest growth to record at Rs23.0Bn up 2% QoQ with an EBITDA margin of 49.5% in line with the Revenue performance. Group EBITDA margin reached 47.9% for FY 2025, up 9.2pp.

Group Net Profit After Tax (“NPAT”) reached Rs20.8Bn for FY 2025, up 67% YTD mainly resulting from robust EBITDA growth, despite higher tax and net finance costs. Normalized for forex impact, NPAT growth was recorded at +>100% YTD to reach Rs22.1Bn. On a QoQ basis NPAT grew 3% to reach Rs5.9Bn resulting from strong EBITDA performance.

On the back of strong operational performance, the Group recorded Operating Free Cash Flow (“OFCF”)

of Rs49.3Bn for FY 2025 up >100% YTD.

Dividend Payment to Shareholders

In line with the dividend policy and financial performance of the Group and taking into account the forward investment requirements to serve the nation’s demand for Broadband and Digital services, the Board of Directors of Dialog Axiata PLC at its meeting held on 6th February 2026, resolved to propose for consideration by the Shareholders of the Company, a dividend to ordinary shareholders amounting to Rs1.50 per share. The said dividend, if approved by shareholders, would translate to a Dividend Yield of 5.0% based on share closing price for FY 2025. The dividend so proposed will be considered for approval by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Company, the date pertaining to which would be notified in due course.

Company and Subsidiary Performance

At an entity level, Dialog Axiata PLC (the “Company”) continued to be the primary contributor to Group Revenue (76%) and Group EBITDA (74%). Aided by sustained growth in the Data segment and cost-rescaling initiatives, Company revenue was recorded at Rs135.8Bn for FY 2025, up 18% YTD, EBITDA rose 32% YTD to reach Rs63.6Bn. On a QoQ basis, Q4 2025 Revenue was recorded at Rs34.8Bn, down 1% QoQ due to a reclassification of Hubbing Revenue, while EBITDA decline 1% QoQ to record Rs17.0Bn, largely attributable to network restoration costs and donations made in relation to the Cyclone Ditwah relief efforts. Furthermore, NPAT was recorded at Rs15.6Bn for FY 2025, up 41% YTD. Normalised for forex impacts, the company NPAT was up +>100% YTD to reach Rs17.0Bn. On a QoQ basis, Company NPAT was recorded at Rs4.5Bn, down 6% QoQ.

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Ceylinco Life’s Pranama Scholarships reach 25-year milestone

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Ceylinco Life has announced the launch of the 25th consecutive edition of its flagship Pranama Scholarships programme, marking a significant milestone in the company’s long-standing commitment to recognising and rewarding excellence among the children of its policyholders.

Under the 2026 programme, the life insurance market leader will present scholarships with a total cumulative value of Rs. 22.7 million, continuing a rewards initiative that has now been conducted without interruption for a quarter of a century. Since its inception, the Ceylinco Life Pranama Scholarships programme has benefitted 3,466 students across the country, representing a total investment of Rs. 240 million in nurturing academic achievement and outstanding performance in sports, arts and other extracurricular pursuits.

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Sri Lankans’ artistic genius glowingly manifests at Kala Pola ‘26

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The spirit of Sri Lanka as it was ably captured by an artist.

The artistic genius of Sri Lankans was amply manifest all over again at ‘Kala Pola ‘26’ which was held on February 8th at Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha Colombo 7; the usual, teeming and colourful venue for this annual grand exhibition and celebration of the work of local visual artists.

If there is one thing that has flourished memorably and resplendently in Sri Lanka over the centuries it is the artistic capability or genius of its people. It is something that all Sri Lankans could feel a sense of elation over because from the viewpoint of the arts, Sri Lanka is second to no other nation. With regard to the visual arts a veritable dazzling radiance of this inborn and persisting capability is seen at the annual open air ‘Kala Pola’.

A bird of Sri Lanka created from scraps of iron waste.

All capable visual artists, wherever they hail from in Sri Lanka, enjoy the opportunity of exhibiting their work at the ‘Kala Pola’ and this is a distinctive ‘positive’ of this annual event that draws numberless artists and viewers. There was an abundance of paintings, sketches and sculptures, for instance, and one work was as good as the other. Ample and equal space was afforded each artist. Its widely participatory and open nature enables one to describe the exhibition as exuding a profoundly democratic ethos.

Accordingly, this time around at ‘Kala Pola ‘26’ too Sri Lankans’ creative efforts were there to be viewed, studied and enjoyed in the customary carnival atmosphere where connoisseurs, local and foreign, met in a sprit of camaraderie and good cheer. Many thanks are owed once again to the George Keyt Foundation for the presentation of the event in association with the John Keells Group and the John Keells Foundation, not forgetting the Nations Trust Bank, which was the event’s Official Banking Partner. The exhibition was officially declared open by Chief Guest Marc-Andre Franche, UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka.

By Lynn Ockersz

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