Clean Serendib marked the official commencement of its beach-cleaning operations with a demonstration of specialized machine-assisted cleaning technology at Mount Lavinia Beach on 14 October 2026. The initiative introduces a complementary approach to coastal conservation in Sri Lanka, focusing on the removal of smaller waste materials that are often difficult to recover through conventional manual cleaning methods.

The demonstration showcased how mechanized cleaning can enhance existing beach conservation efforts by addressing waste particles embedded within the sand. The event provided invited stakeholders with an opportunity to observe the technology in operation and understand its potential contribution to improving the cleanliness of Sri Lanka’s coastal environments.

Established under the leadership of Founder and Chief Executive Officer Aravinda Athukorala, Clean Serendib is dedicated to advancing practical solutions for coastal cleanliness and environmental preservation. The organization seeks to complement the work of volunteer groups, environmental organizations and public institutions by introducing specialized equipment capable of addressing persistent challenges in beach waste removal.

While conventional beach-cleaning activities play an important role in collecting visible litter, smaller discarded materials, including plastic fragments, bottle caps and other debris, frequently remain embedded beneath the sand. Recovering these materials manually can be labor-intensive, highlighting the value of mechanical cleaning technologies as a complementary solution.

LOLC Microfinance Bank Pakistan, following its remarkable performance over the past two years, has been named ‘Best Turnaround Bank in Pakistan’ in the ‘Medium and Small Tier Category – Banks’.

Pakistan’s banking industry has experienced challenging times over the past several years, with the lingering effects of COVID-19, unprecedented weather conditions and the country’s economic downturn. However, LOLC Microfinance Bank Pakistan has successfully navigated these challenges, demonstrating consistently strong performance across all aspects of its business over the past two years.

The Bank has recorded a PAT of Pakistan Rupees 422.4 million (USD 1.52 million) as at September 2026 and, more importantly, delivered strong business performance across several key indicators:

Portfolio growth above 204% over the past 12 months

Growth in public customer deposits of more than 240% over the past 12 months.

Reduction in NPLs from 19.5% to less than 2.5% over the past two years.

Kapila
Jayawardena, Group
Managing Director/
CEO of LOLC
Holdings PLC

This achievement is particularly noteworthy within Pakistan’s banking industry, where LOLC Microfinance Bank Pakistan has demonstrated exceptional resilience and one of the strongest turnarounds during this period.

Commenting on this performance, LOLC Group Managing Director, Kapila Jayawardena said, “This reflects the strength of the MSME business model, through which we engage with granular and productive segments of the economy where repayment capacity and sustainability are high.” He further stated that the Bank’s performance across all aspects, including deposit growth, reduction of NPLs and portfolio growth, reflects its comprehensive performance ahead of the industry.

LOLC Microfinance Bank Pakistan operates through 101 branches, with a total staff of 1466 and a customer base of 60,000. Marking a major milestone in its growth trajectory, LOLC Microfinance Bank Pakistan has significantly strengthened its operational footprint by relocating its head office to Gulberg Greens in Islamabad. Complementing this strategic move, the Bank recently expanded its reach with a state-of-the-art branch in Islamabad’s high-profile Blue Area, reflecting its ongoing commitment to enhancing customer access and advancing financial inclusion across key commercial hubs in Pakistan. These infrastructure enhancements position the institution for accelerated market penetration, enabling the seamless delivery of high-impact microfinance solutions to an expanding client base.

LOLC Holdings PLC is Sri Lanka’s largest and most diversified multinational conglomerate, with operations spanning three continents, 27 countries and nine sectors. Through its position as the world’s largest MSME platform, the Group continues to promote sustainable economic development by empowering entrepreneurs and underserved communities while expanding access to inclusive financial services across emerging markets. As LOLC continues to expand its international footprint, this investment underscores the Group’s enduring commitment to building inclusive financial ecosystems, extending access to finance and creating lasting economic value through responsible and sustainable investment.

By Hiran H. Senewiratne

CSE indices moved downward in an unpromising local climate for stock trading. The All Share Price Index went down 125.50 points while the S and P SL20 declined by 29.36 points.

Turnover stood at Rs 680 million with two crossings. Those crossings were; Sampath Bank 700,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 98 million; its shares traded at Rs 140 and JKH 1.5 million shares crossed for 67 million; its shares sold at Rs 17.70.

In the retail market companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were; JKH Rs 86 million (4.8 million shares traded), HNB Rs 58 million (155,000 shares traded), CIC Holdings Rs 20 million (775,000 shares traded), Prime Lands Residencies Rs 20 million (584,000 shares traded), Aitken Spence Rs 18 million (132,000 shares traded), CTC Rs 14 million (800,000 shares traded) and Chevron Lubricants Rs 14 million (59 million shares traded). During the day 33.6 million share volumes changed hands in 13031 transactions.

When it came to banking sector, Sampath Bank and HNB performed well, while the manufacturing sector, especially JKH, performed significantly.

Further, the real estate sector also performed well, especially Prime Lands Residencies.

Sunshine Healthcare Lanka Limited, a subsidiary of Sunshine Holdings, acquired an approximate 21.92 percent stake in Digital Health (Private) Limited—the operator of the Doc990 platform—for Rs 410.83 million.

The transaction included acquiring a 16.65 percent stake from Dialog Axiata PLC’s subsidiary Digital Holdings Lanka for Rs 312.17 million and a 5.26 percent stake from Ceylon Hospitals PLC for Rs 98.66 million.

Meanwhile, Union Chemicals Lanka PLC declared a first interim dividend of Rs 48 per share for the financial year ending December 25, 2026. The record date has been set for October 28, with the dividend payment scheduled for November 13, 2026.

Yesterday the rupee was quoted at Rs 331.55/65 to the US dollar in the spot market, weaker from Rs 331.25/35 the previous day, while bond yields were quoted slightly higher, dealers said.