Business
Strong result from Dilmah in 2019/20 despite exchange rate hit
IPO investors richly rewarded with a Rs. 10,000 investment earning Rs. 8.6 million in dividends
Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company PLC (previously Ceylon Tea Services) has posted an excellent result within a challenging environment in the year ended Mar. 31, 2020, growing revenue eight percent and gross profit 14% over the previous year; but the bottom line declined two percent owing to what its chairman, Mr. Merril. J. Fernando called a “remarkable” 46% decline in the exchange rate.
Commenting that the outlook for the global economy appeared bleak, he said how long the corona virus will last God alone knows, adding “we can only pray for it to disappear soon and bring hope and comfort back to our homes and our lives.”
Dilmah, with the consent of its shareholders, has increased its contribution to the MJF Charitable Foundation from 10% to 15% of pre-tax profits to be spent towards addressing inequality and wider social and environmental concerns as a part of its core business. This will enable a significant increase in the foundation’s humanitarian operations.
The company’s key numbers for the year under review were: revenue up 8% to Rs. 11.61 billion, operating profit up 25% to Rs. 1.98 billion, pre-tax profit up 17% to Rs. 1.99 billion and the after tax profit down 2% to Rs. 1.56 billion. Dilmah’s total assets stood at Rs. 17.3 billion against liabilities of Rs. 4.97 billion.
Fernando, in his chairman’s review in the company’s recently published annual report, had drawn attention to the extraordinary rewards enjoyed by investors in what was then Ceylon Tea Services over the years. An investment of Rs. 10,000 in a thousand shares at the company’s initial public offering in 1982 had yielded Rs. 8.6 million in dividends and the original1,000 shares had increased to 20,000 via several bonus issues.
He has noted that the cost of an original ten-rupee share in the hands of the investor has as a result come down to fifty cents and the original 10,000-rupee investment is now valued at Rs. 531,000 at the current market price of the Dilmah share.
“Such is the power of Ceylon Tea in the hands of committed investors in the industry,” he has said.
It is not only investors who have benefited from Fernando’s conviction that “business is a form of human service.” He has said youth from the plantation community assisted by the MJF Foundation’s scholarship program have produced among others doctors, magistrates and chefs.
He says that the tea industry which is being written off by many, offers enormous potential to investors who believe in it. Government authorities responsible for tea can turn it around if they have a realistic vision for the industry, Fernando said welcoming recent interest and initiatives by government in finding solutions to longstanding issues in plantations and exports. Such efforts wold deliver benefit to the country’s economy and Ceylon Tea.
“If the tea industry is strategically managed in the hands of capable people with proven expertise, export earnings could well reach USD 5 billion within the next five years. Bulk tea exports should be discouraged and value added exports should be generously incentivised for the social end economic benefits they bring,” he said.
“Part of the additional income from value added export must be used to advertise and promote quality brands. This is likely to encourage bulk tea exporters to change course.”
Sri Lanka’s decision to invest Rs. 2.5 billion in restoring the heavily polluted Beira Lake marks one of the most significant urban environmental interventions in recent years, underscoring a growing recognition that ecological rehabilitation is also an economic imperative.
The multi-pronged project—covering the closure of illegal sewage discharge points, large-scale dredging, and the installation of aeration systems—is expected to not only revive aquatic life but also unlock commercial, tourism and real estate value in the heart of Colombo.
Officials say the initiative is designed to transform Beira Lake from a long-neglected liability into a productive urban asset.
A senior official from the Ministry of Environment told The Island Financial Review that untreated wastewater and illegal sewer connections had been the primary contributors to the lake’s degradation for decades. “Closing these illegal sewage points is the most critical intervention. Without that, any dredging or aeration would only offer temporary relief, the official said, adding that enforcement will be carried out in coordination with the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) and other regulatory agencies.
From a business perspective, the clean-up is being viewed as a catalyst for urban regeneration. Urban Development Authority (UDA) sources noted that a healthier Beira Lake would significantly enhance the attractiveness of surrounding commercial developments, hospitality projects and public spaces. “Environmental remediation directly impacts land values and investor confidence. A clean, living lake changes the entire economic profile of the area, an UDA official said.
The dredging component of the project is aimed at removing decades of accumulated sludge, which has reduced water depth and contributed to foul odours and fish die-offs. According to officials involved in project planning, the dredged material will be disposed of following environmental guidelines to avoid secondary pollution risks—an issue that has undermined similar efforts in the past.
Meanwhile, the installation of modern aerators is expected to improve dissolved oxygen levels, a key requirement for sustaining fish and other aquatic organisms. “Restoring aquatic life is not just about biodiversity; it is about creating a water body that can safely support recreational activities and public engagement, a senior CMC engineer explained.
Economists point out that the Rs. 2.5 billion allocation, while substantial, should be seen against the long-term cost savings and revenue potential. Reduced public health risks, lower water treatment costs downstream, increased tourism activity and higher commercial footfall could deliver returns that far exceed the initial outlay.
By Ifham Nizam
CSE activities kicked off on a negative note initially but later experienced some recovery yesterday because most investors were anticipating positive third quarter result shortly, market analysts said.
Amid those developments, the market indicated mixed reactions. The All Share Price Index went down by 4.13 points, while the S and P SL20 rose by 14.02 points. Turnover stood at Rs 5.17 billion with 11 crossings.
Top seven crossings were reported in Renuka Holdings where eight million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 324 million; its shares traded at Rs 40.50, Tokyo Cement one million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 113 million; its shares traded at Rs 113, Distilleries 1.85 million shares crossed for Rs 111 million; its shares traded at Rs 60, ACL Cables 500,000 shares crossed for Rs 51.5 million, its shares sold at Rs 103 Chevron Lubricants 250,000 shares crossed for Rs 47.5 million; its shares traded at Rs 190, Ambeon Capital 738600 shares crossed at Rs 40.50 each and Melstacope 150,000 shares crossed for Rs 27 million; its shares traded at Rs 180.
In the retail market top seven companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were; Colombo Dockyard Rs 1.26 billion (12 million shares traded), ACL Cables Rs 348 million (3.3 million shares traded), HNB (Non-Voting) Rs 152 million (425,000 shares traded), Hayleys Rs 109 million (507,000 shares traded), Tokyo Cement (Non-Voting) Rs 94 million (989,000 shares traded) Lanka Realty Investments Rs 80 million (1.6 million shares traded) and Sampath Bank Rs 77 million (498,000 shares traded). During the day 135 million share volumes changed hands in 38398 transactions.
It is said that manufacturing sector counters, especially Tokyo Cement and ACL Cables, performed well. Further, Colombo Dockyard became the most preferred share for investors. The Banking sector also performed well.
Browns Beach Hotels said that the company will delist from the CSE, having made arrangements with majority shareholders Melstacope and Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings to buy back shares from minority shareholders at an exit offer price of Rs 30.
Yesterday the rupee was quoted at Rs 309.75/85 to the US dollar in the spot market, from Rs 309.72/77 the previous day, having depreciated in recent weeks, dealers said, while bond yields were down.
A bond maturing on 15.05.2026 was quoted at 8.25/35 percent.
A bond maturing on 15.02.2028 was quoted at 9.00/10 percent, down from 9.05/10 percent.
A bond maturing on 15.12.2029 was quoted at 9.65/70 percent, up from 9.65/69 percent.
A bond maturing on 01.03.2030 was quoted at 9.72/75 percent, from 9.70/76 percent.
A bond maturing on 15.03.2031 was quoted at 9.95/10.00 percent, down from 10.00/10 percent.
A bond maturing on 01.10.2032 was quoted at 10.30/50 percent.
A bond maturing on 01.06.2033 was quoted at 10.72/75 percent, down from 10.70/80 percent.
A bond maturing on 15.06.2035 closed at 11.05/10 percent, down from 11.07/11 percent.
The telegraphic transfer rates for the American dollar were 306.2500 buying, 313.2500 selling; the British pound was 409.9898 buying, and 421.3080 selling, and the euro was 354.1773 buying, 365.5655 selling.
By Hiran H Senewiratne
Ceylon Theatres Limited, in partnership with British Council, is proud to present the first ever screening of National Theatre (NT) Live’s Hamlet starring Hiran Abeysekara in Asia. The first screening will happen at Regal Cinema in Dematagoda (Colombo 9) at 5:30 pm on Sunday, 25 January. Sri Lankan actor Hiran Abeysekera stars in the title role—the first Asian actor to play Hamlet in a National Theatre production.
For Sri Lankan audiences, this screening is both a celebration and a homecoming. It reflects the British Council’s long-standing commitment to nurturing creative talent, widening access to world-class culture, and building deep, people-to-people connections between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom through theatre and the creative arts. To celebrate the inaugural screening, the British Council is inviting winners and runners-up of the All-Island Inter-School Shakespeare Drama Competition, alongside drama teachers and university actors, to attend the premiere.
Further details on screening dates, venues, and ticketing can be found at: https://ceylontheatres.com/ and on the British Council Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/britishcouncilsrilanka/ or call: 0766192370
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