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President of largest Business Chamber of Viet Nam voices optimism on SL’s economy

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President VCCI, Pham Tan Cong, meets SL’s ambassador to Viet Nam Prof. A. Saj U. Mendis.

Chairman and president of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, known as VCCI, Pham Tan Cong, had a comprehensive and detailed bilateral meeting with the ambassador of Sri Lanka to Viet Nam, Prof. A. Saj U. Mendis, at the VCCI head office in Ha Noi. The VCCI is the largest and most influential business chamber in Viet Nam consisting of nearly 15,000 members/corporates. The VCCI plays a seminal and pivotal role as the most reputed Business Chamber in navigating and steering the economy of the country, including but not limited to trade, investments, employment and tourism, a press release issued by the Sri Lankan embassy in Viet Nam said.

The release adds: ‘The meeting with President Pham Tan Cong lasted approximately 45 minutes, during which, President Cong highlighted the economic and commercial vantages of Sri Lanka. He further added that Sri Lanka is also well-poised and well-positioned to be a rapidly developing economy in the region mostly due to the strategic location, human resources, literate and adaptable workforce, connectivity to the world and infrastructure, among others.

‘Ambassador Mendis stated that the unprecedented rise and advancement of Viet Nam since 1995, in a single generation, was commended and admired by many a nation world over. He further added that in 1990, the GDP per capita of Viet Nam was only USD 90 and today it has risen to USD 4,500. Prof Mendis did make a parallel to the economy of Viet Nam stating that the GDP per capita of Sri Lanka is also in the vicinity of USD 3,800 with stable and predictable macro and micro economic dimensions coupled with economic and political stability. Prof Mendis accentuated that Sri Lanka is ideally located and placed to attract and woo FDIs and FIIs from world over including from Viet Nam. Both the President and Envoy touched upon the bilateral trade between the two countries and the President added that the bilateral trade between the two countries needs to be boosted to USD 500 million by next year and to USD one billion within the next couple of years.

‘President Cong stated since almost all the large corporates both Vietnamese and foreign are members of the VCCI, the Embassy of Sri Lanka is to provide and extend sufficient quantum of information on Sri Lanka particularly in the sphere of investments and trade to be disseminated to select corporates based in Viet Nam. Both the President and Envoy discussed the necessity to have direct flights, thus enhancing bilateral tourism as well as other commercial and economic activity.

‘Prof Mendis added that the recent listing of one of the largest corporates of Viet Nam, specialized in manufacturing of automobiles and electric vehicles (EVs), named Vinfast on the NASDAQ stock market of the US was a testament of the economic and commercial augmentation of Viet Nam. For record, Vinfast Group, after the listing in the US, had a market capitalization of nearly USD 100 billion, surpassing the combined market cap. of both the General Motors and Ford. Envoy Mendis, unequivocally, enunciated the fervent desire and interest of Sri Lanka to be proactively engaged with Viet Nam in the realm of trade, investments, FDIs, tourism and employment, amongst others. Both the President and Envoy stated that the bilateral trade of Viet Nam, last year, was over USD 730 billion and greater than even the GDP of Viet Nam. President added that the patent secret of having such high degree of exports and imports were primarily due to the number of FTAs and strategic partnership agreements of Viet Nam with a number of select countries.’



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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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