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Is now a good time to invest in real estate?

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by Nayana Mawilmada, Sector Head, John Keells Properties

Real estate in central Colombo has been inaccessible to a majority of Sri Lankans for quite some time. But if there was ever a window of opportunity to consider investing, now might be it.

With interest rates in Sri Lanka lower than they have been at any point in recent memory, fixed income options have drastically reduced, while the ever dependable and safe fixed deposit has become considerably less attractive after rates plummeted. So if you want your money to continue growing – or at the very least to preserve its value – real estate may be your best bet.

Investing in real estate, however, is not without risk; and in a crowded marketplace, potential investors should carefully consider their options. An understanding of the dynamics of city evolution may help.

The Future of Colombo

Colombo is a city of approximately 560,000 (within the Colombo Municipal zone), with about half a million more people commuting into the city every day. The traffic is mind-numbing. But why do people choose to spend literally years of their lives sitting through traffic?

Colombo is the epicentre of the country; most high-paying jobs, leading schools, hospitals, and malls among other social infrastructure are concentrated in Colombo. And this will likely remain the case for the next several decades.

Unfortunately, through a combination of limited affordability, lack of innovation in mortgage lending, sky high construction costs, and inadequate policy direction, the dream of home ownership in Colombo has eluded many. And thus, many learn to live with the drudgery of the daily commute.

While revamped public transport and infrastructure could change this picture drastically, that is still quite a way away from becoming a reality. What is almost certain in any eventuality is that Colombo prices will continue to rise – and if you have a bit of money to invest and get started, you can profit from it.

Even in the midst of a pandemic, the fundamental socio economic forces driving people to hover around Colombo will not change that fast. Cities provide economies of scale that make it easier to access (or distribute) resources and services.

 

The Mortgage Solution

Mortgages give people access, choice, and the ability to afford convenience. It is, therefore, vital that the housing finance industry begins to innovate.

At John Keells Properties, we have been focused on mortgages for a while now as a means to complement our offering at TRI-ZEN—the cutting-edge apartment community we are developing on Union Place. Our most recent innovation—the Freedom Mortgage—aims to give homebuyers and investors some breathing space and flexibility.

The Freedom Mortgage plan essentially ensures customers a two-year interest free period on their mortgage, with the customer paying 20% up front and the bank taking up the remaining 80%. Once that initial payment is made customers don’t need to make another payment for a further two years. After two years, interest payments begin, and capital repayments start three years after that. Interest rates are locked in at 8.75% for five years, or nine percent for 10 years with the Commercial Bank. Of course, selling the apartment and capturing gains on the full value still remains an option during this entire period.

 

When investing, location and timing are key

Humanity will survive the pandemic; and so will Colombo. While we may see a temporary slump in rental demand due to the pandemic and an exodus of expats, we will undoubtedly see that bounce back as well.

It’s important to keep an eye out for opportunities. Yes, interest rates are muted and FDs and other fixed income instruments available today will barely keep you above inflation, but at the same time mortgage costs are also low and banks are under pressure to lend, so you can get good deals on housing mortgages.

When property hunting in Colombo, proximity to the core (Colombo-1 and two), combined with the neighbourhood context, would be important in ensuring convenience and rentability. Picking a developer with the track record and strength to survive a downturn is also crucial, particularly if you consider a property that is under construction. Finding the right product match for your wallet and lifestyle is critical too.

Ultimately, if you pick the right real estate product in the right location, and have the discipline to look medium term and ride out the current turmoil, you will likely do very well.



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Janashakthi Life delivers 36% revenue growth, ‘outperforming the industry’

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Janashakthi Life, the flagship company of JXG (Janashakthi Group), delivered a strong first-half performance in 2026, with Gross Written Premiums (GWP) increasing by 36% year-on-year to Rs. 5.11 billion. The Company’s growth significantly outpaced the industry’s 20.8% growth during the period, reflecting continued demand for its life insurance solutions and progress in expanding its customer base and strengthening its market presence.

The Company’s balance sheet also continued to expand, with total assets increasing to Rs. 41.14 billion as at Q2 2026, compared to Rs. 40.37 billion at the end of 2025. The growth reflects the continued scale of the business and provides a stronger platform to serve an expanding policyholder base while investing in the capabilities required to support its next phase of growth.

During the first half, Janashakthi Life paid Rs. 2.24 billion in claims and benefits, reaffirming its commitment to supporting policyholders when it matters most. These payments provide essential financial support at critical moments in the lives of individuals and families, highlighting the vital role of life insurance in protecting their financial wellbeing and long-term security.

The Company remained profitable during the period, recording Profit Before Tax (PBT) of Rs. 271 million, excluding the surplus transfer for the period. With the declaration of the surplus transfer, profitability is expected to be substantially higher. Janashakthi Life remains focused on strengthening earnings quality, managing costs effectively, and translating business growth into sustained improvements in overall performance.

Annika Senanayake, Chairperson of Janashakthi Insurance PLC, said, “The performance in the first half reflects the strength of Janashakthi Life’s business and the opportunities that exist to further develop the life insurance market in Sri Lanka. We remain focused on building a business that combines sustainable growth with sound fundamentals, while making insurance more accessible to a wider segment of the population. As part of JXG, Janashakthi Life is well positioned to leverage the Group’s financial services ecosystem and continue strengthening its position in the market.”

Ravi Liyanage, Director/CEO of Janashakthi Insurance PLC, said, “The first half delivered strong growth across key areas of the business, with GWP increasing 36% to Rs. 5.11 billion. In all key segments, namely regular business, group life business and single premium business, the Company has outperformed the industry significantly, demonstrating its market challenger behaviour. The Company is strengthening its stability, crossing LKR 41 billion in assets under management. Our focus now is on building on this momentum through stronger distribution, improved productivity and disciplined cost management, while continuing to enhance the customer experience by providing an unmatched service throughout the lifespan of the service contract.”

The first-half performance provides a strong platform for Janashakthi Life to build on its growth plans for the remainder of the year. The Company will continue to focus on expanding access to life insurance, strengthening customer relationships and developing solutions that respond to changing financial priorities.

With GWP growth significantly ahead of the industry, a growing asset base and increased claims and benefits delivered to policyholders, Janashakthi Life continues to build scale across its core operations. The Company remains focused on disciplined growth, stronger execution and improving the quality of its performance, with the objective of creating sustainable value for policyholders, shareholders and the wider business.

Further reinforcing its strong market standing, Janashakthi Life was recognised among Sri Lanka’s 50 Best Workplaces™ for 2026 by Great Place To Work® Sri Lanka and was also named among Brand Finance’s Sri Lanka 100 Most Valuable Brands. These recognitions reflect the Company’s continued focus on building a strong brand, delivering value to customers and creating a high-performing organisation. (JXG)

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Hunas Holdings and CCH enter strategic collaborative partnership

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(L-R): Dhanuka Samarasinghe (Chairman - Hunas Holdings PLC) Yoshihiko Tanabe, Director CCH

Major Japanese business group sees long-term potential in Hunas Holdings as the two organisations explore new opportunities for growth in Sri Lanka

Hunas Holdings PLC is entering a new phase of growth through a collaborative partnership with CCH Co., Ltd. (CCH INC.), a major Tokyo-based business group with experience across business process outsourcing (BPO), in-house services, investment, mergers and acquisitions, and business development.

The partnership follows a period in which Hunas Holdings maintained a measured approach to new investments amid volatile market conditions, focusing on identifying the right opportunities and international relationships capable of creating sustainable long-term value.

Founded in Japan in 2008, CCH has grown into a significant and diversified business group with interests across multiple industries. Its approach combines investment with M&A, business development and operational expertise, enabling the company to play an active role in the businesses and markets it enters.

For CCH, the partnership represents an opportunity to bring this experience to Sri Lanka through Hunas Holdings, an established local group with a strong platform and long-term growth ambitions.

Yoshihiko Tanabe, Director of CCH Co., Ltd., said: “Through our discussions with Hunas Holdings, we see a company with strong foundations, local expertise and a clear ambition for growth. We believe there is meaningful potential in bringing the strengths of CCH and Hunas Holdings together. I am excited about this partnership, and particularly about some of the projects and opportunities we are already exploring together. There is much to look forward to soon”

For Hunas Holdings, the collaboration marks a renewed chapter of investment and international partnership, while for CCH, it reflects confidence in Hunas Holdings and the opportunities presented by the Sri Lankan market.

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Prime Minister to headline Sri Lanka Economic and Investment Summit session

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Dr Harini Amarasuriya

Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, will deliver the keynote address at a special session on day 2 of the Sri Lanka Economic & Investment Summit 2026 organised by The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, titled “Nation Building in the Digital Age”, on 13 October 2026 at the Shangri-La Colombo.

The session will examine how Sri Lanka can use artificial intelligence, digital transformation, innovation and education to accelerate economic growth, improve productivity and build a knowledge-driven economy. As technology reshapes industries and the nature of work, the discussion will focus on how Sri Lanka can develop the capabilities needed to remain competitive and create opportunities for future generations.

The Prime Minister will be joined by Waruna Sri Dhanapala, Secretary, Ministry of Digital Economy; Prof. Roshan Ragel, Senior Lecturer in Computer Engineering, University of Peradeniya; and Sanjay Shah, Founder and CEO, Elevante AI, who together will add perspectives from government, academia, and industry. Vinod Hirdaramani, Chairman of Hirdaramani Group and Deputy Vice Chairperson of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, will moderate the session.

The discussion will look at the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and automation, and their potential to transform industries and create new areas of economic activity. It will also consider the role of digitalisation in improving public services and supporting entrepreneurship.

Education and skills development will be another important part of the conversation, particularly as the demand for new capabilities grows alongside technological change. The panel will consider how Sri Lanka can prepare its workforce for future jobs while developing an environment that supports innovation and technology-led businesses.

The session will also look beyond technology itself to the wider conditions needed for a digital economy to grow. Policy, investment, infrastructure, education and collaboration between government, industry and academia will all have a role in determining how effectively Sri Lanka can turn technological change into economic opportunity.

Held under the theme “Positioning Sri Lanka in a Changing Global Economy: Resilience, Reform, and the Future of Economic Policy,” SLEIS 2026 will offer perspectives from senior policymakers, business leaders, investors and international experts over two days of discussions on Sri Lanka’s economic direction, investment opportunities and the reforms needed to support future growth.

Registrations are now open at https://sleis.chamber.lk/. For more information, contact Alikie on 011 558 8805 (alikie@chamber.lk) or Shanuka on 0701082541 (events.division@chamber.lk).

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