Indra Traders recently introduced a special programme titled “Athwela” in collaboration with the Bank of Ceylon (BOC).

The programme was designed with a primary focus on customer convenience, aiming to provide essential support by simplifying the financial challenges often associated with vehicle purchasing and servicing. This initiative is regarded as a further strengthening of the trust and relationships Indra Traders has built over its decades of service excellence.

The partner for this program, the Bank of Ceylon (BOC), is Sri Lanka’s largest state bank and a premier financial institution. It offers an extensive island-wide branch network, exceptional customer service, and some of the most competitive interest rates in the market.

Speaking at the event, Rushanka Silva, Managing Director of Indra Traders, said: “Today is a very special day for us. As Indra Traders, a company engaged in business for over five decades, it is a great honor to enter into the ‘Athwela’ agreement with Sri Lanka’s largest bank. Through this program, we are working to provide various financial and service facilities, including leasing. As a company that imports everything from the smallest to the largest vehicles, we provide customers the opportunity to purchase any vehicle they need through our six yards located across the island. Even if a specific vehicle is not in our current stock, we are prepared to import it according to the customer’s requirement. I invite all customers to join hands with ‘Athwela’.”

Y. A. Jayathilaka, General Manager of Bank of Ceylon, added “At a time when restrictions on vehicle imports have been relaxed, it is a great pleasure for Bank of Ceylon, the strongest bank in the country, to partner with Indra Traders – a company with over 50 years of trusted history. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive and convenient service to leasing customers across the island by combining BOC’s extensive branch network with Indra Traders’ expertise.”

The Sri Lankan Embassy in Beijing together with Beijing Capital Airlines last week organized a destination promotion event and announced the launch the Capital Airlines direct flights from Beijing to Colombo.

While congratulating Beijing Capital Airlines for expanding the connectivity between Beijing and Colombo, the Sri Lanka Ambassador Majintha Jayesinghe highlighted the longstanding bilateral relations between the two countries and the significance of strengthening connectivity in line with the Joint Statement issued following the meeting in January 2025 between President Xi Jinping and President Anura Kumara Disanayaka, a news release from the embassy said.

The President of the Beijing Capital Airlines Liu Jun expressed appreciation and stated that the new route is an important milestone in expanding the airline’s South Asian network while strengthening the Air Silk Route. He also highlighted that this is the only direct flight connecting Northern China with Sri Lanka and a key Capital-to-Capital air link, it added.

There was no word about the flight frequency and when the service will begin.

Ambassador Jayesinghe reiterated that Sri Lanka is more than a holiday destination and is positioned as an exotic, experienced-rich, year-round travel destination offering warm and pleasant weather. He emphasized that Sri Lanka, as a stand-alone destination, provides a blend of rich history, eight UNESCO heritage sites, diverse landscapes, pristine beaches, dense forests, and scenic mountains, inviting Chinese travellers to explore and enjoy Sri Lanka.

The commencement of the Beijing – Colombo route will contribute to the social and economic development of both countries. The Beijing- Colombo service has filled a longstanding gap in the aviation market and will further promote the economic, trade, cultural and tourism development, while offering more convenient travel options, the news release said.

Amid softening diplomatic rhetoric between the United States and Iran, a senior economist told The Island Financial Review yesterday that the stability of Sri Lanka’s tea exports to the Middle East, particularly Iran, would be maintained.

The economist, who closely follows regional developments, pointed to recent statements by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. President Donald Trump as signs of de-escalation. Araghchi denied plans to execute anti-government protesters, while Trump indicated he had received assurances that killings had stopped and that the U.S. was “watching the process.”

“When geopolitical tensions ease, trade channels stabilise,” the economist said. “Iran and the Middle East are important markets for Sri Lankan tea. Any reduction in political risk is likely to support demand and reduce vulnerability in our export earnings,” he added.

The comments come against the backdrop of this week’s Colombo tea auction, where offerings totalled 6.0 million kilograms. The auction report noted “less activity from Iran and the Middle Eastern markets following recent restrictions in trading conditions,” reflecting the sensitivity of tea exports to regional instability.

Western Slopes and Nuwara Eliya teas showed mixed trends, with some grades firm and others declining. High and Medium Grown CTC teas sold around previous levels, while Low Grown varieties were easier by up to Rs. 20 per kg. Ex-Estate offerings remained steady at 0.74 million kilograms, with no significant change in quality, according to Forbes and Walker Research.

Low Growns, which accounted for approximately 2.4 million kilograms, saw varied demand: the Leafy category was quieter, while Semi-Leafy met with fair interest. Tippy teas faced pressure, especially in the Premium catalogue, where a lack of suitable bids left many unsold.

Selective demand was noted from shippers to the UK, Europe, and South Africa, while markets in Japan, China, the Middle East, and the CIS were reasonably active mostly at lower levels, Forbes and Walker said.

The economist added that while global tea markets remain volatile, any sustained calm in the Middle East could help restore buyer confidence from Iran – a key destination for Sri Lankan Orthodox teas.

“We are not out of the woods yet, but the signs are encouraging,” he said. “If the diplomatic tone continues to improve, we could see firmer demand from the region in the coming weeks,” he said.

By Sanath Nanayakkare