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Kurunegala – a new horizon for real estate investment

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Land ownership and investment is a factor that has been held in high regard throughout generations, owing to the accompanying self-esteem and independence. Recognized as the most secure collateral by banks across the country, investment in land gives the owner the ability to utilize it for a variety of requirements; residential, construction, leasing, agriculture or even as a tool to raise funds. Thus, focusing on real estate is of extreme value as the return for one’s investments surpasses inequities.

While the capital city of Sri Lanka experiences drastic, under-planned development, investment opportunities are increasingly stagnant. However, a new investment hub for real estate is on the rise. Yatila Wijemanne, the Chairman of CBH Lands, has been driving real estate investment in Kurunegala. With a strong belief that Kurunegala is the next investment hub in Sri Lanka, he expounded on the advantages of real estate in comparison to other investment opportunities and the ways in which the perception of investment has changed following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlighting the benefits of the current investment landscape in Sri Lanka, Yatila Wijemanne explained, “In this prevailing low-interest-rate environment, funds held in banks provide negative returns, as they offer only 4% per annum, while the actual inflation is around 6.7%. Thus, one receives a negative return of about 2.7% minimum per annum by holding funds in the bank. Therefore, it is very important that you invest cleverly, and real estate, if selected carefully, offers the best returns. The key is to identify where one should invest in real estate, and choose an opportunity that will provide the highest amount of return as a percentage. Furthermore, the climate is conducive for real estate investment because home and land loans offer low-interest rates in the short and long run.”

Investment witnessed a sudden shift in the eyes of the general public following the pandemic. Influenced by the reduction in interest rates and the lowered taxes, farsighted investors rapidly progressed towards real estate. While a natural reduction in investments occurred at the onset of COVID-19, society has now eased towards the new normal with investment once again on the rise.

Recognizing the potential for investment in Kurunegala, CBH Lands has capitalized on the increase in demand and expansion within the North Western Province, paving the way for potential clients to purchase land plots through the developments undertaken by CBH Lands. Explaining how CBH Lands has set itself apart from competitors, Yatila Wijemanne said, “Unlike any other land developer, we have invested strongly in creating a proper database that equips us to provide the best land plots to our clientele. CBH Lands operates based on a strategic formula that we use for land selection. This is built by our dedicated research-based intelligence unit. We operate within the Kurunegala district, which gives our team an added edge of specialization within the geographic area. As they are trained extensively on Kurunegala, our clients meet some of the best in the business, who can consult and guide them on their investment.”

“For CBH Lands, a sale is not a mere land sale. We focus on providing land which will give you a solid return, and thus can be compared to any financial tool of investment, such as a fixed deposit or equity. The potential for re-sale is highly important to us as we understand the different objectives of clients who invest in real estate. Pricing for us is about transparency and what we can genuinely provide our clients; you will get a fair price and not a high price. This is mostly maintained because the CBH team gets personally involved in the selection of land plots for each of our clients. We take a 360-degree approach to servicing our clients,” Yatila Wijemanne further divulged.

With the current potential growth of the real estate industry in Sri Lanka, a substantial increase in prices is to be expected. In addition, with the increased inhabitation of the areas in the vicinity of the expressways, Kurunegala is an ideal area for affordable and accessible investment. The long term sustainability in real estate investment and the value additions pertaining to it make it a viable option for the future.



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Stealer malware leaked over 2 million bank cards

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The number of infections with data-stealing malware, 2020-2024 (Source: Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence)

Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence estimates that 2.3 million bank cards were leaked on the dark web, based on an analysis of data-stealing malware log files from 2023-2024. On average, every 14th infostealer infection results in stolen credit card information, with nearly 26 million devices compromised by infostealers, including more than 9 million in 2024 alone. Kaspersky released its report on the infostealer threat landscape while the technology world gathers at MWC 2025 in Barcelona.

Kaspersky experts estimate that approximately 2,300,000 bank cards have been leaked on the dark web. This conclusion is based on an analysis of the log files from data-stealing malware, dated 2023-2024, that were leaked on the dark web market. While globally the share of leaked cards is well below one percent, 95% of the observed numbers appear technically valid.

Infostealer malware is not only designed to extract financial information, but also credentials, cookies and other valuable user data, which is compiled into log files and then distributed within the dark web underground community. An infostealer can infect a device if a victim unknowingly downloads and runs a malicious file, for example one disguised as legitimate software, such as a game cheat. It can be spread through phishing links, compromised websites, malicious attachments in emails or messengers and various other methods. It targets both personal and corporate devices.

On average, every 14th infostealer infection results in stolen credit card information. Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence experts found that nearly 26 million devices running Windows were infected with various types of infostealers in the past two years.

“The actual number of infected devices is even higher. Cybercriminals often leak stolen data in the form of log files months or even years after the initial infection, and compromised credentials and other information continue to surface on the dark web over time. Therefore, the more time passes, the more infections from previous years we observe. We forecast the total number of devices infected with infostealer malware in 2024 to be between 20 million and 25 million, while for 2023, the estimate ranges between 18 million and 22 million,” says Sergey Shcherbel, expert at Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence.

In 2024, Redline remained the most widespread infostealer, accounting for 34% of the total number of infections.

The most significant surge in 2024 was in infections caused by Risepro, whose share of total infections increased from 1.4% in 2023 to almost 23% in 2024. “RisePro is a growing threat. It was first discovered two years ago but seems to be gaining momentum. The stealer primarily targets banking card details, passwords and cryptocurrency wallet data, and may be spreading under the guise of key generators, cracks for various software and game mods,” explains Sergey Shcherbel. Another rapidly growing stealer is Stealc, which first appeared in 2023 and increased its share from nearly 3% to 13%.

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ComBank’s 2023 Annual Report tops Banking sector at ACCA Sustainability Reporting Awards

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Commercial Bank Chief Operating Officer S. Prabagar and members of the senior management accepting one of the ACCA awards.

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon’s prowess in comprehensive disclosure of sustainability-related information to stakeholders has won its 2023 Annual Report two top awards at the 2025 Sustainability Reporting Awards presented by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

The Bank was adjudged the overall runner-up and the winner in the Banking category at these awards, repeating the achievement of its 2022 Annual Report which was similarly honoured by the ACCA last year.

The ACCA Sustainability Reporting Awards recognise Annual Reports that clearly acknowledge and explain the economic, environmental and social impacts of the business to internal and external stakeholders, demonstrating the organisation’s policies, targets and long-term objectives towards the goal of sustainable development.

Commercial Bank’s 2023 Annual Report also won two Golds, a Silver and a Bronze at CA Sri Lanka’s ‘TAGS’ Awards 2024, excelling in the key aspects recognised by the awards programme which is dedicated to Transparency, Accountability, Governance, and Sustainability – TAGS.

The Bank won the Gold for ‘Corporate Governance Disclosure’ in the Financial Services sector, the Gold for the Best Annual Report among the private sector banks, the Silver for ‘Digitally Transformative Reporting’ across all sectors, and the overall Bronze award for Excellence in Corporate Reporting.

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UTE Delivers Sri Lanka’s Largest Cat D8 Tractor to NEM Construction

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(From left to right) Deepthi Hewageegana (CEO - UTE), Mani Rajan (Director Distribution - India), Joe Moscato (Vice President - Distribution - Japan & Asia South (India & SE Asia) Caterpillar Inc), Raja Nanayakkara (Chairman / MD - NEM Construction), Prasan Fernando (Chairman - UTE), Priath Fernando - (Director - UTE), Duminda Perera (Senior General Manager - Operations)

Caterpillar equipment dealer UTE has delivered the country’s largest Cat D8 Track-Type Tractor to NEM Construction Pvt. Ltd., marking a significant milestone in heavy machinery. This delivery strengthens the long-standing partnership between UTE and NEM Construction, which spans over 45 years. The Cat D8 is expected to boost operational efficiency in large-scale projects. As the sole authorized dealer for Caterpillar in Sri Lanka, UTE continues to provide top-tier machinery and after-sales support. The handover is particularly notable as Caterpillar celebrates its 100th anniversary. NEM Construction’s Chairman, Raja Nanayakkara, praised the Cat D8’s superior performance and UTE’s unmatched service and parts support, which have been key to the company’s long-term collaboration. This purchase highlights the continued trust in both Caterpillar and UTE’s expertise in supporting Sri Lanka’s construction industry.

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