Business
EKTC prepares for growth in the hospitality sector with new GM appointments

The folks at Euro-Kitchens Trading and Contracting (EKTC) live by the Bauhaus philosophy of ‘form follows function’- because nowhere does this count more than in a commercial kitchen. This month, EKTC announced two new appointments that embody the company’s mission to blend this commitment to functionality with a smooth and stylish workflow in commercial spaces; Thushara Gunawardhana assumes his responsibilities as General Manager-Sales and Business Development while Ajantha Vitharanage takes on the role of General Manager-Engineering.
Since its inception in 2012, EKTC (a member of the Promolanka Group) has offered solutions for best in class commercial kitchens, cold rooms and laundries which have found a home with high-profile clients in hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, hospitals and other commercial buildings based in Sri Lanka and the region. The company’s vision is to be the largest in Asia to assemble such spaces, which it does with a singular focus on functionality and style. EKTC kitchens, for example, are designed with the functional, budgetary and aesthetic design needs of clients in mind.
EKTC’s unique capabilities include consultancy services that guide clients to improve the design, efficiency and quality of their kitchen operations. These capabilities proved to be especially relevant over the last two years as commercial spaces grappled with an unprecedented change in both demand and service norms. EKTC was ready to meet the challenge, closely supporting hospitality companies to keep their commercial kitchens running smoothly and cost-efficiently. The most significant challenge faced by those at the helm of commercial kitchens was related to staff shortages and cost efficiencies- with EKTC solutions, clients were able to re-engineer their operations to stay lean and flexible to manage the changing demands of the environment. Additionally, EKTC has built the largest maintenance team in the country which stepped up to their task admirably, servicing well-known clients in the industry with Annual Maintenance Contracts.
To ensure that the company is able to meet the strong demand for its solutions, especially those needs arising as a result of the current business environment, EKTC has advanced two key staff members well suited to position the company for the anticipated growth of the sector in the immediate future.
Ajantha Vitharanage assumes responsibilities as General Manager-Engineering. Ajantha is a qualified electrical engineer with extensive experience in the hospitality sector, including roles as the Chief Engineer at properties such as Cape Weligama, Ani Villas, Calamander, Avani Kalutara and more and previously Chief Engineer-Maintenance at EKTC. “During the last two years our team has delivered excellent, customized solutions to clients who were seeking to manage their workflow efficiency whilst catering to a new environment,” he said. “Our clients are able to work with us closely from the planning stage onwards, and we will be with them long after the purchase stage to ensure that their kitchens continue to run very smoothly.”
Thushara Gunawardhana was appointed General Manager-Sales and Business Development EKTC and Corporate Chef Rational AG in Sri Lanka. Thushara has worked as a consultant chef in Sri Lanka, India, Australia and New Zealand over a career spanning 16 years, graduating to working with well-known clients to deliver complete restaurant solutions including the design of state-of-the-art kitchens that meet HACCP, GMP and ISO standards. Thushara has been leading the Sales and Business Development team at EKTC since (2019). He said of his plans, “I’m an industry insider, along with many others on the highly skilled EKTC team. Because we know what it’s like to both work in and lead a commercial kitchen, our clients trust our expertise-especially when they experience the results.
“We are grateful to clients such as Le Meridien in the Maldives, Spar Supermarkets, William Angliss Hotel School, and Giga Foods – the largest cloud kitchen chain in Sri Lanka, along with many other standalone restaurants and hotels that have given us their support and confidence over the last two years. This has helped weather the turbulent times and we are now stronger than ever to cater to the industry requirements going forward. We are encouraged by the growth EKTC has experienced and plan to expand our capabilities and operations even further. We have some exciting projects in the pipeline which we look forward to announcing over the next few months.”
Business
Stealer malware leaked over 2 million bank cards

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%.
Business
ComBank’s 2023 Annual Report tops Banking sector at ACCA Sustainability Reporting 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.
Business
UTE Delivers Sri Lanka’s Largest Cat D8 Tractor to NEM Construction

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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