Business
SLT Group stays resilient for Q3 overcoming external impacts
Sri Lanka Telecom Group (SLT Group), the National ICT Solutions Provider, has reported positive overall revenues of Rs 79.6 Bn, a consolidated growth of 3.9% for the first nine months of 2022 compared to the same period last year, driven largely by prudent and proactive measures undertaken in financial and operational management.
Demonstrating resilience in its business model, at Company level, SLT Q3 revenues grew to Rs 16.9 Bn, an increase of 7.4% when compared to the same period last year, also reflected in optimistic year-to-date growth of 10.6% at Rs 49.4 Bn. SLT Group’s contribution to the Government of Sri Lanka during the first nine months of 2022 amounted to Rs. 21 Bn. in direct and indirect taxes including levies and dividends.
The Group’s Gross Profit growth for Q3 witnessed a marginal 0.8% increase at Rs 11.1 Bn, in comparison to the previous quarter. Weighing down growth, a negative 3.4% in Gross Profit at Rs 33.4 Bn was recorded for the first nine months of the year, compared to the same period last year. Group Profit After Tax (PAT) growth declined to 27.1% (QoQ) while year-to-date also reflected a downward momentum at 34.1%.
At Company level, SLT posted a positive a 9.3% Gross Profit increase of Rs 7.2 Bn for Q3, QoQ and ended the nine months of the year also in a similar trend of 7.1% at Rs. 20.4 Bn. Furthermore, at Company level, Profit Before Tax for the first nine months recorded a significant increase of 136.1% when compared with the same period last year, owing to a forex gain of Rs. 5.6 Bn. attributable to USD deposits, Dividend Income of Rs. 2.3 Bn. and Rs. 1.1 Bn. of Interest Income earned from USD deposits. PAT for the same period saw considerable growth of 82.8% at Rs 9.3 Bn mainly due to forex gains as a result of LKR devaluation, and dividend income received from subsidiaries. PAT growth for the Company in Q3 was a negative 76.6% compared to last quarter (QoQ).
SLT Group Chairman, Rohan Fernando said, “I am pleased to announce yet another quarter of positive, revenue growth for the Group. The resilience in our results is primarily due to management intervention in containing costs, the reduction in energy costs, consolidation of operations moving into company owned premises, and asset monetization subject to government policy being stable to attract FDIs. These results demonstrate how we continue to make tangible progress in delivering steady revenues despite 2022 being one of the most difficult periods in the history of Sri Lanka. The company is cautiously moving into the fourth quarter meeting all obstacles with a positive outlook.”
Company revenue growth was primarily driven by increases in Carrier Domestic, Broadband and Carrier International revenue streams. Carrier Domestic growth was predominantly from expansion in provision of Ethernet, international private leased circuit (IPLC) and internet leased line (ILL) services. Broadband saw revenue growth mainly from FTTH Broadband while Carrier International growth was chiefly due to USD appreciation. However, domestic interconnection revenue dropped as a result of a direction by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) to reduce charges from April 2022 onwards.
Commenting on the future, the Chairman added, “The vision of the SLT Group of becoming a regional tech conglomerate will be pursued vigorously with the unified brand and consolidation of operations under one roof taking place gradually with the deployment of our state-of-the-art, high-tech, green building by the middle of 2023.”
The mobile services arm of the Group, Mobitel has experienced a revenue decline in Q3’ 22 against the same period in the previous year, impacted by macro-economic challenges, tax changes and reduction of domestic interconnect charges. Nonetheless, Mobitel sustained growth in international business revenues while productivity and efficiency enhancing initiatives in all areas also enabled the subsidiary to remain profitable within the industry.
Meanwhile, SLT Group’s EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization) growth witnessed a marginal reduction of 1.3% in the first nine months of 2022, compared to the same period last year. However, at Company level, EBITDA posted a stronger 5.0% year-on-year growth, mainly attributed to various initiatives including containing costs and asset monetization. Notably, due to inflation operating costs have risen impacting the overall Group EBITDA margins.
The Group’s operating profit declined by 15.5%, the fall mainly led by devaluation of the LKR and high inflation costs in the first nine months of 2022. Operating expenses of the Group including SLT and Mobitel have increased due to forex devaluation, fuel costs and inflation that has prevailed in the country. Year-on-year electricity cost have decreased due to power outage whereas generator fuel cost has increased significantly due to power outage as well as fuel price increases.As a result of the sharp devaluation of the LKR against the USD during the previous quarter, Q2’22, SLT recorded a Rs.2.3 Bn forex gain. In contrast, the forex gain in Q3’22 was marginal at Rs.0.1 Bn due to the stability of forex movements during the period.
Major stock markets in Asia slumped on Monday after Washington and Tehran threatened to escalate hostilities, as the Iran war enters its fourth week.
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index was almost 3.6% lower, while South Korea’s Kospi fell by almost 6%.
US President Donald Trump warned on Saturday that he would “obliterate” Iranian power plants if Iran did not open the key Strait of Hormuz shipping route. Iran said it would respond to any such strikes by targeting key infrastructure in the region, including energy facilities.
Japan and South Korea have been particularly impacted by the conflict, as they are heavily dependent on oil and gas that would normally pass through the strait.
Iran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest shipping channels, since the US and Israel attacked the country on 28 February.
About 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) usually passes through the waterway – and the war has sent global fuel prices soaring.
On Monday, International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol said that the war could see the world facing its worst energy crisis in decades.
Speaking at the National Press Club in Australia’s capital, Birol compared the current energy crisis to those of the 1970s and the impact of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
“This crisis as things stand is now two oil crises and one gas crash put all together,” he said.
“If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!,” Trump said in a social media post published at 23:44 GMT Saturday.
That threat came after Iranian missiles hit the Israeli city of Dimona, and shortly before a second attack on the town of Arad nearby.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian parliament, said on Sunday that energy and desalination infrastructure in the region would be “irreversibly destroyed” if his country’s power plants were attacked.
Such action would significantly escalate the conflict, which has already disrupted global energy supplies, pushing up prices and causing fuel shortages.
Other markets in the Asia-Pacific region were also lower on Monday.
Hong Kong’s Hang was down by almost 3.5% and the Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite index 2.5% lower.
Global oil prices were broadly steady, with Brent crude 0.45% higher at $112.69 (£84.56) a barrel and US-traded oil was up by 0.7% at $98.93.
[BBC]
Human resources remain the biggest challenge despite advanced logistics
Industry-wide cost pressures are also beginning to surface
In Sri Lanka’s pharmaceutical trade, the journey of a medicine does not end when it arrives at the port. It must still travel safely across the island – through regulated warehouses, temperature-controlled transport and complex distribution routes – before reaching the pharmacy shelf where patients need it.
That journey is increasingly being powered by Healthguard Distribution, the pharmaceutical logistics arm of Sunshine Holdings, whose expanding distribution network now plays a critical role in ensuring the reliable movement of medicines across the country.
At the centre of that network is the company’s Western Regional Distribution Centre (WRDC), a temperature-controlled logistics hub designed to support the safe storage and efficient distribution of pharmaceutical products across the Western Province.
Spanning nearly 18,920 square feet, the facility functions as a key node in the company’s islandwide distribution system. Originally acquired in 2008 to serve as the main warehouse for Swiss Biogenic Ltd., the site evolved alongside the company’s growing operations. Following a major upgrade programme that began in July 2024, the facility recommenced operations in July 2025 as a fully compliant regional distribution centre aligned with international quality standards.
According to Sunshine Pharmaceuticals and Healthguard Distribution Chief Executive Officer Shantha Bandara, the company’s logistics model is built around a simple but comprehensive concept.
“Our approach is ‘Port to Pharmacy’,” Bandara said during a recent media visit. “We collect pharmaceutical consignments from the Port of Colombo, clear them through Customs, store them under regulated conditions and then distribute them to pharmacies across the country. Importers and manufacturers do not have to worry about logistics – we manage the entire process.”
The distribution network today serves over 4,500 authorised pharmaceutical outlets, including pharmacies, hospitals, channeling centres, supermarkets and SPC Osusala outlets. Operations span 150 main towns and 466 sub towns, supported by 111 active delivery routes and seven regional distribution centres located across the island.
Within that system, the WRDC is the largest and among the most technologically advanced hubs.
The facility maintains strict cold-chain conditions for temperature-sensitive medicines. Its cold room capacity has been expanded from 15 cubic metres to 30 cubic metres, enabling compliant storage of products such as insulin within the required 2–8°C range. Online temperature monitoring systems operate across all storage zones while data loggers are used for insulin deliveries to ensure product integrity throughout the supply chain.
Delivery vehicles are also equipped with GPS tracking and temperature monitoring systems, allowing real-time visibility of shipments.
Automation and digital systems are increasingly shaping the operation. Software automation supports invoicing and customer credit verification, while sales teams use digital tools for order canvassing. The company’s enterprise systems provide real-time inventory and accounting visibility, supported by data dashboards used for operational decision-making.
To safeguard continuity, the facility is equipped with a high-capacity backup generator and dedicated on-site fuel storage, ensuring cold rooms, monitoring systems and warehouse operations remain functional even during power outages.
Behind the infrastructure is a workforce of 102 employees, supported by a specialised 15-member value-added services team trained in Good Distribution Practice (GDP), cold-chain management, safety and emergency response.
Yet despite the sophisticated logistics and infrastructure, Bandara told The Island that the most persistent operational challenge lies in human resources.
“We have the infrastructure, the logistics systems and the operational capability,” he noted. “However, maintaining the required number of skilled employees is an ongoing challenge because the labour market is constantly fluctuating. Our HR team is continuously recruiting and training to keep the workforce at the required level.”
Industry-wide cost pressures are also beginning to surface. Company officials noted that rising fuel prices could eventually affect transportation and electricity costs within the distribution chain, which may in turn influence pharmaceutical logistics expenses in the short term.
Still, the broader goal of the company remains unchanged – ensuring that medicines reach patients safely and on time.
From the moment a shipment arrives at the Port of Colombo to the point it reaches a pharmacy shelf, the process depends on precision logistics, regulatory compliance and operational discipline. For Sri Lanka’s healthcare supply chain, Healthguard Distribution’s growing network is becoming a key driver of that journey from port to pharmacy.
By Sanath Nanayakkare
Singer Sri Lanka, the nation’s foremost retailer of consumer durables, celebrates a truly historic milestone at the SLIM-KANTAR People’s Awards 2026, securing a prestigious triple victory while marking 20 consecutive years as the People’s Brand of the Year, an achievement made possible by the enduring trust and loyalty of Sri Lankan consumers.
This year, SINGER was honoured with yet another triple win with People’s Brand of the Year, Youth Brand of the Year and People’s Durables Brand of the Year at the awards ceremony. This remarkable recognition reflects the deep and lasting relationship the brand has built with Sri Lankans across generations, standing as a symbol of trust in homes across the island.
Janmesh Antony, Director – Marketing said: “This award belongs to our customers. Being recognised as People’s Brand for 20 years, alongside Youth and Durables Brand, reflects our commitment to staying relevant across generations.”
Mahesh Wijewardene, Group Managing Director said: “Twenty consecutive years as the People’s Brand is humbling and inspiring. This milestone strengthens our commitment to keeping customers at the heart of everything we do.”
Asia stocks slide as US and Iran threaten to escalate war
Heat Index at Caution Level in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Anuradhapura, Mannar and Vavuniya districts
Showers may occur at several places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle, Matara and Nuwara-Eliya districts after 2.00 pm.
Fuel price hikes trigger transport disruptions and calls for fare increases
Prof. Peiris honoured by International Institute of Rehabilitation
CMC resumes parking fees
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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