Business
Chinese construction company Zhong Wei upbeat about SL growth prospects, opens office in Colombo
By Sanath Nanayakkare
Zhong Wei International Corporation, one of the leading design and construction companies in China, has opened its office in Colombo under the name Zhong Wei Engineering Consulting Company Ltd., and has begun to engage with key stakeholders in the country, to explore the prospects of providing its services as the country’s recovery process is on track to start mega projects in the near future.
Chairman of the company, Luo Xiaolan said that they are keen to involve in mega development projects in the Colombo Port City, Hambantota Port, Expressway Network and are also looking at investing in power generation projects.
“Sri Lanka and China have maintained close bilateral relations over several centuries. In recent times China has been a key player in providing infrastructure to the government while several Chinese companies have invested in Sri Lanka. Our parent company was set up in 2009 in China and it has been expanding its global presence with sizable investments in Hong Kong, Cambodia, Macau, Myanmar, Mozambique and Indonesia. In fact, we had plans to enter Sri Lanka a few years ago, but the economic crisis delayed it,” she said.
Elaborating further she said:
“With Sri Lanka recovering faster than expected, we have decided to enter Sri Lanka. To facilitate our work, we have formed a joint venture company with Sri Wing Lanka Pvt. Ltd and have opened our office here.”
“We are specialised in providing engineering consultancy services and a full range of cost management services with our experience in world class construction projects. Zhong Wei International Corporation’s delivered projects include a 4-kilometer under sea road network in Hong Kong and more than 60 high-rise apartment buildings/ office complexes in China and other countries.”
“Zhongwei also has participated in over 30 national, provincial, and municipal-level industry standard formulation and research projects, and has been recognised as the preferred consulting firm by the Guangdong Provincial Government’s audit repository while repeatedly receiving public commendation from industry regulators. Today, we are a company with more than USD 500 million in revenue annually.”
“We have completed a fact finding mission in Sri Lanka involving both public and private sectors in line with our services, and the potential opportunities stemming from it are very encouraging. We will further evaluate the proposals we have received, and will be coming back to Sri Lanka in two months for follow-up action.”
Ms. Xiaolan said that in a bid to broaden the horizons of Sri Lankan youths in Engineering Management Services, her company is planning to offer about 50 fully-funded scholarships to study in leading Chinese universities.
W. T. N. Indunil, Director at Zhong Wei Engineering Consulting Company Ltd in Colombo said that the awarding of scholarships to selected Sri Lankan students will be done through Sri Win Lanka Pvt Ltd where he is the chairman and which is also the coordinating arm for Zhong Wei in Sri Lanka.”
Backed by a global perspective and profound cross-border project consulting expertise, Zhong Wei has successfully provided top-notch consultancy services for several Guangdong-Macao cooperative construction projects.
Dr. R. A. D. Jeewantha was honoured as the Most Innovative Dentist of the Year at the Business World International Awards, 2025. Organised by the Business World International Organisation, the award ceremony was held recently at the Mount Lavinia Hotel. A graduate of the Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Dr. Jeewantha has built a reputation as one of Sri Lanka’s most respected and forward-thinking dental surgeons. After gaining vital experience in Government hospitals, including the Teaching Hospital in Karapitiya, he also served at a leading private hospital before launching his own practice—Doctor J Premium Dental Care in Delkanda, Nugegoda.
His dental clinic is known for offering advanced, patient-focused treatments in restorative dentistry, cosmetic procedures, and implantology, using state-of-the-art technology. Dr. Jeewantha is especially skilled in dental implants, having completed the American Residency Course in Dental Implantology at Roseman University, accredited by the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. Dr. Jeewantha holds fellowships from the International College of Continuing Dental Education (FICCDE) and the Pierre Fauchard Academy (USA). His advanced skills include modern root canal treatments using Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) for both surgical and non-surgical procedures.
He has completed international trainings in digital dentistry, full-arch implantology techniques like All-on-Four and Zygomatic Systems, and smile design using digital 3D scans. He has participated in global dental events such as the Asia-Pacific Dental Congress and completed training at institutions including the University of Manchester and North Western State Medical University in Russia. His courses have covered everything from intraoral scanning to managing tooth wear. He has previously received many local and international awards. Dr. Jeewantha also serves the community as a Justice of the Peace for All Island.
The Foundation in Biological Studies at IIHS provides a unique alternative for students looking to fast-track their health careers after their Ordinary Level (O/L) exams. This programme offers a direct route to global health careers, bypassing traditional A/Ls. With over 1,000 students already advancing to universities in Australia, the UK, and Finland, IIHS has positioned the course as a reliable launchpad for careers in fields like medicine, nursing, biomedical sciences, and digital health. “This programme is a game-changer, offering a transformative journey into global healthcare education,” said IIHS CEO Dr. Kithsiri Edirisinghe.
Seylan Bank has recorded a Profit before Tax (PBT) of LKR 4,199 million in Q1 2025, marking a 13.36% growth compared to LKR 3,704 million in Q1 2024. Profit after Tax (PAT) rose by 20.29%, reaching LKR 2,761 million, up from LKR 2,295 million in the corresponding period of 2024.
Despite a decrease in net interest income by 8.37% due to market interest rate reductions, the bank’s net fee-based income grew by 13.83%, driven by fees from loans, cards, remittances, and other services. Total operating income for the quarter was LKR 11,258 million, a 3.83% decrease from the previous year, while operating expenses rose by 4.62%, largely due to increased personnel and other operating costs.
Impairment charges were significantly reduced by 83.17%, totaling LKR 262 million, reflecting the bank’s solid credit quality and proactive provisions. The bank’s impaired loan ratio improved to 1.98% from 2.10% in Q1 2024, with a provision cover ratio of 80.74%.
Seylan Bank’s total assets grew to LKR 785 billion, with loans and advances reaching LKR 469 billion and deposits totaling LKR 647 billion. The bank’s capital adequacy ratios remained strong, with the Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio at 13.67% and Total Capital Ratio at 17.64%.
In addition to its financial performance, Seylan Bank continued its commitment to education, opening 16 more “Seylan Pahasara Libraries,” bringing the total to 281 libraries across the island.Fitch Ratings upgraded Seylan Bank’s National Long-Term Rating to ‘A+(lka)’ with a Stable Outlook in January 2025, further underscoring the bank’s financial stability and growth trajectory.
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