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Germany ‘rolling over for enemies of free world’ after Red China buys up stake in Hamburg Port

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ByJorg Luyken IN HAMBURG
5 November 2022 • 3:01pm
Scholtz Jinping

On the south bank of Hamburg’s sprawling harbour, one of the largest cargo ships on the planet, a 400-metre behemoth with “Cosco Shipping” emblazoned on the side, is being unloaded on a rain-swept quay.A dozen cranes lift containers down from the Chinese vessel before smaller straddle carriers whisk them away down Germany’s Elbe river.

This intricate operation is a vivid reminder of the deep trade links that connect Germany to the Far East. The Tollerort Terminal, one of four at Hamburg’s giant port, is almost exclusively used by a single shipping company – China’s state-owned Cosco.But the city of Hamburg’s decision to go one step further and sell a minority stake in the terminal to the Chinese firm has led to uproar.

Critics say it shows that Germany is failing to learn the lessons of its disastrous reliance on Russian gas and is still seeking to chum up to autocrats in order to secure preferential treatment for its companies.

“What still has to happen for Germany to arrive in reality and not roll over in front of the enemies of the free world?” asked Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, a senior Free Democrat politician.

Olaf Scholz, the chancellor, was in China on Friday to talk to leader Xi Jinping and, according to reports, he did not bring up Cosco.

A comment piece on Saturday by public broadcaster ARD called the trip to Beijing, which has been heavily criticised, “a continuation of Scholz’ lonely course, in which he has proven in the past that… despite all the warnings from advisors, ministries and security authorities, he personally opened the gate to the port of Hamburg to China.”

On Saturday, Mr Scholz defended his trip to China as “worth it” due to an agreement to oppose the use of nuclear weapons in the war in Ukraine.Emmanuel Macron, the French president, has also warned Berlin that “we have made strategic errors in the past with the sale of infrastructure to China”.

Media reports suggest that Mr Scholz, who was mayor of Hamburg for seven years, pushed the deal through against the objections of most of his Cabinet.But he had to accept a compromise by which Cosco’s share fell from 35 per cent to 24.9 per cent.At the offices of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik (HHLA), the company selling part of its business to Cosco, the deal is justified on the grounds that all of Hamburg’s competitors have already done the same thing.

“Hamburg is stuck in an extremely hard competition with the other European harbours,” says Hans-Jorg Heims an HHLA spokesman.

Cosco already holds stakes in Europe’s other two major ports, Rotterdam and Antwerp, leading Hamburg to fear that Cosco would take its business elsewhere.

“They could have said: ‘why should we land our freight at Hamburg when we have part-ownership of harbours in Rotterdam and Antwerp?’” Mr Heims says.

For a city whose fortunes rest on the success of its harbour, that was a risk that no one was willing to take.

“The harbour is the heart of Hamburg’s economy, that was always the case and it will remain the case in the future,” says Norbert Aust, head of the city’s chamber of commerce, who has welcomed the deal.

A third of trade done through Hamburg’s harbour is now with China, while more than a third of that is handled by Cosco.

From Mr Aust’s point of view, the “much bigger danger” than Beijing using the terminal to exert political influence is a situation in which Hamburg loses business to Rotterdam or the Greek port of Piraeus, which lies completely in Coscos’s hands.

“That would be a heavy blow for the port of Hamburg,” he says.

Besides, the city has been careful not to hand the Chinese firm any meaningful control, Mr Aust says.

“No part of the port will be sold, nor any part of the logistics company, we are talking about the operator of a single terminal who has leased the ground from the city government,” he states.But China watchers say that the investment is another piece in the puzzle of Beijing’s long-term strategy of building market dominance in Europe.

“Beijing’s geo-political goal is one of influence,” says Jacob Gunter, a researcher at the Mercator Institute for China Studies in Berlin.

“We saw this come out during the discussions about the port, where Cosco suggested it would take its business elsewhere if the deal wasn’t approved,” says Mr Gunther.And the comparison to Russian gas is an apt one, he continues.

“During the pandemic and now with the Ukraine war, we’ve all learned a lesson about how inflation is connected with energy and logistics. Both ports and pipelines are critical infrastructures that affect all other things.”

The HHLA and analysts are in agreement though that a solution to the company’s grip on Europe’s ports needs to be found at home.Mr Gunter says that the remedy to Europe’s harbours competing for Cosco’s affections lies in setting common standards across the EU to “prevent a race to the bottom”.



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Business

Janashakthi Life delivers 36% revenue growth, ‘outperforming the industry’

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Janashakthi Life, the flagship company of JXG (Janashakthi Group), delivered a strong first-half performance in 2026, with Gross Written Premiums (GWP) increasing by 36% year-on-year to Rs. 5.11 billion. The Company’s growth significantly outpaced the industry’s 20.8% growth during the period, reflecting continued demand for its life insurance solutions and progress in expanding its customer base and strengthening its market presence.

The Company’s balance sheet also continued to expand, with total assets increasing to Rs. 41.14 billion as at Q2 2026, compared to Rs. 40.37 billion at the end of 2025. The growth reflects the continued scale of the business and provides a stronger platform to serve an expanding policyholder base while investing in the capabilities required to support its next phase of growth.

During the first half, Janashakthi Life paid Rs. 2.24 billion in claims and benefits, reaffirming its commitment to supporting policyholders when it matters most. These payments provide essential financial support at critical moments in the lives of individuals and families, highlighting the vital role of life insurance in protecting their financial wellbeing and long-term security.

The Company remained profitable during the period, recording Profit Before Tax (PBT) of Rs. 271 million, excluding the surplus transfer for the period. With the declaration of the surplus transfer, profitability is expected to be substantially higher. Janashakthi Life remains focused on strengthening earnings quality, managing costs effectively, and translating business growth into sustained improvements in overall performance.

Annika Senanayake, Chairperson of Janashakthi Insurance PLC, said, “The performance in the first half reflects the strength of Janashakthi Life’s business and the opportunities that exist to further develop the life insurance market in Sri Lanka. We remain focused on building a business that combines sustainable growth with sound fundamentals, while making insurance more accessible to a wider segment of the population. As part of JXG, Janashakthi Life is well positioned to leverage the Group’s financial services ecosystem and continue strengthening its position in the market.”

Ravi Liyanage, Director/CEO of Janashakthi Insurance PLC, said, “The first half delivered strong growth across key areas of the business, with GWP increasing 36% to Rs. 5.11 billion. In all key segments, namely regular business, group life business and single premium business, the Company has outperformed the industry significantly, demonstrating its market challenger behaviour. The Company is strengthening its stability, crossing LKR 41 billion in assets under management. Our focus now is on building on this momentum through stronger distribution, improved productivity and disciplined cost management, while continuing to enhance the customer experience by providing an unmatched service throughout the lifespan of the service contract.”

The first-half performance provides a strong platform for Janashakthi Life to build on its growth plans for the remainder of the year. The Company will continue to focus on expanding access to life insurance, strengthening customer relationships and developing solutions that respond to changing financial priorities.

With GWP growth significantly ahead of the industry, a growing asset base and increased claims and benefits delivered to policyholders, Janashakthi Life continues to build scale across its core operations. The Company remains focused on disciplined growth, stronger execution and improving the quality of its performance, with the objective of creating sustainable value for policyholders, shareholders and the wider business.

Further reinforcing its strong market standing, Janashakthi Life was recognised among Sri Lanka’s 50 Best Workplaces™ for 2026 by Great Place To Work® Sri Lanka and was also named among Brand Finance’s Sri Lanka 100 Most Valuable Brands. These recognitions reflect the Company’s continued focus on building a strong brand, delivering value to customers and creating a high-performing organisation. (JXG)

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Hunas Holdings and CCH enter strategic collaborative partnership

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(L-R): Dhanuka Samarasinghe (Chairman - Hunas Holdings PLC) Yoshihiko Tanabe, Director CCH

Major Japanese business group sees long-term potential in Hunas Holdings as the two organisations explore new opportunities for growth in Sri Lanka

Hunas Holdings PLC is entering a new phase of growth through a collaborative partnership with CCH Co., Ltd. (CCH INC.), a major Tokyo-based business group with experience across business process outsourcing (BPO), in-house services, investment, mergers and acquisitions, and business development.

The partnership follows a period in which Hunas Holdings maintained a measured approach to new investments amid volatile market conditions, focusing on identifying the right opportunities and international relationships capable of creating sustainable long-term value.

Founded in Japan in 2008, CCH has grown into a significant and diversified business group with interests across multiple industries. Its approach combines investment with M&A, business development and operational expertise, enabling the company to play an active role in the businesses and markets it enters.

For CCH, the partnership represents an opportunity to bring this experience to Sri Lanka through Hunas Holdings, an established local group with a strong platform and long-term growth ambitions.

Yoshihiko Tanabe, Director of CCH Co., Ltd., said: “Through our discussions with Hunas Holdings, we see a company with strong foundations, local expertise and a clear ambition for growth. We believe there is meaningful potential in bringing the strengths of CCH and Hunas Holdings together. I am excited about this partnership, and particularly about some of the projects and opportunities we are already exploring together. There is much to look forward to soon”

For Hunas Holdings, the collaboration marks a renewed chapter of investment and international partnership, while for CCH, it reflects confidence in Hunas Holdings and the opportunities presented by the Sri Lankan market.

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Prime Minister to headline Sri Lanka Economic and Investment Summit session

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Dr Harini Amarasuriya

Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, will deliver the keynote address at a special session on day 2 of the Sri Lanka Economic & Investment Summit 2026 organised by The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, titled “Nation Building in the Digital Age”, on 13 October 2026 at the Shangri-La Colombo.

The session will examine how Sri Lanka can use artificial intelligence, digital transformation, innovation and education to accelerate economic growth, improve productivity and build a knowledge-driven economy. As technology reshapes industries and the nature of work, the discussion will focus on how Sri Lanka can develop the capabilities needed to remain competitive and create opportunities for future generations.

The Prime Minister will be joined by Waruna Sri Dhanapala, Secretary, Ministry of Digital Economy; Prof. Roshan Ragel, Senior Lecturer in Computer Engineering, University of Peradeniya; and Sanjay Shah, Founder and CEO, Elevante AI, who together will add perspectives from government, academia, and industry. Vinod Hirdaramani, Chairman of Hirdaramani Group and Deputy Vice Chairperson of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, will moderate the session.

The discussion will look at the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and automation, and their potential to transform industries and create new areas of economic activity. It will also consider the role of digitalisation in improving public services and supporting entrepreneurship.

Education and skills development will be another important part of the conversation, particularly as the demand for new capabilities grows alongside technological change. The panel will consider how Sri Lanka can prepare its workforce for future jobs while developing an environment that supports innovation and technology-led businesses.

The session will also look beyond technology itself to the wider conditions needed for a digital economy to grow. Policy, investment, infrastructure, education and collaboration between government, industry and academia will all have a role in determining how effectively Sri Lanka can turn technological change into economic opportunity.

Held under the theme “Positioning Sri Lanka in a Changing Global Economy: Resilience, Reform, and the Future of Economic Policy,” SLEIS 2026 will offer perspectives from senior policymakers, business leaders, investors and international experts over two days of discussions on Sri Lanka’s economic direction, investment opportunities and the reforms needed to support future growth.

Registrations are now open at https://sleis.chamber.lk/. For more information, contact Alikie on 011 558 8805 (alikie@chamber.lk) or Shanuka on 0701082541 (events.division@chamber.lk).

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