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Heineken Lanka Adjudged Great Place to Work

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Maud Meijboon Van Wel, Managing Director, with the Heineken Lanka team.

HEINEKEN Lanka Limited, the Sri Lankan subsidiary of The HEINEKEN Company, has received recognition as one of the ‘Best workplaces in the Manufacturing and Production Industry of Sri Lanka for 2023’ by Great Place to Work, a globally recognised authority that identifies and studies the best workplaces in over 150 countries and territories.

The accolade was conferred upon HEINEKEN Lanka after a comprehensive survey of over 27,300 employees from 45 reputable organizations in Sri Lanka’s Manufacturing and Production industry. The survey aimed to identify the 15 Best Workplaces from this list of companies, and the results revealed that employees in the Best 15 companies scored highest on Pride in the organization, Good Facilities, and Employee Cooperation.

Maud Meijboom-van Wel, Managing Director of HEINEKEN Lanka Limited, expressed deep appreciation for the award, citing the company’s commitment to unlocking the full potential of its people, promoting diversity and inclusion, and supporting employee wellbeing, especially during turbulent times as the elements that made all the difference. Meijboom-van Wel said, “At HEINEKEN, our purpose is to brew the joy of true togetherness to inspire a better world, and it all boils down to the emphasis we have placed on caring for our people and our planet through our global EverGreen strategy, which we have actioned to achieve superior and balanced growth.”

HEINEKEN Lanka’s EverGreen Strategy is a game changer on a global level for HEINEKEN, accelerating the establishment of a fair, inclusive, and equitable company, and aims to increase female representation in senior management positions. In Sri Lanka, the company has a 32% female participation rate in its Senior Management cadre. Globally, HEINEKEN is recognised as a company that provides equal pay for equal work between female and male colleagues and runs several initiatives to level the playing field for women in leadership, including WIN (Women Interactive Network), HEINEKEN International Management Course (HIMAC), and the regional BOOST (Build Our Own Sustainable Talent) programme.

Despite operating in a heavily regulated dark market, which poses challenges that can limit women from working in Supply Chain and Sales, HEINEKEN Lanka has successfully created a fair, inclusive, and equitable workplace, says Paduma Subasinghe, Director of Human Resources. He went on to say that the company also faired extremely well on its global climate survey, recording a 91% overall employee engagement score. Notably, he said further, the company also scored 90% on the metric of being recognised as an equal opportunity provider for all to have a successful career, regardless of race, colour, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.

A major factor behind the achievement is the company’s dedication to expose its talent to the best of opportunities available within the global HEINEKEN network. Through this approach, the company has secured both long and short-term exposure assignments in regional and global placements including Amsterdam, Greece, Malaysia and even New Caledonia for several of its team who comprise its 43% Manager-and-above top talent pool category. Simultaneously, the company’s Women in Sales initiative is also creating support programs and breaking gender barriers, with good practices and progress coming from different parts of the world. Moreover, HEINEKEN Lanka has committed to other programs such as the HEINEKEN Graduate Trainee program as well as ensuring that 100% of its people managers are trained on inclusive leadership.

Meijboom-van Wel said in conclusion, “The company’s initiatives are far-reaching and many, but employee wellbeing will always be an integral component of the culture we are nurturing. We encourage people to openly discuss and address their wellbeing, while embracing enjoyment of life. We intend to be relentless in continuing to make HEINEKEN a great place to work.”

As a wholly owned subsidiary of The HEINEKEN Company, which is headquartered in the Netherlands, HEINEKEN Lanka Limited is proud to be part of the heritage of HEINEKEN, being the world’s most international brewer and the leading developer and marketer of premium beer and cider brands. A career at HEINEKEN offers great opportunities, both locally and internationally, for all its employees, as the company believes in attracting and retaining the very best in global talent.



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Constituent Change in the S&P Sri Lanka 20 Index

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The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) announces the following change in S&P Sri Lanka 20 index constituents made by S&P Dow Jones Indices at the 2026 Mid-Year rebalance.

The exclusion and inclusion as announced by S&P Dow Jones Indices, effective from 22nd June 2026 (after the market close of 19th June 2026) are presented below.

The S&P SL 20 index includes the 20 largest companies, by total market capitalization, listed on the CSE that meet minimum size, liquidity and financial viability thresholds. The constituents are weighted by float-adjusted market capitalization, subject to a single stock cap of 15%, which is employed to reduce single stock concentration.

The S&P SL 20 index has been designed in accordance with international practices and standards. All stocks are classified according to the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®), which was co-developed by S&P Dow Jones Indices and MCSI and is widely used by market participants throughout the world.

To be eligible for inclusion, a stock must have a minimum float-adjusted market capitalization of 500 million Sri Lankan rupees (Rs), a six-month median daily value traded of Rs 0.25 million and have positive net income over the 12 months prior to the rebalancing reference date. For information, including the complete methodology, please visit: www.spindices.com

Effective from 22nd June 2026 the stocks in the S&P Sri Lanka 20 in alphabetical order are as above.

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Teejay Group navigates industry headwinds with financial strength and strategic focus

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Teejay Lanka Chairman Ajit Gunewardene and CEO Pubudu De Silva

The Teejay Group recorded revenue of LKR 60.04 billion during the period, reflecting a 10% year-on-year decline, primarily due to continued softness in global textile demand. This performance was largely impacted by reciprocal tariffs imposed by the United States, intensified pricing pressures across key markets, and the resulting decline in volumes, all of which collectively weighed on topline growth.

Group Gross Profit declined by 36% year-on-year to LKR 5.02 billion, mainly attributable to lower production volumes, underutilization of plant capacity, sustained pricing pressures, and an unfavorable product mix. Together, these factors adversely affected margin performance amid a challenging operating environment.

The Group reported a Profit After Tax (PAT) of LKR 54.7 million, representing a 98% year-on-year decline. This was primarily driven by higher rupee-denominated costs and non-recurring items, provision for doubtful debts, and restructuring costs associated with right-sizing initiatives.

Ajit Gunewardene, Chairman of the Teejay Group said, “The year was marked by persistent global demand softness and pricing pressures, which impacted results. Despite this, we focused on operational efficiency, cost discipline, and strengthening our financial resilience. These actions position the Group to navigate ongoing uncertainty while remaining committed to long-term value creation for our shareholders.”

Despite these near-term challenges, the Teejay Group continues to maintain a strong financial position, supported by disciplined working capital management and a robust liquidity base. As at 31 March 2026, cash and cash equivalents stood at LKR 8.3 billion, while the Group’s net asset base increased by 3% year-on-year to LKR 32.4 billion, reinforcing the resilience of its balance sheet.

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Fairfirst celebrates 7 years of supporting the Sri Lanka Police K9 Unit

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Fairfirst Insurance has once again partnered with the Sri Lanka Police K9 Unit, continuing its support for the seventh consecutive year. This partnership reflects the company’s long-standing commitment to giving back to the community.

Through this initiative, Fairfirst will provide comprehensive insurance coverage for the highly trained canines attached to the Sri Lanka Police K9 Unit. These dogs play a critical role in supporting police operations across the country, assisting with crime detection, narcotics investigations, search and rescue missions, and public safety efforts.

As a company that believes business should create a meaningful impact beyond insurance, Fairfirst remains committed to initiatives that support communities and recognise the vital contributions of those who help keep society safe. This shared commitment to protection and responsibility continues to drive the company’s long-standing partnership with the Sri Lanka Police K9 Unit.

Commenting on the continued partnership, Ravishankar Wickneswaran, CEO of Fairfirst Insurance, said, “It is a privilege for us to continue supporting the Sri Lanka Police K9 Unit for the seventh consecutive year. These dogs serve the country with incredible discipline and loyalty, often in challenging situations. Supporting their wellbeing is one small way for us to give back, and it reflects the FairfirstWay of standing by those who protect and serve our communities every day.”

Fairfirst looks forward to continuing this partnership and contributing to the wellbeing of the Sri Lanka Police K9 Unit in the years ahead.

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