Business
HNB ranked among ‘Top 10 Most Admired Companies’ for the 4th consecutive year
Sri Lanka’s leading private sector bank HNB PLC, was ranked among the top 10 Most Admired Companies in Sri Lanka for the fourth consecutive year.
In a year that challenged even the strongest organisations, HNB was recognised, not just for its financial performance but also for the value created for shareholders, customers, employees, and the wider community. The Bank has proven its mettle with consistency, authority and sustainable growth, creating excellence in business performance which have inspired other organisations and entrepreneurs.
“We are delighted to be among Sri Lanka’s most admired companies as the respect of our peers and the general public is one of the strongest validations of our pioneering approach to banking. Over the past year, digital transformation was integral for business continuity and offered citizens a safe and convenient mode of completing transactions. The technologies that we have deployed will serve as the bedrock for a new decade of technologically empowered growth, adding greater value to our customers and stakeholders. We pledge to continue fueling this technological transformation to revive the national economy actively,” HNB Managing Director / CEO, Jonathan Alles said.
A collaborative effort by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka (ICCSL), the Most Admired Companies are selected under stringent evaluation based on globally accepted criteria. The initial round consisted of a financial evaluation by a team of CIMA members, after which the Top 20 organisations were chosen from a group of nearly 50.
For the second round, companies had to present to a panel of judges, each scoring independently on multiple attributes such as the ability to attract and retain talent, quality of products and services, innovativeness, effectiveness in doing business globally, role in community, environmental, social and corporate governance principles, as well as a track record of integrity and work against corruption in all its forms. An interactive session followed the presentation with the management team and judges to assess how the companies adopted the business practices.
Notably, a survey link was shared with the general public earlier this year to nominate the organisations they felt were the most admired in Sri Lanka. The nominees were invited for the competition, while the adverts ensured other organisations applied as well.
The recognition is the most recent in a string of accolades bestowed on HNB regarding its transformational approach to banking. Earlier this year, HNB achieved an important milestone in its transformation journey when it was ranked once again among the Top 1,000 World Banks by the prestigious UK-based The Banker Magazine for the fifth time in a row. The bank was also recognised as the ‘Best Retail Bank in Sri Lanka’ by the Asian Banker Magazine on eleven occasions and is ranked among the Top 3 Companies in Sri Lanka by Business Today Magazine.
With 254 customer centres across the country, HNB is one of Sri Lanka’s largest, most technologically innovative banks, having won local and global recognition for its efforts to drive forward a new paradigm in digital banking. HNB has a national rating of AA- (lka) by Fitch Ratings (Lanka) Ltd.
Business
SIA warns of 1,000 SME collapses, urges fair policies to protect Sri Lanka’s rooftop solar sector
By Sanath Nanayakkare
The Solar Industries Association (SIA), representing over 1,000 companies and employing 40,000 workers in Sri Lanka’s rooftop solar sector, issued a stern warning recently regarding threats to the industry’s survival and the nation’s renewable energy ambitions. The association condemned recent regulatory instability and called for urgent policy reforms to avert economic and social crises.
The SIA categorically rejected the Ceylon Electricity Board’s (CEB) claim that rooftop solar installations caused the recent island-wide power outage, calling the accusation “baseless and misleading.”
“Public trust is eroded when accountability is misdirected,” the SIA stated. “We demand an independent, transparent investigation led by experts appointed by the Ministry or the Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL). The CEB’s unilateral statements disregard the sector’s contributions and jeopardize Sri Lanka’s renewable energy transition,” they said.
“While acknowledging the formation of a tariff determination committee, the SIA criticized its narrow focus on financial parameters, ignoring the sector’s socioeconomic value. Rooftop solar empowers businesses and households with energy independence, reduces grid strain, and supports climate goals. However, proposed volatile tariff structures risk destabilizing over 100,000 installations—primarily owned by middle-class families—and deter future investment,” they noted.
“A rigid, equation-based tariff system is unsustainable,” the association warned. “Sri Lanka needs a stable policy framework to attract long-term investments. For instance, retirees could invest EPF savings into solar projects, securing income while advancing national energy targets. Without urgent action, 1,000 SMEs and 40,000 jobs face collapse, with dire consequences for employment, energy security, and economic stability,” they pointed out.
SIA urged policymakers to establish an independent committee to investigate the power outage fairly, expand the tariff committee’s mandate to include socioeconomic and environmental benefits and implement predictable policies to safeguard SMEs, households, and investor confidence.
“Sri Lanka stands at a crossroads,” the SIA emphasized. “Protecting rooftop solar isn’t just about energy—it’s about livelihoods, economic resilience, and a sustainable future. We urge stakeholders to collaborate on solutions that prioritize both people and progress,: they emphasized.
Starting its promotional work for 2025, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) added another feather into its cap of endorsements, by being recognized as the most innovative Tourism Board promotion in Outbound Travel Mart (OTM) . In parallel to that, several other sub events were held. The OTM was held in Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai—India, from 30th January to 01st February 2025.Before OTM, the Global Village – Global Exchange & Trade Exhibition was held at the Surat International Exhibition & Convention Centre , Sarsana, Surat (Gujarat – India , from 25th to 27th January 2025. This travel fair was organized by Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI).
Sri Lanka participated in both OTM and South Asia’s Travel & Tourism Exchange (SATTE), held from 19th – 21st Feb 2025, in New Delhi, India . This was an excellent opportunity for Sri Lanka to promote it’s potential as a unique travel destination, especially for the Indian counterparts, as SLTPB has identified India as the number one source market for Sri Lanka, tourism bringing the largest number of tourist arrivals to the destination.
SLT-MOBITEL has entered into a strategic partnership with Rush Lanka Group to provide exclusive SLT-MOBITEL Fibre connectivity solutions to their portfolio of luxury apartment developments in Colombo and the suburbs, enhancing the digital experience of all residents.
The agreement was signed between Imantha Wijekoon, Chief Business Officer of Consumer Business at SLT, and Zaid Ariff, Director of Construction at the Rush Group headquarters. Representatives from both companies also attended the ceremony.
Under the partnership, SLT-MOBITEL will serve as the exclusive digital service provider for five prestigious Rush Lanka developments including Street Rush Residencies and Rush Court 4 in Mt. Lavinia, Rush Tower 2, Rush Metropolis in Dehiwala, and Rush Court 5 in Colombo 14. The collaboration ensures residents will enjoy superior fibre connectivity speeds, enabling seamless digital experiences in modern smart homes. The partnership with the Rush Lanka Group aligns with SLT-MOBITEL’s commitment to offer ultra-fast, reliable connectivity solutions to residential developments. Delivering exclusive fibre connectivity to luxury apartments, SLT-MOBITEL ensures residents have access to world-class digital services that complement the living experience promised by Rush Lanka Group.
Powered by advanced fibre technology, SLT-MOBITEL network will provide the residences with seamless performance across digital activities. The SLT-MOBITEL Fibre backbone ensures lag-free experiences whether tenants are gaming online, attending virtual classes, working remotely, or streaming high-definition entertainment. SLT-MOBITEL Fibre will transform the lifestyles of all apartment users bringing greater convenience and superior quality of life.
Rush Lanka Group, established in 1992, is a property developer specializing in luxury and semi-luxury apartments.
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