Business
JKH shares appreciate with firming of SLPA West Container Terminal deal
By Hiran H.Senewiratne
CSE trading activities became positive yesterday due to improved investor sentiment stemming from the opening of the country after the one month lockdown, proper administration of the vaccination programme for the people by the government , releasing of a road map for the development of the economy by the Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal and the firming of a strategic deal concerning the Colombo Port, the Adani Group signed on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis with its local partner JKH and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA). The aim of the latter is to jointly develop the SLPA’s West Container Terminal (WCT), stock market analysts said.
While the Adani Group has been in talks with JKH, one of the largest conglomerates in Sri Lanka, on aspects of design and a probable timeline for execution, Thursday’s agreement among all three stakeholders will bear details of the execution of the project, officials in Colombo, who are familiar with the negotiations, revealed to The Hindu newspaper. Owing to this US $ 700 million deal, JKH shares appreciated by Rs. 3.25 or 2.2 percent. Further, JKH became the second largest contributor to the All Share Price Index, which contributed 9.6 points.
Both CSE indices moved upwards. The All Share Price Index went up by 49.3 points and S and P SL20 rose by 49.1 points. Turnover stood at Rs. 6.9 billion with five crossings. Those crossings were reported in JKH, which crossed three million shares to the tune of Rs. 447 million and its shares traded at Rs. 149, Brown and Company 900,000 shares crossed for Rs. 180.6 million, its shares traded at Rs. 202, Expolanka Holdings 700,000 shares crossed for Rs. 140 million, a share traded at Rs. 200, Nation Development Bank 500,000 shares crossed for 38.2 million, its shares traded at Rs. 76.50 and Alumex 2.5 million shares crossed for Rs. 39 million, its shares fetched Rs. 12.
In the retail market, five companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were; Expolanka Holdings Rs. 1.95 billion (9.8 million shares traded), Brown and Company Rs. 918 million (88.7 million shares traded), LOLC Holdings Rs. 515 million (824,000 shares traded), JKH Rs. 426 million (2.8 million shares traded) and Ambeon Capital Rs. 305 million (20.3 million shares traded traded). During the day 284 million share volumes changed hands in 39000 transactions. Hotel sector counters showed a bit of price appreciation due to positive external environmental factors. Jetwing Symphony Hotel shares appreciated and the entity announced that they do not possess any undisclosed price sensitive information.
A director attached to Browns Investments, Kamantha Amarasekera, gifted five million shares worth Rs. 9.90 per share to the charitable organization, Helpage, amounting to Rs. 49.5 million.
Several more Hayleys Group companies announced interim dividends. Dipped Products declared a 95 cents per share first interim dividend, Alumex announced a 10 cents per share first interim and for Hayleys Fabric it was a 40 cents per share first interim. Haycarb on Tuesday announced an 80 cents per share first interim dividend.
Yesterday 1 US dollar was equal to 199.87 Sri Lankan rupees. This is liable to change depending on the Central Bank policy announcement today.
Company stresses ambition to surpass this milestone
Eyes markets across Africa and beyond
In a groundbreaking achievement for Sri Lanka’s IT and electronics manufacturing industry, EWIS Colombo Ltd, the country’s first and only local computer manufacturer, has successfully exported its first consignment of locally built laptops to Zimbabwe.
This landmark event not only positions Sri Lanka as an emerging force in global IT hardware manufacturing but also highlights EWIS’s commitment to innovation, quality, and excellence on the international stage.
This historic shipment, dispatched from EWIS’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Samajasewapura, Sooriyawewa, underscores the company’s dedication to delivering world-class technology solutions. With over 11 years of expertise in manufacturing and assembly, EWIS Colombo Ltd has played a pivotal role in driving Sri Lanka’s ICT sector forward. As a Board of Investment (BOI) Section 17-approved company, EWIS has established the country’s first and only local computer manufacturing plant, paving the way for the nation’s growth in high-tech exports.
Speaking on this momentous achievement, Sanjeewa Wickramanayake, Chairman of EWIS Colombo Ltd, said: “This milestone is not just for EWIS but for Sri Lanka as a whole. It proves that our country has the talent, capability, and ambition to manufacture and export high-quality IT products, competing confidently on the global stage. As we continue expanding beyond local markets, we take immense pride in showcasing Sri Lanka’s excellence in technology and innovation to the world. EWIS’s commitment to world-class quality is reinforced by its ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, CE, FCC, and RoHS certifications, ensuring compliance with international quality, safety, and environmental standards.”
Speaking further he said:
“For nearly four decades, EWIS has been a trailblazer in Sri Lanka’s ICT sector, delivering cutting-edge solutions for education, businesses, and government enterprises.
With over 11 years of local manufacturing and assembly expertise, EWIS has continuously refined its capabilities to produce high-quality, internationally competitive IT hardware. The successful export to Zimbabwe represents a bold step toward expanding EWIS’s global footprint, reinforcing Sri Lanka’s potential as a world-class technology and manufacturing hub.”
Dialog Television, Sri Lanka’s #1 Pay-TV service provider, has partnered with Emerging Media to enhance the convenience and effectiveness of advertising. This collaboration brings together Dialog Television’s world-class entertainment, featuring 18 advertisable channels across genres such as movies, edutainment, kids, music, sports, and local content, with Emerging Media’s expertise in digital advertising and targeted marketing. This synergy creates a seamless platform for businesses to maximize brand exposure across multiple channels.
With a reach of over 1.7 million households, Dialog Television provides advertisers with a powerful avenue to engage diverse audiences. Brands can place advertisements on leading international and local channels such as &flix, Star Movies, TLC, Animal Planet, AXN, Zee Café, Comedy Central, Star Plus, A+, Nickelodeon, Star Vijay, Zee Tamil, Star Sports, Ten Cricket, Sony SIX, ThePapare TV, Channel One, Citi Hitz and Channel C. Through this partnership, Emerging Media will facilitate advertising sales, allowing businesses to target specific viewer segments while simplifying the media buying process with a single point of contact.
Commenting on the partnership, Lim Li San, Group Chief Operating Officer at Dialog Axiata PLC, stated, “As Sri Lanka’s premier Pay-TV service provider, we serve more than 1.7 million households with over 6 million pairs of captive eyeballs across Sri Lanka. Today, we are excited to embark on this partnership with Emerging Media to avail our Dialog Television platform and brand strength to provide quality advertisement exposure and customer engagement to local businesses across Sri Lanka.”
The International Institute of Health Sciences (IIHS), a pioneer in healthcare training for over 23 years, has partnered with the University of Surrey, UK, to revolutionise healthcare education in Sri Lanka and the broader South Asian region. This will create a world-class academic pathway for aspiring nursing and healthcare professionals, as well as young individuals seeking careers in the field. Under this agreement, IIHS and the University of Surrey will introduce a series of academic initiatives to enhance healthcare training and accessibility.
These include delivering internationally recognised nursing programmes that allow Sri Lankan and regional students to earn globally competitive qualifications in Sri Lanka.
Commenting on the move, Dr. Kithsiri Edirisinghe, CEO & Dean of Undergraduate Studies at IIHS, said: “This MOU marks a significant step in our mission to deliver world-class healthcare education to Sri Lanka and the region. IIHS remains dedicated to shaping the future of healthcare professionals and fostering global healthcare leadership.” Dr. Shelini Surendran, Associate Dean (International) at the University of Surrey, emphasised: “Sri Lanka is establishing itself as a regional education hub, and this partnership ensures students across Asia can access top-tier UK healthcare education at IIHS. By bridging academic excellence with accessibility, we provide students with a clear pathway to their professional goals.”
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