Business
‘Settle your water bill online with Nations Trust Bank American Express’
Nations Trust Bank American Express is providing yet another layer of safety and convenience for all Cardmembers by facilitating the online settlement of their monthly water bills. Cardmembers can now settle their water bill at a time and place convenient for them, through a seamless hassle-free payment solution by visiting http://ebis.waterboard.lk/smartzone/English/OnlinePayments. Offered at no additional fees or charges, this facility is yet another customer-centric solution by Nations Trust Bank American Express, specially with continued focus on hygiene and avoiding physical contact to contain COVID-19. Nations Trust Bank American Express earlier enabled the Automated Bill Settlement facility at the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB), as well as water bill settlement via Point-of-Sale machines and M-POS.
Commenting on this latest service offering, Niluka Gunatilake, Head of Cards at Nations Trust Bank said, “Many facilities that were merely optional in the past are now considered essential, in the post pandemic world. At Nations Trust Bank, our strategy is built around customer needs, and we are aware of how important the convenience of online payments is for our Cardmembers. As an essential utility, water bill payments are both necessary and recurring, and this latest facility is introduced to make that monthly process that much easier for our Cardmembers. Needless to say, in an environment where physical distancing is endorsed, online payment of water bills also adds a layer of safety for our Cardmembers.”
The NWSDB also offers a 1.5% rebate of the bill amount if the bill is settled within 14 days from the bill issue date with the amount reversed in the next month’s bill. Piyal Pathmanatha, Deputy General Manager (Commercial) of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board said, “As the National water supplier, we have customers around the country facing various challenges when it comes to mobility and physical payment of bills. The partnership with Nations Trust Bank American Express Cards is a further step towards the future, ensuring timely yet convenient payment of bills by our customers.”
Cardmembers can also receive important details such as interruption notices, billing details, outstanding reminders via SMS alerts by sending their water bill account number as an SMS to 0719399999 from their mobile phone. In case of a changed phone number, Cardmembers can simply resend the water bill account number using their new mobile number to 0719399999.
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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