Business
Share market fortunes up in the wake of CBSL decision on interest rates
by Hiran H.Senewiratne
The CSE closed on a positive note yesterday following the CBSL decision to keep policy interest rates unchanged. However, during the morning session the market was volatile due to share price fluctuations in LOLC Finance and Commercial Leasing and Finance, subsidiaries of the LOLC Group. But during the latter part of the day buying interest was noted in Browns Investments and Brown and Company, moving the stock market to positive territory, market analysts said.
During the day, the food and beverage and manufacturing sectors were the main turnover contributors. The manufacturing sector, which involves tile and aluminium enterprises, showed good performance in the market but the reversal of the chemical fertilizer policy boosted plantation stocks.
Two index heavy companies that lifted the market were, Browns Investments and Brown and Company. Browns Investments’ share price appreciated by 11 per cent or Rs 1.10. Its shares traded at Rs 11.90 at the commencement of trading and at the end of the day they shot up to Rs 13 and Brown and Company shares appreciated by Rs 18 or 7.5 per cent.
Amid those developments both indices were positive. The All- Share Price Index rose by 115.6 points and S and P SL20 went up by 16.4 points. Turnover stood at Rs 9.98 billion with two crossings. Those crossings were reported in Sampath Bank, which crossed 713.2 million shares to the tune of Rs 38.1 million, its shares traded at Rs 53.50, HNB 224,000 shares crossed for Rs 34.6 million, its shares traded at Rs 154 and Windforce 1.15 million shares crossed for Rs 20.5 million, its shares traded at Rs 18.10.
In the retail market, top seven companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were, Browns Investments Rs 2.36 billion (186.6 million shares traded), Lanka Realty Investments Rs 995 million (39.1 million shares traded), Expolanka Rs 609 million (2.6 million shares traded), Bogala Graphite Rs 465 million (2.9 million shares traded), Agalawatte Plantations Rs 423 million (8.1 million shares traded), Brown and Company Rs 378 million (1.5 million shares traded) and Royal Ceramic Rs 361 million (6.3 million shares traded). During the day 459 million share volumes changed hands in 61435 transactions.
Yesterday the US dollar was quoted at Rs 200.97, which was the controlled price of the Central Bank to prevent price escalation of essential imported items. But the actual market price exceeds that.
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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