Business
Sustainable Development Council convenes forum on promoting Inclusive and Sustainable Businesses for Sustainable Development in Sri Lanka
With ambitious reforms taking centre-stage towards rebuilding Sri Lanka into a resilient and sustainable economy, the Government of Sri Lanka is exploring opportunities to harness the potential of the private sector in fostering inclusive and sustainable growth.
The Sustainable Development Council (SDC), in partnership with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP) is looking at advancing private sector action for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Sri Lanka through the development of an actionable strategy for promoting inclusive and sustainable business practices. The strategy has been developed following a collaborative, cross-sectoral and cross-agency consultative process.
Inclusive and sustainable businesses (ISBs) are purpose-driven enterprises that deliberately seek positive change in communities and the environment. These impact businesses can play a crucial role to achieve national social development and environment sustainability goals, especially in light of fiscal limitations. ISBs use market-based approaches to achieve positive social and environmental impacts, while ensuring their own commercial sustainability.
A Forum was convened in Colombo on 27 September by SDC and ESCAP to discuss the proposed strategy to promote ISBs for sustainable development in Sri Lanka and was attended by representatives from government, private sector, development partner agencies, and civil society organizations.
The proposed strategy presented by the Director General of SDC, Chamindry Saparamadu contained a coherent set of actions to support ISBs in Sri Lanka through the development of relevant legal frameworks, capacity development for a strong and dynamic ISB ecosystem and for integration into local and global supply chains, platforming for local and global recognition, improving access to impact finance and incentives, promoting access to information, impact measurement and reporting and partnership development for transformative impact.
Speaking at the Forum, the Minister of Industries, Dr. Ramesh Pathirana emphasized the need to pay special attention to enabling decent and inclusive work conditions to marginalized communities in the plantation sector as well as those living in the northern and eastern parts of the country while the State Minister of Finance, Shehan Semasinghe highlighted the current challenges in accessing concessionary financing for small and medium enterprises which is a hindrance to their development. The State Minister further highlighted government plans with regard to capital market development in tandem with the ongoing debt restructuring process. The Senior Advisor to the President on Climate Change, Ruwan Wijeweardhane, emphasized the pivotal role the private sector can play in developing a green economy and supporting environmental sustainability while at the same time acknowledging the current contributions of the private sector in achieving sustainable and inclusive development. Addressing the Forum, Dr. Rupa Chanda the Director of the Trade, Investment and Innovation Division of ESCAP mentioned that “Innovative business models are emerging and demonstrating that it is possible to be commercially viable while achieving positive social and environmental impacts. In Sri Lanka we can already find fine examples of inclusive and sustainable businesses. Today, the challenge is to continue to expand the number, reach and impact of inclusive and sustainable businesses in Sri Lanka. To support this, we need a coherent government strategy.”
Secretary to the Ministry of Environment, Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Industries Thilaka Jayasundera, Director General BOI Renuka Weerakoon, UN Resident Coordinator for Sri Lanka Marc-Andre Franche, Chief Representative of JAICA Sri Lanka Tetsuya YAMADA, Manager-FIG South Asia of International Finance Cooperation Joon Young Park, President of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) Keerthi Gunawardena, Vice Chairperson of Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce Gayani De Alwis, Chairman, SLASSCOM Jehan Perinpanayagam, Vice President (MSME) of DFCC Bank Chandana Wanigasena, Executive Director of UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka, Rathika de Silva, Director-Business Development, Selyn Handlooms Selyna Pieris and other officials from UN agencies also spoke during the Forum.
Business
Dialog delivers strong growth, stronger national contribution in FY 2025
Dialog Axiata PLC announced, Friday 6th February 2026, its consolidated financial results (Reviewed) for the year ended 31st December 2025. Financial results included those of Dialog Axiata PLC (the “Company”) and of the Dialog Axiata Group (the “Group”).
Group Performance
The Group delivered a strong performance across Mobile, Fixed Line and Digital Pay Television businesses recording a positive Core Revenue growth of 16% Year to Date (“YTD”). Group Headline Revenue reached Rs179.6Bn, up 5% YTD, despite the continued strategic scaling down of low-margin international wholesale business. In Q4 2025, Revenue was recorded at Rs46.5Bn up 2% Quarter-on-Quarter (“QoQ”) and 2% Year-on-Year (“YoY”).
The Group Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation (“EBITDA”) reached Rs86.0Bn up 30% YTD supported by Core Revenue performance and Cost Rescaling Initiatives. On a QoQ basis Group EBITDA demonstrated a modest growth to record at Rs23.0Bn up 2% QoQ with an EBITDA margin of 49.5% in line with the Revenue performance. Group EBITDA margin reached 47.9% for FY 2025, up 9.2pp.
Group Net Profit After Tax (“NPAT”) reached Rs20.8Bn for FY 2025, up 67% YTD mainly resulting from robust EBITDA growth, despite higher tax and net finance costs. Normalized for forex impact, NPAT growth was recorded at +>100% YTD to reach Rs22.1Bn. On a QoQ basis NPAT grew 3% to reach Rs5.9Bn resulting from strong EBITDA performance.
On the back of strong operational performance, the Group recorded Operating Free Cash Flow (“OFCF”)
of Rs49.3Bn for FY 2025 up >100% YTD.
Dividend Payment to Shareholders
In line with the dividend policy and financial performance of the Group and taking into account the forward investment requirements to serve the nation’s demand for Broadband and Digital services, the Board of Directors of Dialog Axiata PLC at its meeting held on 6th February 2026, resolved to propose for consideration by the Shareholders of the Company, a dividend to ordinary shareholders amounting to Rs1.50 per share. The said dividend, if approved by shareholders, would translate to a Dividend Yield of 5.0% based on share closing price for FY 2025. The dividend so proposed will be considered for approval by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Company, the date pertaining to which would be notified in due course.
Company and Subsidiary Performance
At an entity level, Dialog Axiata PLC (the “Company”) continued to be the primary contributor to Group Revenue (76%) and Group EBITDA (74%). Aided by sustained growth in the Data segment and cost-rescaling initiatives, Company revenue was recorded at Rs135.8Bn for FY 2025, up 18% YTD, EBITDA rose 32% YTD to reach Rs63.6Bn. On a QoQ basis, Q4 2025 Revenue was recorded at Rs34.8Bn, down 1% QoQ due to a reclassification of Hubbing Revenue, while EBITDA decline 1% QoQ to record Rs17.0Bn, largely attributable to network restoration costs and donations made in relation to the Cyclone Ditwah relief efforts. Furthermore, NPAT was recorded at Rs15.6Bn for FY 2025, up 41% YTD. Normalised for forex impacts, the company NPAT was up +>100% YTD to reach Rs17.0Bn. On a QoQ basis, Company NPAT was recorded at Rs4.5Bn, down 6% QoQ.
Business
Ceylinco Life’s Pranama Scholarships reach 25-year milestone
Ceylinco Life has announced the launch of the 25th consecutive edition of its flagship Pranama Scholarships programme, marking a significant milestone in the company’s long-standing commitment to recognising and rewarding excellence among the children of its policyholders.
Under the 2026 programme, the life insurance market leader will present scholarships with a total cumulative value of Rs. 22.7 million, continuing a rewards initiative that has now been conducted without interruption for a quarter of a century. Since its inception, the Ceylinco Life Pranama Scholarships programme has benefitted 3,466 students across the country, representing a total investment of Rs. 240 million in nurturing academic achievement and outstanding performance in sports, arts and other extracurricular pursuits.
Business
Sri Lankans’ artistic genius glowingly manifests at Kala Pola ‘26
The artistic genius of Sri Lankans was amply manifest all over again at ‘Kala Pola ‘26’ which was held on February 8th at Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha Colombo 7; the usual, teeming and colourful venue for this annual grand exhibition and celebration of the work of local visual artists.
If there is one thing that has flourished memorably and resplendently in Sri Lanka over the centuries it is the artistic capability or genius of its people. It is something that all Sri Lankans could feel a sense of elation over because from the viewpoint of the arts, Sri Lanka is second to no other nation. With regard to the visual arts a veritable dazzling radiance of this inborn and persisting capability is seen at the annual open air ‘Kala Pola’.

A bird of Sri Lanka created from scraps of iron waste.
All capable visual artists, wherever they hail from in Sri Lanka, enjoy the opportunity of exhibiting their work at the ‘Kala Pola’ and this is a distinctive ‘positive’ of this annual event that draws numberless artists and viewers. There was an abundance of paintings, sketches and sculptures, for instance, and one work was as good as the other. Ample and equal space was afforded each artist. Its widely participatory and open nature enables one to describe the exhibition as exuding a profoundly democratic ethos.
Accordingly, this time around at ‘Kala Pola ‘26’ too Sri Lankans’ creative efforts were there to be viewed, studied and enjoyed in the customary carnival atmosphere where connoisseurs, local and foreign, met in a sprit of camaraderie and good cheer. Many thanks are owed once again to the George Keyt Foundation for the presentation of the event in association with the John Keells Group and the John Keells Foundation, not forgetting the Nations Trust Bank, which was the event’s Official Banking Partner. The exhibition was officially declared open by Chief Guest Marc-Andre Franche, UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka.
By Lynn Ockersz
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