Business
AFC raises LKR 1 bn in subordinate debt to strengthen the Tier II Capital

Alliance Finance Co PLC (AFC) has successfully raised LKR 1 billion in Tier II capital, with the aim of strengthening the regulatory capital of the Company to financially empower and facilitate the development of the Micro, Small and Medium enterprise sector in Sri Lanka. The Tier II Subordinated Debt has a tenure of 5 years and has been structured and arranged by Capital Alliance Ltd (CAL), a leading investment bank in the country.
Commenting on this important milestone, Mr Romani de Silva, Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of AFC stated that “This is a reflection of the confidence our investors have in our sustainable business philosophy. Due to the covid 19 pandemic, Sri Lankan micro, small & medium entrepreneurs need more support than ever before and raising of LKR 1 Bn as Subordinate Debt strengthened our Tier II capital which gives us an enormous capacity to develop micro, small and medium scale entrepreneurs of Sri Lanka using our proven business models. Furthermore, we extend our sincere appreciation for the investor, (CAL) for the trust placed in us. Subsequent to an internal restructure with the technical assistance of IFC (private sector arm of the World Bank Group) in 2019,all of the performance metrics of the Company have improved tremendously outperforming its peers in the industry with a Loan book growth of 1.6% ,Profit growth of 169 % and a highly commendable reduction in NPL’s by 23 % for the financial year ended 2020/21, validating the impact of the restructure. As the oldest finance company in Sri Lanka and as a net lender to the rural economy, AFC is focussing on financial inclusivity and sustainable development of all communities.”.
AFC’s approach to sustainability is holistic and goes beyond economic empowerment with an equal emphasis placed upon social and environmental sustainability as well. AFC has institutionalised the values of its founding fathers by adopting the Triple Bottom Line Approach in 2012, followed by numerous other actions to become the sustainable financial institution it is today. In 2020, AFC became the first financial institution in South Asia to be certified for holistic sustainability under the pioneering Sustainability Standards and Certification Initiative (SSCI). SSCI is governed under the International Council of Sustainability Standards for Value-Driven Financial Institutions, Germany. This has resulted in an even greater focus on this unwavering commitment of the Company and better measurements of the impact created.
AFC is also amongst the highest contributors of net profits towards sustainability initiatives in the industry. The Company has dedicated an annual allocation of 4% of profits for sustainability and CSR initiatives. The Company has many initiatives including the “1 Mn trees for Unity” flagship project that aims to plant one million trees by 2024 whilst meeting social and environmental objectives. To date the Company has contributed over 350,000 plants to the nation. In addition, conserving biodiversity, empowering social entrepreneurs, promoting sustainable products and undertaking CSR practices that ensure social and environmental wellbeing remain as AFC’s key priorities under its sustainability mandate.
The AFC business powered by a dynamic and empowered young team of 1300 visionary individuals will continue to support the global and local sustainable development agenda, with its high impact goals in place to ensure focused value creation in line with the UN SDG’s and National Development Agenda. AFC believes that synergistic partnerships with its foreign financing partners such as IFC, FMO, DWM, Tridos Bank and other impact investors will add further value to its approach and facilitate value distribution to a wider range of stakeholders in the country. AFC is eager to uphold these partnerships and collaborations that facilitate sustainable development in Sri Lanka and have confidence that they will undoubtedly accelerate its journey of “making the world a better place through sustainable finance”.
Business
The World of the Black Leopard

Sri Lankan explorer, photographer, and author Senaka Kotagama unveils his debut book, The World of the Black Leopard, at its highly anticipated launch in Colombo. This self-published masterpiece, born from over five decades of global exploration—from Sri Lanka’s misty tea highlands to Kenya’s rugged Laikipia plateau—chronicles Senaka’s groundbreaking discovery of Giza (Black Beauty in Swahili), a rare melanistic leopard. In 2023, Senaka became the first Sri Lankan to track this elusive “ghost in the darkness,” inspired by wildlife photographer Will Burrard-Lucas’s pioneering camera-trap images. Blending gripping adventure with a noble cause, all profits from the book support the Rotary for Little Hearts project.
Born in the mid-1960s in Sri Lanka’s lush tea country, Senaka grew up in a family that cherished the outdoors. The rolling hills and dense forests were his playground, fostering a deep connection to nature that would define his life. This early bond with the natural world set him on a path of exploration that few from his homeland have followed. By profession, Senaka is a Tea Taster, but his true calling lies beyond the tasting room—in the untamed corners of the planet.
Senaka’s adventures read like a catalogue of the world’s wildest places. In South America, he tracked jaguars and anacondas through the dense Amazon rainforest. He dived into Brazil’s Abismo Anhumas, a surreal underwater cave, and rafted beneath the roaring Iguaçu Falls. His scuba-diving exploits took him from Sri Lanka’s coastal waters to the pristine Similan Islands, all the way to the Myanmar border, where he swam alongside rare tiger sharks, and the whale-rich seas off Vietnam. In Chile’s Patagonian Andes, he pursued elusive pumas across windswept peaks, while Tanzania’s Serengeti brought him face-to-face with cheetahs and a near call with an angry lioness. India’s Bengal tigers, China’s Manchurian tigers, and Indonesia’s Komodo dragons have all crossed his path, each encounter fuelling his insatiable curiosity.
The World of the Black Leopard immerses readers in Laikipia’s wilderness, a hidden Kenyan gem often eclipsed by the Maasai Mara. Few outsiders have glimpsed Giza, a revered “freak of nature” among the Samburu and local tribes. Senaka’s multiple journeys to this mystical plateau spotlight its wonders, inspiring Sri Lankan and global wildlife enthusiasts to explore this remote region. His vivid prose—often penned on his phone amidst rugged terrain—pairs with stunning photography from his vast archive, capturing the wild’s fleeting magic with authenticity and depth.
More than a memoir, the book fuses drama, firsthand knowledge, and philosophical reflection, offering a window into a shrinking habitat through the eyes of a modern explorer inspired by literary giants like Wilbur Smith. Accompanied by breathtaking illustrations, it invites readers on a journey of empathy, awe, and cognitive awakening. For Senaka, the true reward lies in nature’s lessons, not financial gain. All proceeds from The World of the Black Leopard will fund Rotary for Little Hearts, a Rotary District 3220 initiative aiming to raise $1 million for Sri Lanka’s Lady Ridgeway Hospital. This project seeks to expand intensive care and surgical facilities for over 3,000 children born annually with congenital heart defects, giving them a chance at life through Senaka’s lifelong passion.
By Senaka Kotagama
Business
War and panic take their toll on bourse which recovers somewhat at close

The CSE kicked off yesterday on a positive note but later selling pressure mounted due to the West Asian crisis which went on to trigger panic- selling of shares. However, at the tail end of the day the market indicated a slight recovery, market analysts said.
The All Share Price Index went down by 253 points, while the S and P SL20 declined by 55.19 points. Turnover stood at Rs 3.32 billion with five crossings.
Those crossings were reported in Central Finance, where 313,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 71.6 million; its shares traded at Rs 228, People’s Leasing 2.2 million shares crossed for Rs 40.7 million and its shares traded at Rs 18.50, Commercial Bank 200,000 shares crossed for Rs 30.4 million; its shares traded at Rs 152, Central Industries 150,000 shares crossed for Rs 23.3 million; its shares sold at Rs 150 and Hemas 745,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 20.6 million; its shares traded at Rs 27.60.
In the retail market top six companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were; HNB Rs 212 million (672,000 shares traded), Commercial Bank 197 million (1.31 million shares traded), Sampath Bank Rs 164 million (1.4 million shares traded), Lanka IOC Rs 120 million (871,000 shares traded), Browns Investments Rs 114 million (15.3 million shares traded) and Dipped Products Rs 96.5 million (1.9 million shares traded). During the day 139 million share volumes changed hands in 27968 transactions.
It is said that the banking and financial sector led the market, especially Central Finance and HNB, while the manufacturing sector was the second largest contributor to the market, especially Central Industries. Further, the services sector and the plantations sector did not perform well.
Lankem Ceylon plans a one for three rights issue of 17.15 million ordinary shares at Rs 70 each to raise Rs 1.2 billion, CSE sources said. The cash will be used for part settlement of bank loans. The firm’s current stated capital is Rs1.28 billion made up of 55.4 million ordinary shares.
The rights issue is subject to Colombo Stock Exchange and shareholder approval. A subdivision of shares will follow if the proposed rights issue is fully subscribed, the company said, with 68,627,676 ordinary shares split “on the basis of every One (1) Existing issued Ordinary Share being Sub-divided into Two (2) issued Ordinary Shares, thereby increasing the number of shares of the Company to 137,255,352 shares.”
Yesterday, the rupee opened at Rs 300.50/70 to the US dollar in the spot market, broadly flat against previous day’s close of Rs300.40/60, dealers said, while bond yields were up, particularly in the mid tenors and above.
A bond maturing on 15.12.2026 was quoted at 8.15/25 percent, up from 8.14/20 percent. A bond maturing on 15.09.2027 was quoted at 8.50/60 percent, up from 8.54/60 percent. A bond maturing on 15.10.2028 was quoted at 8.90/9.00 percent. A bond maturing on 15.12.2029 was quoted at 9.62/67 percent, up from 9.52/56 percent. A bond maturing on 15.03.2031 was quoted at 10.05/20 percent, up from 9.98/10.10 percent. A bond maturing on 15.12.2032 was quoted at 10.35/40 percent, up from 10.31/38 percent.
By Hiran H.Senewiratne ✍️
Business
TVS Motor announces Sudarshan Venu as chairman of the company

TVS Motor Company announced today that The Board of Directors unanimously named Sudarshan Venu as incoming Chairman of the Company, in recognition of his exemplary contributions to the Company’s sustained growth and strategic development during his tenure as Director. Effective August 25, 2025, Sudarshan Venu will be appointed as Chairman and Managing Director.
Its current chairman, Sir Ralf Speth, has informed The Board of Directors that he will not be seeking re-appointment as a company Director at the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM). Consequently, he will step down as Chairman of the Company at the close of the AGM on August 22, 2025.
The Board will also be appointing Sir Ralf Speth as Chief Mentor of the Company for a period of three years effective August 23, 2025, ensuring continued benefit from his extensive knowledge, experience and expertise.
Venu Srinivasan, Chairman Emeritus, TVS Motor Company, said, “I express my sincere gratitude to Ralf for his exceptional leadership as Chairman over the last three years. His contributions have been invaluable in guiding our strategic expansion into global markets and fostering innovation that has significantly strengthened our industry standing. We are grateful for his continued support as Chief Mentor for TVS Motor and in welcoming Sudarshan into his new role. I am confident that Sudarshan, who in his capacity as Managing Director has demonstrated tremendous growth for the business, will take the Company to even greater heights.”
Sir Ralf Speth, said, “It has been an honour for me to steer TVS Motor Company as its Chairman over the last three years. I am grateful for the support, cooperation, and personal friendships developed during my tenure. As I hand over the Chairmanship to Sudarshan, I am confident that under his leadership, the Company will continue its growth journey while championing core TVS values. Sudarshan’s dynamism and passion underscore his vision for the business, and I am confident that TVS is in safe, responsible hands. I wish Sudarshan and TVS Motor a bright future ahead.”
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