Business
Construct 2020 brings the No. 1 Construction exhibition in Sri Lanka

CINNOMON GRAND, COLOMBO –
National Construction Association of Sri Lanka ( NCASL), today launched the premier Construction Exhibition with a decade long success story as its 20th consecutive exhibition. The 2020 edition, presented at the Oak room of the Cinnamon Grand Hotel with revolutionary hi-tech, Smart, Future shaping and consumer focused approach.
Construct 2020 has marked its position as,‟ Sri Lanka‟s No 1 Construction Exhibition” to provide services on all construction needs of the nation. The exhibition is scheduled to be held on 20th , 21st and 22nd of November 2020, at the Bandaranayaike Memorial International Conference Hall ( BMICH ), Sirimavo Bandaranaike Exhibition Centre, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The exhibition will expose visitors to the vast number of choices and alternatives in Housing and construction with close to 250 trade stalls including reputed brands as partners and expected to be hosted at the exhibition.
Sri Lanka‟s largest and most promising construction industry related exhibition showcasing building materials, building services and construction equipment among a wide range of other standardized services.
The Chairman NCASL, Mr. Susantha Liyanarachchi speaking at the occasion said that it was a tremendous achievement to successfully complete 20 years and that 2020 marks a new era for the exhibition. He highlighted that the exhibition is highly focused on the segmentation and specifically focused in consumer needs with the strong belief that a solid foundation with high quality service is the key to success rather than organizing just a construction trade fair. Construct 2020 Committee Chairman Mr. N.G.K.Karunawansa addressed the gathering and said that the exhibition will be conducted by following the Covid 19 health guidelines introduced by the Ministry of Health.
The exhibition will be productive to all stakeholders with a vision of the future development. Anyone who is visiting the exhibition will benefit from the maturity and experience of the event where his/her expectations are fullfiled with utmost satisfaction. Committee Chairman futher stressed that this is the most important area that empowers any individual to make effective choices among options and participation would also benefit by passing on information to others.
2020 edition partners are Alumex PLC as the Platinum Sponsor, Mascons Group as the Gold Sponsor, Nippon Paint as the Silver Sponsor, Elcardo Industries (Pvt) Ltd as the Bronze Sponsor.
Home Land Skyline Pvt Ltd is the Official Real Estate Partner and Anuradhapura Holdings Pvt Ltd is the Official Paving Partner.
Construct 2020 sponsors and partners have officially handed over their sponsorships to officials of Construct. Construct Committee members and NCASL officials invited all who are aspiring construction to visit Construct 2020 in their new journey and benefit from the vast opportunities that will be present at the expo.
Further information may be found at www.constructexhibition.lk
Business
Stealer malware leaked over 2 million bank cards

Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence estimates that 2.3 million bank cards were leaked on the dark web, based on an analysis of data-stealing malware log files from 2023-2024. On average, every 14th infostealer infection results in stolen credit card information, with nearly 26 million devices compromised by infostealers, including more than 9 million in 2024 alone. Kaspersky released its report on the infostealer threat landscape while the technology world gathers at MWC 2025 in Barcelona.
Kaspersky experts estimate that approximately 2,300,000 bank cards have been leaked on the dark web. This conclusion is based on an analysis of the log files from data-stealing malware, dated 2023-2024, that were leaked on the dark web market. While globally the share of leaked cards is well below one percent, 95% of the observed numbers appear technically valid.
Infostealer malware is not only designed to extract financial information, but also credentials, cookies and other valuable user data, which is compiled into log files and then distributed within the dark web underground community. An infostealer can infect a device if a victim unknowingly downloads and runs a malicious file, for example one disguised as legitimate software, such as a game cheat. It can be spread through phishing links, compromised websites, malicious attachments in emails or messengers and various other methods. It targets both personal and corporate devices.
On average, every 14th infostealer infection results in stolen credit card information. Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence experts found that nearly 26 million devices running Windows were infected with various types of infostealers in the past two years.
“The actual number of infected devices is even higher. Cybercriminals often leak stolen data in the form of log files months or even years after the initial infection, and compromised credentials and other information continue to surface on the dark web over time. Therefore, the more time passes, the more infections from previous years we observe. We forecast the total number of devices infected with infostealer malware in 2024 to be between 20 million and 25 million, while for 2023, the estimate ranges between 18 million and 22 million,” says Sergey Shcherbel, expert at Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence.
In 2024, Redline remained the most widespread infostealer, accounting for 34% of the total number of infections.
The most significant surge in 2024 was in infections caused by Risepro, whose share of total infections increased from 1.4% in 2023 to almost 23% in 2024. “RisePro is a growing threat. It was first discovered two years ago but seems to be gaining momentum. The stealer primarily targets banking card details, passwords and cryptocurrency wallet data, and may be spreading under the guise of key generators, cracks for various software and game mods,” explains Sergey Shcherbel. Another rapidly growing stealer is Stealc, which first appeared in 2023 and increased its share from nearly 3% to 13%.
Business
ComBank’s 2023 Annual Report tops Banking sector at ACCA Sustainability Reporting Awards

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon’s prowess in comprehensive disclosure of sustainability-related information to stakeholders has won its 2023 Annual Report two top awards at the 2025 Sustainability Reporting Awards presented by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
The Bank was adjudged the overall runner-up and the winner in the Banking category at these awards, repeating the achievement of its 2022 Annual Report which was similarly honoured by the ACCA last year.
The ACCA Sustainability Reporting Awards recognise Annual Reports that clearly acknowledge and explain the economic, environmental and social impacts of the business to internal and external stakeholders, demonstrating the organisation’s policies, targets and long-term objectives towards the goal of sustainable development.
Commercial Bank’s 2023 Annual Report also won two Golds, a Silver and a Bronze at CA Sri Lanka’s ‘TAGS’ Awards 2024, excelling in the key aspects recognised by the awards programme which is dedicated to Transparency, Accountability, Governance, and Sustainability – TAGS.
The Bank won the Gold for ‘Corporate Governance Disclosure’ in the Financial Services sector, the Gold for the Best Annual Report among the private sector banks, the Silver for ‘Digitally Transformative Reporting’ across all sectors, and the overall Bronze award for Excellence in Corporate Reporting.
Business
UTE Delivers Sri Lanka’s Largest Cat D8 Tractor to NEM Construction

Caterpillar equipment dealer UTE has delivered the country’s largest Cat D8 Track-Type Tractor to NEM Construction Pvt. Ltd., marking a significant milestone in heavy machinery. This delivery strengthens the long-standing partnership between UTE and NEM Construction, which spans over 45 years. The Cat D8 is expected to boost operational efficiency in large-scale projects. As the sole authorized dealer for Caterpillar in Sri Lanka, UTE continues to provide top-tier machinery and after-sales support. The handover is particularly notable as Caterpillar celebrates its 100th anniversary. NEM Construction’s Chairman, Raja Nanayakkara, praised the Cat D8’s superior performance and UTE’s unmatched service and parts support, which have been key to the company’s long-term collaboration. This purchase highlights the continued trust in both Caterpillar and UTE’s expertise in supporting Sri Lanka’s construction industry.
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