The Emirates Group announced a new record half-year financial performance, posting a profit before tax of AED 12.2 billion (US$ 3.3 billion) for the first six months of 2025-26, making this the fourth consecutive year of record profitability for the half-year reporting period.

Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum

After accounting for income tax charges, the Group’s profit after tax is AED 10.6 billion (US$ 2.9 billion), up 13% from last year.

Illustrating its strong operating performance, the Group maintained a robust EBITDA of AED 21.1 billion (US$ 5.7 billion), 3% higher than the AED 20.4 billion (US$ 5.6 billion) reported for the same period last year.

Group revenue was AED 75.4 billion (US$ 20.6 billion) for the first six months of 2025-26, up 4% from AED 70.8 billion (US$ 19.3 billion) last year.

The Group closed the first half year of 2025-26 with a record cash position of AED 56.0 billion (US$ 15.2 billion) on 30 September 2025, compared to AED 53.4 billion (US$ 14.6 billion) on 31 March 2025. The Group has been able to tap on its own strong cash reserves to support business needs, including funding for new aircraft deliveries and servicing existing debt obligations.

As Sri Lanka navigates its IMF-led reforms and seeks to rebuild fiscal stability, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has warned that the country’s demographic slowdown — marked by falling birth rates and an ageing population — could emerge as a major long-term constraint on economic growth and labour productivity.

Releasing the preliminary findings of the 2024 Census of Population and Housing in Colombo, UNFPA Officer-in-Charge Phuntsho Wangyel said Sri Lanka’s population now stands at 21.76 million, reflecting an increase of just 1.4 million since 2012. The country’s annual growth rate has fallen to 0.5 percent, underscoring a demographic transition with profound fiscal and economic implications.

“The message is clear — fewer babies are being born. This slowdown, combined with low fertility and rapid ageing, signals a significant shift in Sri Lanka’s age structure, Wangyel said.

He warned that the demographic changes could affect the labour market, productivity and public finances, urging policymakers to plan ahead to ensure long-term economic resilience.

“When fertility rates decline, the focus of policy must shift from managing population numbers to investing in people, advancing gender equality and strengthening systems that can support an ageing population, Wangyel stressed.

Wangyel said the implications of the census data go beyond population statistics, directly influencing Sri Lanka’s growth trajectory. A shrinking working-age population, he explained, could lead to slower output growth, rising fiscal pressure on pensions and healthcare and increased dependency on a smaller tax base.

“The economic implications are clear. A smaller workforce means slower growth unless productivity rises. This is why investing in education, technology and gender equality is no longer optional — it’s essential, he said.

He added that the transition demands policy reorientation — from expanding the labour supply to improving workforce productivity, innovation and social safety nets.

“Population data is not just a set of statistics — it’s an economic tool. It helps governments, investors and the private sector anticipate changes in labour supply, consumer demand and public expenditure, Wangyel said.

Wangyel praised the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) for conducting Sri Lanka’s first-ever digital census, describing it as a “crucial stride” toward modernising data collection and strengthening national planning.

“This digital census is a landmark for Sri Lanka’s economic governance. With accurate, timely data, policymakers can better allocate resources, target subsidies and design programmes that reflect real needs, he said.

He stressed that responsible use of the newly released data will be key to shaping future development strategies and aligning them with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“We must ensure no one is left behind. Granular data — disaggregated by age, gender and location — must be used to make inequities visible and actionable, Wangyel said.

While the findings highlight clear risks, Wangyel said Sri Lanka can also turn the shift into a strategic advantage by building a “silver economy” — industries and services designed to meet the needs of an ageing population, such as healthcare, elderly care, wellness and technology-driven services.

“With the right investments and policies, Sri Lanka can turn its demographic transition into an opportunity for innovation and inclusive growth, he said.

By Ifham Nizam

Dialog Enterprise, the corporate solutions arm of Dialog Axiata PLC, proudly concluded its role as the Title Sponsor of Industry Expo 2025, held in September 2025, at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo. The event attracted a record-breaking around 100,000 visitors from Sri Lanka and abroad, further cementing its position as the nation’s premier industrial exhibition.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunneththi and Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe, together with senior officials from the Industrial Development Board and other government institutions. On the second day, the Expo was honoured by the participation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who toured the exhibition and engaged with exhibitors, reflecting the government’s commitment to fostering industrial growth and SME empowerment.

Industry Expo 2025 featured more than 475 exhibitors and 400 brands, showcasing over 180 groundbreaking innovations across key industrial sectors.

Dialog Enterprise’s participation highlighted its leadership in empowering Sri Lanka’s SMEs through scalable, secure, and future-ready digital solutions. The company’s dedicated Business Innovation area featured interactive demonstrations of cutting-edge technologies, including 5G applications, AI-powered chatbots, analytics and automation tools, as well as immersive AR and VR experiences curated by Dialog’s innovation team. These experiences enabled SME owners and business leaders to explore how digital solutions can transform operations, enhance efficiency, and build resilience.