Business
Dialog Axiata extends free broadband connectivity to all Child Development Centres in Sri Lanka

Continues on its commitment to facilitate access to education for all children
Celebrating the World Children’s Day 2021, Dialog Axiata PLC, together with the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Pre-Schools and Primary Education, School Infrastructure and Education Services, extended free Broadband connectivity to all 379 Child Development Centres island-wide.
Dialog has from inception leveraged the power of inclusive technology to provide access to Education for children and undertaken many investments to bring every Sri Lankan child closer to a good-quality educational experience. These investments include, among others Nenasa Digital Education platform connecting 2000 schools and over 1.6 Million homes with Nenasa educational television channels on Dialog TV and Dialog ViU mobile app, the Nenasa interactive smart phone app, the Nenasa Smart Schools digital transformation initiative and the Dialog Merit Scholarship programme.
The proposed initiative connecting Child Development centres would facilitate access to quality education for 10,632 children at all the Child Development Centres through the e-thaksalawa education portal of the Ministry of Education.
Speaking on the initiative, Piyal Nishantha – State Minister of Women and Child Development, Pre-Schools and Primary Education, School Infrastructure and Education Services said, “We are grateful to Dialog for providing free connectivity to all Child Development Centres in Sri Lanka, in support of our ‘Sisu Nena Pradeepa’ initiative, where 700 computers were also facilitated for this purpose by few other sponsors. Taking action to help realise every child’s right to education is the key to unlocking a better future for all. I believe it is the responsibility of all Sri Lankans to create fostering environments for these children so that they can thrive through quality education, and we are thankful to Dialog for enabling this initiative”.
Commenting, Supun Weerasinghe, Group Chief Executive of Dialog Axiata PLC said, “We are thankful to the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Pre-Schools and Primary Education, School Infrastructure and Education Services for inviting us to partner this initiative and further our mission of enabling equitable access to education for all.”
Business
Global CEO Forum fetes one of most influential SL entrepreneurs

In tribute to the late Merril J. Fernando, the esteemed Founder of Dilmah Tea, the Global Brand Creator 2023 Award was bestowed at the Global CEO Forum held recently in Sri Lanka. This prestigious accolade was presented to Kirmali Fernando (the daughter-in-law of late Merril J. Fernando) by the Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Kataro Katsuki, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka, Janaka Abeysinghe, CEO -SLT MOBITEL, Dr. DMA Kulasuriya, Director General-NIBM, Ahamed Ikram, Director-Emerald International , Dilanga Karunaratna- Director Otto Bathware and Anura Siriwardena, Chairman-Global CEO Forum.
Business
Coca-Cola Sri Lanka extends its ‘Adopt A Beach’ program for a third year

Coca-Cola Sri Lanka Ltd. proudly continues its mission to safeguard Sri Lanka’s shorelines by extending the ‘Adopt A Beach’ initiative for a triumphant third year. This exciting announcement aligns with the celebration of International Coastal Cleanup Day on September 16, 2023, emphasizing the paramount significance of coastal preservation.
Commemorating the partnership with an exclusive beach cleanup and an enlightening session at Crow Island Beach, the day’s proceedings were honored by the presence of the Governor of the Western Province and Marshal of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Roshan Goonetileke and key government stakeholders representing the Ministry of Local Government, Colombo Municipal Council, Environmental Police Division, Coastal Conservation Department, Waste Management Authority and the Crow Island Beach Management Society.
Additionally, underlining the vital role that the youth of our nation play in forging cleaner and safer coastal regions, particularly through the realms of media and volunteerism, the occasion also brought together young talents from the media sector and a dedicated team of volunteers from the Clean Ocean Force, Clean Ocean Force Youth Club of the Ocean’s University, Clean Ocean Force Youth Club in Negombo, Rotaract Club Colombo Regent, Shri Vimukthi Youth Association, youth from International Schools and Adfactors Public Relations Lanka.
Business
PLC’s profits surge 80.9% in Q1, amidst challenging environment

People’s Leasing & Finance PLC (PLC), a pillar of strength and stability in Sri Lanka’s financial sector, successfully concluded the 1st Quarter of the fiscal year 2023/24 with a year-on-year increase in Profit of 80.9% in the midst of a challenging economic landscape.
PLC’s top line interest income recorded an impressive 10.2%, reaching Rs. 7,465 million owing to the increased investment income during the quarter. However, the company’s net interest income showed a modest fall when compared to the first quarter of 2022/23. This was mostly the result of higher interest expenses brought on by the repricing of deposits to higher rates in line with higher policy rates. Despite the stated decrease in net interest income, PLC was able to end the first quarter with a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs. 331 million as opposed to Rs. 183 million recorded in Q1 2022/23 thanks to the significant year-on-year reduction in Impairment Charges as well as reduction in operating expenses, demonstrative of an intensified commitment to internal sustainability.
Similarly, PLC Group also recorded a PAT of Rs. 552 million during Q1 2023/24, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 21.5% mainly driven by the significant reduction in the Group’s impairment charges and other losses for loans and receivables.
Even in the face of a highly inflationary environment, PLC successfully reduced total operating expenses by 3.5% compared to the corresponding quarter in the year prior due to a determined effort to increase efficiency through digital initiatives, right-sizing of branches, and improvements in internal processes. PLC recognized the significance of recalibrating its balance sheet in a setting not favourable to business expansion and took strategic measures to ensure the right sizing of its balance sheet resulting a total asset base of Rs. 155,380 million as of 30 June 2023. Backed by these strategic moves, total asset base of the PLC Group also remained resilient at Rs. 179,948 million as of 30 June 2023.
In an extremely volatile and complex business setting PLC adopted a highly disciplined liquidity management approach to ensure financial stability whilst maintaining capital adequacy ratios well ahead of the statutory minimums at the end of Q1. The majority of PLC’s funding needs were met through improved collections enabling PLC to remain watchful in growing its deposit base in a high-interest environment. Despite these measures, the deposit base of PLC remained robust at Rs. 93,228 million as of 30 June 2023, showcasing strong customer confidence. The Group deposit base also remained strong at Rs. 100,439 million, as at 30 June 2023.
Meanwhile, PLC retained its No.1 position as Sri Lanka’s Most-Loved Brand in Leasing and Finance category, as ranked by Brand Finance in LMD Brands Annual. The company’s steadfast dedication to excellence was also evident in its ascent from 51 to 36 in the esteemed “Most Respected Entities” ranking by LMD within just one year, further cementing its position as one of Sri Lanka’s most respected and trusted financial services providers.
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