Business
Dialog Enterprise partners MiHCM to launch MiHCM Lite for small & medium businesses

With the objective of offering a dedicated HR solution to small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) in the country, Dialog Enterprise, the corporate solutions arm of Dialog Axiata PLC, recently partnered MiHCM (Pvt) Ltd to launch MiHCM Lite, a comprehensive and agile solution to manage the HR processes conveniently and cost effectively on the cloud.
MiHCM which can be accessed through its mobile application or on the web, has been reimagined as a fully-fledged enterprise class cloud HR platform complete with superior scalability, availability and a 24/7 technical and troubleshooting team. Over 20 years of HR domain expertise across diverse industry verticals and a clientele portfolio that exceeds 500 companies has enabled MiHCM to empower small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) with a simplified digital HR experience in the era of the hybrid workforce with its latest MiHCM Lite offering.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Executive Officer of MiHCM, Harsha Purasinghe stated “We are delighted to partner Dialog Axiata to take MiHCM Lite to the broader Sri Lankan market leveraging their distribution channel. MiHCM Lite will enable Sri Lankan small & mid-size businesses to transform their HR to a modern digital HCM solution delivering the best in employee experiences coupled with advanced data insights. As a leading enterprise HCM player across many international markets, we felt it’s timely to deliver a version of our MiHCM suite for small businesses to overcome workforce management challenges faced with COVID-19”.
“At Dialog, we believe that digitisation of both external and internal processes is critical to the success of our Enterprise customers” said Group Chief Executive of Dialog Axiata PLC, Supun Weerasinghe. He further stated, “We are pleased to partner MiHCM to launch MiHCM Lite for SMBs island-wide, as we aim to deliver the most compelling employee experiences for future-ready workplaces, thereby enabling Sri Lankan enterprises to be on par with global standards by equipping them with world-class capabilities to elevate their HR working models and processes”.
With MiHCM Lite, SMBs in Sri Lanka can run their HR processes conveniently on MiHCM’s cloud HR platform enabling them to manage employee profiles, oversee time attendance requirements, process payrolls and more with just a few clicks for a pay-as-you-go monthly subscription model. HR tools for those working from home are also provided on MiHCM and as the platform is fully hosted on the Microsoft Azure Cloud platform and requires no added CAPEX investment. Furthermore, employees will be able to reap the benefits of MiHCM as they can conveniently clock-in and clock-out their working hours, view daily tasks and meetings, apply for leave, preview their payslips and more. They are also able to escalate a range of service requests to HR.
Business
LOLC Technologies joins hands with Microsoft to enhance core-banking with Azure

LOLC Technologies Limited, a subsidiary of the LOLC Group, has entered into a collaborative agreement with Microsoft to integrate Azure cloud services into “FusionX”, its core banking platform designed to meet evolving customer needs. This strategic move aims to upscale their operational architecture, enabling LOLC Technologies to harness the power of data and AI to expedite growth and success.
Through Azure, LOLC Technologies can harness cloud-native services to enhance FusionX by enabling scalability, agility, and AI-driven efficiency. Azure serves as the foundation, empowering LOLC Technologies to achieve its evolving digital goals by delivering tailored experiences that meet today’s unique banking demands. Azure’s secure and easily deployable nature, along with its AI capabilities, enables existing functions to be updated without needing a complete rebuild, simplifying the process of rolling back updates. Azure provides FusionX with an additional layer of cybersecurity to counter potential threats and implement best security practices. Consequently, as the organization designs new banking solutions, they do so with a proactive stance against threats.
Speaking on the adoption, Prasanna Siriwardena, Deputy CEO, LOLC Technologies Ltd and CIO, LOLC Holdings PLC, said, “This is not just a technological advancement, but a strategic transformation aimed at positioning LOLC Technologies at the forefront of digital banking solutions. By leveraging the unparallelled agility and resilience of Microsoft Azure, we are focused on redefining financial services. With this shift, we have empowered BFSIs to evolve rapidly while unlocking AI’s full potential through a real-time analytics platform.”
Strategizing for international growth, the company aims to enhance its products’ capabilities by leveraging the cloud service architecture of Microsoft Azure to boost value addition. The Cloud Adoption Framework within Azure will assist LOLC Technologies and their teams in improving operational efficiencies and promptly closing feedback loops, allowing them to cleverly align their business goals, operations, and vision.
Harsha Randeny, Country Manager for Microsoft Sri Lanka and Maldives, added, “We are enthusiastic about supporting LOLC Technologies break ground on their undertaking to elevate operations through AI automation. Not only are we looking forward to guiding LOLC Technologies through this transition, but we’re also keen on optimizing the organization’s leveraging of Microsoft AI Solutions at every level. We trust that with these tools at their disposal, LOLC Technologies will forge ahead with inventive opportunities.”
Microsoft is committed to empowering LOLC Technologies to drive innovation and transform their business with AI, leveraging cloud agility to support their evolution and advance their core banking capabilities.
Business
Low investor participation in share market but trading takes positive direction

By Hiran H.Senewiratne
Stock trading was positive yesterday but investor participation remained at a lower range. The turnover level was 60 percent down compared to previous days after suffering its worst dip in over two years and losing Rs. 188 billion in value on Wednesday, market analysts said.
Amid those developments both indices moved upwards. The All- Share Price Index went up by 227.95 points while S and P SL20 rose by 72.87 points. Turnover stood at Rs 2 billion with four crossings.
Those crossings were reported in JKH, which crossed six million shares to the tune of Rs 136.3 million, its shares traded at Rs 22.70, Melstacope 450,000 shares crossed for Rs 58.3 million; its shares traded at Rs 130, ACL Cables 250,000 shares crossed for Rs 33.7 million; its shares traded at Rs 135 and Dialog 2 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 26.2 million; its shares traded at Rs 13.10.
In the retail market top six companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were; Browns Investments Rs 115 million (13.2 million shares traded), Access Engineering Rs 88.7 million (2.1 million shares traded), CIC Holdings Rs 88.5 million (792,000 shares traded), Melstacope Rs 85.9 million (678,000 shares traded), Dipped Products Rs 67.8 million (1.1 million shares traded) and Sampath Bank Rs 66.9 million (557,000 shares traded). During the day 78 million share volumes changed hands in 17970 transactions.
During the day the main contributors to the All Share Price Index were, Ceylinco Insurance, 34 points, Melstacope 25 points and JKH 21 points.
It is said that high net worth and institutional investor participation was noted in Amana Bank, Access Engineering and Teejay Lanka. Mixed interest was observed in Browns Investments, HNB and LOLC Holdings, while retail interest was noted in LOLC Finance, Waskaduwa Beach Resort and Dialog Axiata.
The banking sector was the top contributor to the market turnover (due to HNB and Amana Bank), while the sector index gained 0.76 percent. The share price of HNB edged up by 25 cents to Rs. 334.25. The share price of Amana Bank moved down by 10 cents to Rs. 25.
The Capital Goods sector was the second highest contributor to the market turnover (due to Access Engineering), while the sector index increased by 0.79 percent. The share price of Access Engineering recorded a gain of Rs. 1.10 to reach Rs. 40.
Yesterday the rupee was quoted at Rs 298.40/80 to the US dollar in the spot market, stable from Rs 298.40/70 to the US dollar the previous day, dealers said, while bond yields were broadly steady.
A bond maturing on 15.12.2026 was quoted at 9.05/15 percent, up from 9.05/10 percent. A bond maturing on 15.10.2027 was quoted at 9.75/85 percent, up from 9.70/80 percent. A bond maturing on 15.02.2028 was quoted at 10.13/17 percent, down from 10.15/17 percent. A bond maturing on 01.07.2028 was quoted at 10.35/38 percent. A bond maturing on 15.09.2029 was quoted at 10.80/85 percent, down from 10.82/90 percent. A bond maturing on 15.10.2030 was quoted at 11.23/28 percent, down from 11.23/33 percent.
Business
Timeless elegance and masterful craftsmanship on display

Chatham Luxury -the exclusive representative of Chopard in Sri Lanka- held a private preview of the Swiss luxury brand’s newest watch and jewellery collections on Thursday the 23rd of January at the Chatham Flagship Boutique at Galle Face Court; making it the first time a global jewellery label showcased in Sri Lanka.
Representing Chopard at the intimate event was Xavier Lasserre, International Sales Manager of the brand; and as the evening unfolded, models gracefully exhibited exquisite timepieces and jewellery while Lasserre introduced every coveted creation on display with fascinating insight into the design and craftsmanship behind each, while also speaking to the ethos, heritage, and vision of the brand.
Under the spotlight were some of the luxury label’s newest creations that reflected both the masterful artistry and calibre of Chopard, namely the latest additions to the iconic Happy Diamonds and Ice Cube collections.
Chopard’s Happy Diamonds luxury jewellery capsule with its quintessential ‘dancing diamonds’ is recognised for its authentic elegant charm. On the other hand, the brand’s Ice Cube collection of luxury rings, diamond pendants, bracelets, and earrings, perfectly marry classical glamour and sleek modernity.
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