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Exterminators named SL’s first Disinfection ISO 9001, 14001 & 45001 certified Company

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Exterminators (Pvt) Ltd announced that its Disinfection Services was named as Sri Lanka’s, and probably the world’s, first ISO 9001, ISO 14001 & ISO 45001 certified disinfection service provider.

The company is Sri Lanka’s first SME to be certified Covid-19 SLS 1672-2020 Safety Management System in July 2020. Exterminators launched its disinfection services way back in April 2019 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic to help Sri Lankans mitigate the spread of virus and bacterial related diseases such as viral flu, food poisoning, chickenpox etc.

Since 1998, for over 23 years The Exterminators (Pvt) Ltd has helped prevent diseases, control nuisances and protect homes and businesses by pioneering, developing, delivering and articulating sustainable environmental enhancement and public health protection solutions.

The company was the winner of 55 National/International awards for business, brand excellence, entrepreneurship and environmental leadership and eight times winner of Champion SME brand Sri Lanka. Exterminators was certified as Sri Lanka’s first ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001 certified pest control service in 2008, 2009 and 2010 respectively by SLSI. Exterminators help the community to mitigate the risk from COVID-19 and help businesses to bounce back within hours by providing specialized anti-microbial disinfection services.

Since March 2020 Exterminators have helped hundreds of businesses by traveling throughout the island even during curfew/lockdown periods. The company also provided community services (FOC) by disinfecting over one million sq.ft traveling over 6,000 kms in 135 locations which included 71 elders homes, 30 police stations, 16 religious institutes and 18 schools, bus, railway stations and public places.

Exterminators use a powerful but eco-friendly disinfectant approved by WHO and manufactured in France according to the EU/French Standards. Disinfection is done using the novel application technology – Jet Nebulizer/Atomizer which release 15 microns droplets and airborne for over 30-45 minutes.

Microbes are tiny living things that are found all around us and are too small to be seen by the naked eye. They live in water, soil, and in the air. The human body is home to millions of these microbes too, also called microorganisms. Some microbes make people sick, while others are important to the health.

The most common types are bacteria, viruses and fungi. There are also microbes called protozoa. These are tiny living things that are responsible for diseases such as toxoplasmosis and malaria. Bacteria are single-cell organisms. Some bacteria need oxygen to survive and others do not. Some love the heat, while others prefer a cold environment.

Marlon Ferreira, Founder/Managing Director of The Exterminators (Pvt) Ltd said: “Businesses today are expected to be more transparent and to actively participate to help the community and also to make positive changes to improve the environment. As a leader in the pest management industry and the SME sector in Sri Lanka, we believe that we have a moral obligation to respond to this new paradigm. Our philosophy is to creatively destruct the environment via constant innovation to find novel and sustainable solutions by emphasizing on the triple bottom-line concept to create a circular economy by doing it right and doing it well”.



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‘Be Part of the Plan’ – Sri Lanka’s theme for International Day for Biological Diversity

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Sri Lanka celebrated International Day for Biological Diversity with a vibrant national event at the Popam Arboretum in Dambulla, centering on the theme “Be part of the Plan.” The celebration, attended by students, researchers, community members, and officials, was led by Minister of Environment Dr. Dhammika Patabendi, who emphasized the country’s commitment to preserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable development.

Delivering the keynote address, Minister Patabendi said, “As a government, we are committed to taking every possible step to protect our ecosystems and biodiversity. But this is not the responsibility of the government alone. It is a shared responsibility—one that requires the active participation of every citizen.”

The event highlighted the value of community involvement in conservation and featured a series of exhibitions and talks focused on sustainable tourism, traditional food systems, and environmental education. Locally sourced underutilized fruits and indigenous foods were displayed and shared by communities, underscoring the deep ties between biodiversity and traditional knowledge.

The celebration also featured two major guest lectures. Professor Cyril Wijesundara spoke on the current status of biodiversity in Sri Lanka, while Professor Gamini Pushpakumara presented on the promotion of underutilized food crops—a key element in ensuring food security and sustainability in the face of climate change.

“This is more than a celebration,” Minister Patabendi told journalists at the event. “It’s a reminder that sustainable development must go hand-in-hand with nature. We need to build our future with the forest, not against it.”

By Ifham Nizam

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Lower than projected inflation and expectation of lower external demand, seen as chief factors in policy rate cut

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Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe

Sri Lanka has cut policy interest rates by 25 basis points due to lower than projected inflation and expected lower external demand stemming from geopolitical uncertainties, Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said.

“The Central Bank has lowered its lending window rate to 8.25 percent and the enforceable deposit facility to 7.25 percent, Dr Weerasinghe told the Central Bank monthly policy review meeting held at Central Bank head office in Colombo last Thursday.

Dr. Weerasinghe added: “Inflation is moving at a lower path than we projected in the last review.0”

“The projection is moving below the lower path but reaching towards the target range of 5 percent.

“With regard to aggregate demand, it could be said that because of global uncertainties stemming from geopolitical issues, the IMF has revised its global economic outlook.

“This means that from the overall aggregate demand point of view the external component will be lower than what we expected last time.

“The US has slapped a 44 percent tax on Sri Lanka’s exports to the country, though only 10 percent is applied for three months, as discussions continue.

“The monetary policy decision has been made expecting the ‘status quo’ to continue.

“Some space been created to ease the monetary policy this time.

“In two months’ time we will review it again and see whether our projections are in order and whether there is some more space.

“There is concern that the latest rate is similar to the rate cuts in April 2015 and April 2018, which were made as credit recovered, precipitating a fresh currency crisis.

“In both instances however, the Central Bank was already printing money and releasing liquidity as private credit picked up from the previous external crisis triggered by rate cuts.

“The Central Bank was releasing liquidity by terminating dollar rupee swaps from the last quarter of 2014 when the rate cuts for the 2015/16 crisis were made.

“In 2018, money was printed mostly through rupee open market operations to enforce the April rate cut.

“Unlike in 2015, 2018 and 2020 the Central Bank does not have to immediately print money to enforce the rate cut as the signaled mid-corridor rate was above the floor rate despite externally generated liquidity.”

By Hiran H Senewiratne

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Low interest rate regime propels bourse to green territory

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The CSE was bullish and reflected an upward trend despite some mild volatility yesterday. The low interest regime and satisfactory quarterly results moved the market to green territory, market analysts said.

Amid those developments both indices moved upwards. The All Share Price Index up by 31.49 points while S and P SL20 rose by 0.44 points. Turnover stood at Rs 3.7 billion with eleven crossings.

Those crossings were reported in Sunshine Holdings; 11 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 261 million and its shares traded at Rs 24, Union Bank 12 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 129 million; its shares traded at Rs 10.80, Digital Mobility Solution 1 million shares for Rs 72 million; its shares traded at Rs 72, JKH 2.5 million shares crossed for Rs 53 million and its shares traded at Rs 21.20.

Lanka IOC 400,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 52 million; its shares traded at Rs 130, Hemas Holdings 2 million shares crossed for Rs 51 million; its shares traded at Rs 25.50, Keells Holdings 2 million shares crossed for Rs 41 million; its shares sold at Rs 20.50, DFCC Bank 332,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 34.1 million; its shares traded at Rs 103, ACL Cables 200,000 shares crossed for Rs 26.4 million; its shares traded at Rs 132, Agarapathana Plantations one million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 22.8 million; its shares traded at Rs 22.80 and Dialog 1.25 million shares crossed for Rs 20.6 million and its shares sold at Rs 16.50.

In the retail market top six companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were; Hemas Rs 165 million (6.4 million shares traded), Sunshine Holdings Rs 164 million (6.8 million shares traded), Dialog Rs 157 million (9.5 million shares traded), RIL Properties Rs 124 million (6.6 million shares traded), Melstacope Rs 124 million (858,000 shares traded) and Browns Investments Rs 120 million (15.3 million shares traded). During the day 182 million share volumes changed hands in 24000 transactions.

It is said that manufacturing and plantation sector counters led the market, especially Sunshine Holdings and JKH, while banking and finance sector also played a significant role, especially Union Bank.

Yesterday, the rupee opened at Rs 299.10/25 to the US dollar in the spot market, stronger against the previous day close of Rs 299.35/45, dealers said, while bond yields were down sharply.

A bond maturing on 15.10.2028 was quoted at 9.65/70 percent. A bond maturing on 15.06.2029 was quoted at 9.90/98 percent, down from 10.07/11 percent. A bond maturing on 15.09.2029 was quoted at 9.98/10.02 percent. A bond maturing on 15.03.2031 was quoted at 10.45/52 percent, from 10.57/63 percent.

By Hiran H.Senewiratne

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