Business
Ferentino Tyre Corp US$ 250mn plant to be opened

Gearing for one-of-a-kind production in the region
• 80% of production to be exported
• Combines local talent with European technology
• More focus on building tyres for SUVs
by Sanath Nanayakkare
Southeast Asia’s largest tyre manufacturing facility – Ferentino Tyre Corp in Wagawatte Export Processing Zone in Horana is scheduled to be opened by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Friday- January 14.
Ferentino Tyre Corporation (Pvt) Ltd is a venture facilitated by the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) which consists of state-of-the-art European technology optimised to deliver substantial production volumes.
Estimated at US$ 250 Million, the project’s Phase 1 has been completed while Phase 2 is slated to be completed and ready for commissioning in March 2021.
Ferentino Tyres is the brainchild of well-known entrepreneur and Chairman of Ceylon Steel Corporation Nandana Lokuwithana.
“I am excited about the project as I’m confident it will serve to bolster the economy by way of boosting export revenue as well as generate many new occupational opportunities. We also intend to source our entire requirement for rubber locally thereby empowering the rubber farmers. This project is certainly a win-win for all parties involved,” Lokuwithana said.
The landmark project is one of a kind in Sri Lanka and is tipped to be the largest such facility in the whole of Southeast Asia manufacturing Passenger Car Radials (PCR) including specialised category for SUVs, two-wheelers, three-wheelers, trucks, buses and solid tyres seamlessly combining local talent with sophisticated European technology.
The export-oriented manufacturing plant with its impressive production capacity is expected to bolster the economy by revitalizing exports at this decisive juncture supporting the government’s efforts to bolster foreign reserve levels in the face of external challenges. It is also expected to create thousands of new job opportunities, both directly and indirectly.
Chairman of Ferentino Tyre Corporation (Pvt) Ltd is a businessman of international repute heading ONYX Group in the UAE, Mariott Al Jaddaf Hotel in Dubai and the upcoming state-of-the-art cement factory in Mirijjawila, Hambantota valued at USD 75nn.
Speaking about the Ferentino projects he said,” The first phase of the project worth US$ 100 million is an investment done on our own 100% in an extent of 160 acres. The second phase worth US$ 150 million will be done with a partner and negations for this are underway”.
When ‘The Island Financial Review‘ asked what he felt about being a controversial figure some years ago as someone drew strong criticism and opposition towards his work he said,” Well, that was earlier when they had not understood me and my work correctly, and without knowing me well they gave their versions of me”.
Ferentino Executive Director Dhammika Lokuwithana thanked the government and the BOI for helping to bring the vast area of marsh to its present level within a period of three and a half years for the export-oriented company to operate in.
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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