Business
Hemas remains resilient
Hemas Holdings PLC (HHL) posted a Group revenue of Rs.17.4 billion for the quarter ended 30 September 2020, an increase of 11 per cent over corresponding period last year. Group operating profit for the quarter under review at Rs.2.0 billion is a growth of 188 per cent over Rs.0.7 billion recorded last year. Year on year increase in earnings amounted to Rs.1.1 billion to reach Rs.1.3 billion for the quarter.
Cumulative revenue of Rs.30.4 billion recorded during the first half of financial year 2020/21 is a growth of 5 per cent against the same period last year. Similarly, the Group operating profit of Rs.2.4 billion for the first six-month period is a notable year on year increase over Rs.0.7 billion recorded last year.
Growth in profitability during the quarter and first six months under review against the corresponding periods last year is reflective of the strong rebound in key sectors, Consumer and Healthcare which were impacted in the aftermath of Easter Sunday attacks. Robust year on year performance was also driven by the realization of margin improvements, and cost savings resulting from lean and efficiency initiatives across the Group.
Quarter under review also witnessed a strong recovery from the subdued performance of the preceding quarter with a revenue growth of 34 per cent and an operating profit growth of Rs.1.6 billion, indicating the resumption of business activities to near normal levels for most of the businesses in the Group which were affected by the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic.
During the period under review, Group managed to surpass the performance of the corresponding period of financial year 2018/19 where no anomalies were experienced, reassuring our resilience and faster than anticipated recovery from Easter Sunday attacks and the first wave of COVID-19. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all teams across Hemas Group for this noteworthy achievement under trying circumstances.
We achieved an important milestone in our journey as a Group, with the launch of our Group purpose, ‘Make Healthful Living Happen’, in the month of September 2020. Going forward, this will be the ‘North Star’ in what we do and all core sectors of the Group would anchor growth around our purpose, and ensure the goods and services we supply foster wellbeing of individuals and families we serve.
Oil-producing countries have agreed to continued cuts in production in a bid to shore up flagging prices.
Saudi Arabia said it would make cuts of a million barrels per day (bpd) in July and Opec+ said targets would drop by a further 1.4 million bpd from 2024.
Opec+ accounts for around 40% of the world’s crude oil and its decisions can have a major impact on oil prices.
In Asia trade on Monday, Brent crude oil rose by as much as 2.4% before settling at around $77 a barrel.
The seven hour-long meeting on Sunday of the oil-rich nations, led by Russia, came against a backdrop of falling energy prices.
Total production cuts, which Opec+ has undertaken since October 2022, reached 3.66 million bpd, according to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak.
Opec+, a formulation which refers to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, had already agreed to cut production by two million bpd, about 2% of global demand.
(BBC)
Its MD says. ‘go abroad only if you can work hard’
Siraj Manpower Services, one of Sri Lanka’s leading foreign employment agencies, was honoured with the Three-Star Award at the ‘Golden Awards’ 2023, organised by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE). This award ceremony was organised to honour foreign employment agencies that have made a significant contribution to the development of the foreign employment sector, which is a major source of foreign exchange for Sri Lanka. Siraj Cafoor, Managing Director of Siraj Manpower Services, was presented with the award at the award ceremony which was held at the BMICH in Colombo under the patronage of Minister of Foreign Employment and Labour Manusha Nanayakkara.
Having been established in 2002, Siraj Manpower Services (www.sirajmanpower.lk) has earned a reputation in the field of foreign employment by winning the trust of customers for more than 20 years. It has been offering job opportunities in the Middle East countries such as Kuwait, Qatar, Dubai and Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia as housekeepers, drivers, sanitation workers, labourers and also jobs related to the apparel industry. All these workers are entitled to approved salary scales certified by the SLBFE.
“We always stand for the safety of workers who go abroad through our organisation. We work to solve the problems that arise in relation to the contracts that the workers have entered into. I must mention something special to those who go abroad for employment. That is, you should keep in mind that you go abroad only to work. Go abroad only if you can work hard. You have to remember that you are going abroad to earn some more money and achieve the advancement of your family.” said Siraj Cafoor.
The Minister of Ports, Navigation and Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva was on an observation tour on 3rd of June to witness the operations and development of Singapore’s main port. During the tour, he had a special discussion with the head of PSA International Private Company which carries out the operations and development of the Singapore port.
Won Chee Fung, CEO of the company’s Middle East and South Asia arm said if there are investment opportunities for development and operations in the ports of Sri Lanka, they would like to apply for them.
The Minister told him that since the government has planned to start the development of the North Colombo Port, a suitable investment plan and proposal could be made for it. He also requested the heads of PSA International Private Company to provide a suitable proposal for the development of Trincomalee Port.
PSA International is one of the few largest companies operating in ports in the world, and 37,000 million containers are handled per year in Singapore’s main port alone.Officials including Assistant Vice President of PSA Company Lim Wei Chang, Chairman of JCT Oil Bank Company, Lakmal Ratnayake and representatives of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Singapore also participated in this discussion.
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