Business
HNB continues longstanding partnership with Battle of the Saints as Official Banking Partner
Powering the 89th annual Battle of the Saints, Sri Lanka’s leading private sector bank HNB PLC, reaffirmed its commitment as the official banking partner for the highly anticipated cricket encounter at the Sinhalese Sports Club on April 28, 29 and 30.
The match will see the two leading Catholic schools, St. Josephs College and St. Peters College, battle it out for the Rev. Fr. Maurice J. Le Goc Trophy over two consecutive days. HNB Head of Marketing Upul Adikari presented the cheque to the two principals, St. Joseph’s College Rector Rev. Fr. Ranjith Andradi and St. Peter’s College Rector Rev. Fr. Rohitha Rodrigo.
“We are honoured to continue our support of this historical event, which has been etched in the minds of generations of schoolboys who have passed through the hallowed halls of these institutions. Given the many challenges we face today, we believe it is of utmost importance that we continue to protect and promote these values, traditions and rich history of sportsmanship that this match represents to the past and present students,” HNB Head of Marketing Upul Adikari said.
The match returns to the public arena after a hiatus of 2 years, where it was played behind closed doors due to the unprecedented challenges faced first by the pandemic, followed by the economic crisis. Renowned for its exciting and competitive brand of cricket, the Battle of the Saints is the only annual two-day encounter that strategically limits the first innings to 60 overs each, pushing the game towards a potential result.
Sri Lanka Under -19 wicketkeeper/batsman Sadeesh Jayawardena will lead St. Joseph’s College, while the boys from Bambalapitiya will be under the captaincy of all-rounder Nimuthu Gunawardana. St. Josephs led the series tally with 12 wins, while St. Peters won the 2016 encounter, bringing their tally to 10 wins.
HNB too has had a long-standing relationship with both St. Joseph’s, and St. Peter’s College – the latter of which is home to one of the very first HNB Student Savings Units (SSU) in the country. Successive generations of students have benefitted from HNB accounts and their experience at the SSUs, which have helped not only to inculcate the savings habit from a young age among students but has also laid the foundation for a stable and secure future through savings for higher and tertiary education.
HNB has also been working to deepen its engagement with both schools, with a strong emphasis on introducing new technology-enabled banking services to students and staff to help prepare them for life in an increasingly digital world. HNB’s suite of electronic banking solutions includes Payee Partnerships and easy-to-use POS devices that enable hassle-free collections together with HNB PAYFAST – a convenient and reliable platform for payment of salaries, EPF, ETF and any other additional payments as needed.Additionally, HNB has also provided other special facilities to cover the entire school community, including teachers, students, and related parties as their preferred banking partner.
Sri Lanka’s decision to invest Rs. 2.5 billion in restoring the heavily polluted Beira Lake marks one of the most significant urban environmental interventions in recent years, underscoring a growing recognition that ecological rehabilitation is also an economic imperative.
The multi-pronged project—covering the closure of illegal sewage discharge points, large-scale dredging, and the installation of aeration systems—is expected to not only revive aquatic life but also unlock commercial, tourism and real estate value in the heart of Colombo.
Officials say the initiative is designed to transform Beira Lake from a long-neglected liability into a productive urban asset.
A senior official from the Ministry of Environment told The Island Financial Review that untreated wastewater and illegal sewer connections had been the primary contributors to the lake’s degradation for decades. “Closing these illegal sewage points is the most critical intervention. Without that, any dredging or aeration would only offer temporary relief, the official said, adding that enforcement will be carried out in coordination with the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) and other regulatory agencies.
From a business perspective, the clean-up is being viewed as a catalyst for urban regeneration. Urban Development Authority (UDA) sources noted that a healthier Beira Lake would significantly enhance the attractiveness of surrounding commercial developments, hospitality projects and public spaces. “Environmental remediation directly impacts land values and investor confidence. A clean, living lake changes the entire economic profile of the area, an UDA official said.
The dredging component of the project is aimed at removing decades of accumulated sludge, which has reduced water depth and contributed to foul odours and fish die-offs. According to officials involved in project planning, the dredged material will be disposed of following environmental guidelines to avoid secondary pollution risks—an issue that has undermined similar efforts in the past.
Meanwhile, the installation of modern aerators is expected to improve dissolved oxygen levels, a key requirement for sustaining fish and other aquatic organisms. “Restoring aquatic life is not just about biodiversity; it is about creating a water body that can safely support recreational activities and public engagement, a senior CMC engineer explained.
Economists point out that the Rs. 2.5 billion allocation, while substantial, should be seen against the long-term cost savings and revenue potential. Reduced public health risks, lower water treatment costs downstream, increased tourism activity and higher commercial footfall could deliver returns that far exceed the initial outlay.
By Ifham Nizam
CSE activities kicked off on a negative note initially but later experienced some recovery yesterday because most investors were anticipating positive third quarter result shortly, market analysts said.
Amid those developments, the market indicated mixed reactions. The All Share Price Index went down by 4.13 points, while the S and P SL20 rose by 14.02 points. Turnover stood at Rs 5.17 billion with 11 crossings.
Top seven crossings were reported in Renuka Holdings where eight million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 324 million; its shares traded at Rs 40.50, Tokyo Cement one million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 113 million; its shares traded at Rs 113, Distilleries 1.85 million shares crossed for Rs 111 million; its shares traded at Rs 60, ACL Cables 500,000 shares crossed for Rs 51.5 million, its shares sold at Rs 103 Chevron Lubricants 250,000 shares crossed for Rs 47.5 million; its shares traded at Rs 190, Ambeon Capital 738600 shares crossed at Rs 40.50 each and Melstacope 150,000 shares crossed for Rs 27 million; its shares traded at Rs 180.
In the retail market top seven companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were; Colombo Dockyard Rs 1.26 billion (12 million shares traded), ACL Cables Rs 348 million (3.3 million shares traded), HNB (Non-Voting) Rs 152 million (425,000 shares traded), Hayleys Rs 109 million (507,000 shares traded), Tokyo Cement (Non-Voting) Rs 94 million (989,000 shares traded) Lanka Realty Investments Rs 80 million (1.6 million shares traded) and Sampath Bank Rs 77 million (498,000 shares traded). During the day 135 million share volumes changed hands in 38398 transactions.
It is said that manufacturing sector counters, especially Tokyo Cement and ACL Cables, performed well. Further, Colombo Dockyard became the most preferred share for investors. The Banking sector also performed well.
Browns Beach Hotels said that the company will delist from the CSE, having made arrangements with majority shareholders Melstacope and Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings to buy back shares from minority shareholders at an exit offer price of Rs 30.
Yesterday the rupee was quoted at Rs 309.75/85 to the US dollar in the spot market, from Rs 309.72/77 the previous day, having depreciated in recent weeks, dealers said, while bond yields were down.
A bond maturing on 15.05.2026 was quoted at 8.25/35 percent.
A bond maturing on 15.02.2028 was quoted at 9.00/10 percent, down from 9.05/10 percent.
A bond maturing on 15.12.2029 was quoted at 9.65/70 percent, up from 9.65/69 percent.
A bond maturing on 01.03.2030 was quoted at 9.72/75 percent, from 9.70/76 percent.
A bond maturing on 15.03.2031 was quoted at 9.95/10.00 percent, down from 10.00/10 percent.
A bond maturing on 01.10.2032 was quoted at 10.30/50 percent.
A bond maturing on 01.06.2033 was quoted at 10.72/75 percent, down from 10.70/80 percent.
A bond maturing on 15.06.2035 closed at 11.05/10 percent, down from 11.07/11 percent.
The telegraphic transfer rates for the American dollar were 306.2500 buying, 313.2500 selling; the British pound was 409.9898 buying, and 421.3080 selling, and the euro was 354.1773 buying, 365.5655 selling.
By Hiran H Senewiratne
Ceylon Theatres Limited, in partnership with British Council, is proud to present the first ever screening of National Theatre (NT) Live’s Hamlet starring Hiran Abeysekara in Asia. The first screening will happen at Regal Cinema in Dematagoda (Colombo 9) at 5:30 pm on Sunday, 25 January. Sri Lankan actor Hiran Abeysekera stars in the title role—the first Asian actor to play Hamlet in a National Theatre production.
For Sri Lankan audiences, this screening is both a celebration and a homecoming. It reflects the British Council’s long-standing commitment to nurturing creative talent, widening access to world-class culture, and building deep, people-to-people connections between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom through theatre and the creative arts. To celebrate the inaugural screening, the British Council is inviting winners and runners-up of the All-Island Inter-School Shakespeare Drama Competition, alongside drama teachers and university actors, to attend the premiere.
Further details on screening dates, venues, and ticketing can be found at: https://ceylontheatres.com/ and on the British Council Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/britishcouncilsrilanka/ or call: 0766192370
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