Business

Lycamobile’s Subaskaran Allirajah: Refugee from SL owning UK business empire

Published

2 years ago

2024/08/18

Subaskaran Allirajah

“He cooks for everyone and we stand around the breakfast bar and chat. Some of the most important decisions the company has taken have been over meals he’s made.”

This is one of Lycamobile’s leadership team, and he’s talking about his boss, founder and chairman Subaskaran Allirajah. Lycamobile is a mobile virtual network operator, providing Sim packages to people across the globe, enabling them to make calls to anywhere else in the world – you might recognize its store frontage.

The name “Lyca” is based on Allirajah’s sister’s name, Lehka. “I didn’t want to name the company after her exactly in case it didn’t work out,” he explains. Today, Lycamobile is in 21 countries, has 15m customers and turns over €1.6bn. According to The Sunday Times’s Rich List, Allirajah is worth £180m.

The company has 11 subsidiaries and other parts of the business, too: there’s (to name but a few) Lycaremit, a money transfer service, LycaFly, which offers cheap flights, LycaTV, Lycalotto and Lyca Productions, which is working on the film 2.0, billed as being the most expensive Indian production ever, having released a Bollywood hit already.

“Films as well?” I ask as we course through Allirajah’s achievements. “You can make a good margin on films in India, provided you run it as a business. But more than anything, film is my passion; I just really, really love it. When I was little I loved to watch movies – I’d watch one or two every day. Of course, I never thought I’d release a movie,” he qualifies.

But sitting talking to Allirajah in Bella Cosa, his Italian restaurant in Canary Wharf (it’s opposite his office and came up for sale. He owns the Indian down the road, too), it quickly becomes clear that life hasn’t always been like this. The multi-millionaire grew up in Sri Lanka during the country’s civil war. His dad died when he was young and, as a teenager, he followed his brother to Paris to escape the conflict.

Once there, the family set up a restaurant, then a grocers. The grocers sold calling cards to people who wanted to phone abroad. “Suddenly, the distributor stopped supplying, and customers were running round trying to find cards. Other incumbents were too expensive… my brother and I thought, ‘why don’t we just start selling them ourselves?’”

Business went well and, in 1999, Allirajah moved with his wife, then a medical student in Sri Lanka, to London. Three years later, he set up his own firm, Lycatel, a calling card firm. By 2006, he’d moved into mobile. Calling cards “were great for calling internationally at a cheaper rate, but a pain to use for the customer. In the early 2000s, not everybody had a mobile phone. But between 2000 and 2006, usage increased.”

Allirajah decided to bring across the benefits of the calling card to a mobile platform – so customers would have the benefit of making international calls cheaply on their mobiles. “To do that, we had to become a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) – a user friendly innovation. Regulations in Europe had recently changed to allow this to happen, and the Netherlands was one of the first countries to adopt the change. So we launched Lycamobile there with T-Mobile.”

Move with the times

Now, Lyca’s reach spans Australia to Poland, Tunisia to the US. Allirajah says changing migration patterns and increasing movement means Lyca’s target audience has altered. “With calling cards, it was individuals looking to call outside Europe. Then, it was intra-Europe. Now, it is the international customer – anyone travelling internationally. People used to be happy with having two phones and having to switch between them; now they want just the one.”

Moreover, voice calls still play a huge part in Lycamobile’s offering, he adds, despite the enormous rise of data. That said, Lyca’s spin-offs focus closely on the rise in the use of data in its key markets: across Africa, for example, LycaTV offers specific content aimed at local audiences. You can see the logic: if you’re offering data, why not offer content for consumers using that data?

“We have LycaTV, LycaRadio – it’s great for customers to have all of that in one place. The challenge for all operators is to strike a balance between what people are doing, what they are using, and be one step ahead: what will they want next?”

A bigger purpose

But what has driven him to do all this? Attempting to extract a grand statement from him, we come to: “I simply took advantage of opportunities that were before me, because that was all I had at the time. Having some success has meant being able to give back to communities who need it. That is fulfilling.”

It’s his team who pipe up: “Subas is the most humble, generous person. He just will not admit it”; “he spends so much time giving others things, making the lives of others better.”

In 2010, Allirajah founded the Gnanam Foundation with his mum (Gnanam is her name). Financed entirely by his company, the foundation will shortly open Lyca Village in Northern Sri Lanka. The village has been built for a community that has been in a refugee camp for the past 25 years. “That is an achievement for me. I would like to do more projects like this, in places where it’s needed most.”

Allirajah’s wife is the chair of the Gnanam Foundation, and of LycaHealth. “She never got to finish her studies and become a doctor [she followed Allirajah to the UK and then studied biomedical sciences], so I said to her ‘I’ll make sure you will have many doctors reporting to you.’” LycaHealth owns and runs diagnostics centres in Canary Wharf and Orpington. It will shortly be opening a new, 11-storey facility, in Chennai in India. “The long-term plan is to have 10 worldwide. She’s the one behind it and now has over 200 doctors reporting to her.”

In addition to opening a village, a medical centre and releasing a film this year, Allirajah intends to press on with his plan to have 50m people using Lycamobile by 2020, focusing on Africa and South America for growth. The company has also just bought Ortel, a direct competitor in Belgium.

“It’s a good year, actually. And there is increasing interest worldwide for launching MVNOs – from football clubs to social media startups.”

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Business

Positive investor interest at SEC & CSE Colombo investor forums

Published

7 hours ago

2026/07/14

Sahan Weerasooriya

English Colombo Investor Forum Panel Discussion undertaken by (L – R): Executive Vice President – Marketing of the Colombo Stock Exchange Niroshan Wijesundere; Acting Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) Tushara Jayaratne; Vice President of the Unit Trust Association, Director and CEO of First Capital Asset Management (Pvt) Ltd Kavin Karunamoorthy; Cheran de la Harpe, Manager – Research at HNB Stockbrokers (Pvt) Ltd; Senior Economist of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Chathura Kulawardena; Moderator and Manager – Events at CSE, Nishantha Batagalle.

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) in collaboration with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) hosted the first of a new series of country-wide investor forums on the iconic CSE trading floor on 25th June and 9th July in Sinhala and English respectively.

The investor forums collectively attracted over 180 participants, with many first-time investors taking the opportunity to speak to members of the SEC, CSE, Unit Trust Associations and Stockbrokers from 5:00 PM onwards.

The forums opened with presentations from senior economists of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, including Mrs. Lasantha Wijerathne and Chathura Kulawardena, who provided a high-level overview of the country’s macroeconomic landscape. The session also featured presentations by members of leading stockbroking firms, including Tharaka Peiris, Senior Research Analyst at NDB Securities (Pvt) Ltd, and . Cheran de la Harpe, Manager – Research at HNB Stockbrokers (Pvt) Ltd, who provided participants with an overview of the capital market. In addition, representatives from the unit trust industry, including Asanka Herath, Secretary of the Unit Trust Association and CEO and Head of Equity at Lynear Wealth Management (Pvt) Ltd, and Surath Perera, Chief Investment Officer of Senfin Asset Management Pvt Ltd, introduced participants to investing in unit trusts.

The presentations were followed by an interactive panel discussion featuring the speakers as well as Vice President of the Unit Trust Association, Director and CEO of First Capital Asset Management (Pvt) Ltd Kavin Karunamoorthy, Acting Director General of the SEC Tushara Jayaratne and Executive Vice President – Marketing of the CSE Niroshan Wijesundere.

Following the panel discussions attendees enjoyed the opportunity to meet with stockbrokers and unit trust associations to open new investment accounts. All new investors who opened an account on the days of the forum were entitled to receive an investment coupon.

The forum was conducted amidst a remarkable six-year growth in the capital market which saw the All-Share Price Index (ASPI) rise from 4,846 points in May 2020 to 22,310.80 points by the end of May 2026. This represents a growth of 360% and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 28.98% – with capital gains remaining tax-free prospective investors can be notified of through the CSE website and mobile app.

Business

BASL to host inaugural National Sustainable Development Law Symposium

Published

7 hours ago

2026/07/14

Sahan Weerasooriya

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) will host the Inaugural National Sustainable Development Law Symposium on 21 July at The Hilton Colombo, bringing together legal practitioners, policymakers, judges, academics, corporate leaders, financial sector professionals and development stakeholders for a full-day forum on the growing role of law in advancing sustainable development, climate resilience and responsible economic growth.

Held under the theme From Global Trade, Finance and Investment to a National Imperative on Resilience: Integrating a Sustainability Lens in Legal Careers, the programme is structured around several thematic sessions examining the legal dimensions of sustainability in trade, finance, investment, climate governance and national policymaking.

The sessions will cover areas such as Strengthening Domestic Capacity to Succeed and Thrive Amidst a Changing Climate, Sustainability Due Diligence in Global Trade and Positioning Sri Lanka as a Trade Hub in the Region, Sustainable Finance and ESG Due Diligence in Investments: Sri Lanka and CIFC as a Hub for the Region, and Creating the

The keynote address will be delivered by His Lordship Justice A.H.M.D.Nawaz, Justice of Supreme Court.

The programme will also feature distinguished speakers including Justice Shiranee Thilakawardane – Former Justice of the Supreme Court, Prof. Dr. Marie-Claire Cordonier Segger /Chairperson Sustainable Development Law & Policy, University of Cambridge, Simon Tribelhorn – CEO – Liechtenstein Bankers Association, Ravi Algama, Dr. Asanga Gunawansa, PC, Prof. (Dr.) Kokila Konasinghe – Professor in Law University of Colombo, Dr. Ravindranath Dabare, Centre for Environmental Justice, Neshan Gunasekera, CEO – World Future Council, Ms. Chamindry Saparamadu – Former DG Sri Lanka Sustainable Development Council and Executive Director, DevPro, Prof. Dominic Coppens – International Economic Law Maastricht University Netherlands, Deputy Solicitor General Nirmalan Wigneswaran, Deputy Solicitor General, Dr. Avanthi Perera, Senith Abeyanayake – Research Associate Centre for Smart Future, Ms. Prashani Illangasekera – General Manager Group ESG, Hayleys PLC, Shiran Fernando – SG/ CEO The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, , Dr. Priyantha Thilakaweera – Director Macroprudential Surveillance, Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Mr. Thilan Wijesinghe – Managing Director TWC Holdings, Mr. Adheesha Perera – Core Group Member Sri Lanka Banks’ Association’s Sustainable Banking Initiative, Mr. Leel Randeni – Director Climate Change Secretariat from Ministry of Environment, Dr. Ananda Mallawatantri – Co-Chair, Climate Action Steering Committee, The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and Ms. Punyamali Saparamadu – Senior Vice President -Commercial Colombo Stock Exchange.

For further details, please contact the BASL Program Office at 077 588 8781 or

b.jayasinghe@basl.lk.

Business

EFC appoints Yashoravi Bakmiwewa as Director General

Published

7 hours ago

2026/07/14

Sahan Weerasooriya

Yashoravi Bakmiwewa

The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC), Sri Lanka’s premier employers’ organisation, has appointed Yashoravi Bakmiwewa as its 14th Director General, marking a historic milestone in the Federation’s 97-year history. She is the first female to serve as Director General of the EFC and also the first female Director General to head an Employers’ Business Member Organisation (EBMO) in South Asia. The appointment heralds a significant era for leadership within the region’s employer representative bodies.

Bakmiwewa succeeds Vajira Ellepola, under whose leadership the Federation further strengthened its position as the country’s leading voice for employers. Her appointment is a further reflection of the Federation’s commitment to continuity, professional excellence, and inclusive leadership as it continues to support employers in navigating the evolving world of work.

An Attorney-at-Law with over 16 years of distinguished service at the EFC, Bakmiwewa, is a graduate of the University of Colombo with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) and a Masters in Labour Relations and Human Resources Management. She was admitted as an Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka in 2007 and commenced her legal career at the Attorney General’s Department before joining the EFC in 2010.

Since joining the EFC, Bakmiwewa has been instrumental in providing strategic legal and industrial relations advisory services to member organisations representing diverse industries. In 2019, Bakmiwewa was appointed as the Head of the EFC’s training division and under her leadership and guidance, the EFC training division reached several important milestones which was instrumental in strengthening workplace compliance and productive employment relations. Apart from representing members before legal forums, throughout her tenure, Bakmiwewa has contributed significantly to national policy discussions by representing employer interests at key tripartite forums, including Wages Boards and national steering committees.

Following her appointment as the Director General, Bakmiwewa noted that amidst ever evolving socio-economic challenges the world of business has to brave, the EFC is well positioned to navigate them with confidence and excellence. “Our history is one of resilience, having successfully weathered many periods of uncertainty and transformation during its nearly century-long journey. Drawing on that legacy, we are confident that we will continue to adapt, innovate and extend support for private sector businesses to thrive in an increasingly complex and dynamic business environment”

Bakmiwewa also remarks that, in the present AI-driven business environment, the Federation is conscious of adapting to support business transformation while being mindful of the unprecedented environmental and sustainability challenges that are reshaping businesses and economies worldwide.