Business
Mahindra Ideal Finance strengthens financial access for Sri Lanka’s working entrepreneurs
Sri Lankans across the island rely on three-wheelers, vans, motorbikes, and small trucks not just for transport, but for income. They are delivery riders, distributors, small and medium scale entrepreneurs and self-employed workers, whose daily effort supports and uplifts local economies. Yet despite their contribution to the country’s economy their access to organised credit is limited and they have remained underserved by formal financial institutions.
Mahindra Ideal Finance Ltd. (MIFL), a licensed non-bank financial institution regulated by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, is addressing this gap by offering leasing and loan products tailored for this segment of micro-entrepreneurs. The company focuses particularly on individuals who depend on vehicles for their daily income and offer structured, repeatable financing to help improve their earning potential.
Mahindra Ideal Finance Ltd. Managing Director and CEO, Mufaddal A. Choonia said:
“We work with customers who don’t fit conventional lending profiles but are the ones who drive real economic activity. Our goal is to offer the “earn and pay” segment of customers, financial solutions that are serviceable by their earning patterns and we do not fit them into systems that weren’t built for them. This, we believe is the future of inclusive financial access in Sri Lanka.”
Sri Lanka’s credit gap for this customer segment and MSMEs stands at over USD 13 billion due to limited financing available to these individuals who are without payslips, fixed assets, or CRIB histories. Many work informally and cannot meet the documentation requirements or traditional collateral conditions demanded by most financial institutions. While they may use formal banking services, their access to formalised credit remains limited.
Furthermore, Sri Lanka has over 1 million registered three-wheelers, with approximately 800,000 used for commercial transport. The sector supports an estimated 760,000 households and over 2.8 million people. Data shows that 98% of three-wheeler drivers actively save through formal banks, despite operating outside traditional employment structures. For most of these customers, leasing remains the only option to access vehicles. MIFL’s deep understanding of this segment of customers ensures that the repayment cycles for these customers are aligned to their daily cash flows, thereby ensuring easy rental repayments.
MIFL’s financing model seeks to change this by making vehicle ownership more accessible and cost-effective. Its emphasis on dealer partnerships and flexible credit structures allows customers to engage on terms better suited to their cashflow cycles. In doing so, MIFL provides a path toward long-term income retention and asset ownership – both of which are critical to building economic resilience at the household level.
Business
Export of scrap metal required for domestic industry to be banned
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development to impose the necessary legal provisions to prevent the export of scrap metal in a manner detrimental to domestic industries.
Business
SriLankan Airlines records revenue increase with AI and ML-powered Revenue Management System
SriLankan Airlines has recorded a revenue increase following the implementation of a next-generation, AI and Machine-Learning (ML) powered Origin and Destination (O&D) revenue management platform. The system enables dynamic pricing and smarter inventory optimisation, while delivering a superior passenger experience across all sales channels through real-time seat availability and predictive analytics.
Kshanaka Saparamadu, Head of Revenue Management at SriLankan Airlines, remarked, “Embracing the latest revenue management technology is a testament to our commitment to continuous innovation and digital transformation. With the introduction of PROS Revenue Management Advantage and Amadeus Revenue Availability and Active Valuation, we are not only refining our current processes but also positioning ourselves for long-term success in modern airline retailing, ensuring we stay ahead in a rapidly changing industry.”
Chamara Perera, Group Head of IT at SriLankan Airlines, added, “This transition to a dynamic, integrated revenue management system reflects our strategic focus on remaining agile in an increasingly competitive and fast-evolving airline industry. As the aviation sector undergoes rapid digital transformation, SriLankan Airlines is enhancing its ability to respond swiftly to market fluctuations and meet the evolving demands of today’s travelers.”
Powered by PROS’ AI-driven Revenue Management Advantage (RMA) and Amadeus Revenue Availability and Active Valuation (RAAV), the platform leverages AI algorithms and ML models to improve alignment of capacity and demand, optimise premium seat allocation and respond swiftly to market shifts. These capabilities deliver unmatched agility and scalability, boost yield and position SriLankan Airlines at the forefront of digital transformation in aviation.
Industry benchmarks show that O&D-based revenue optimisation models typically deliver a 3%-5% increase in passenger revenue, underscoring the new revenue management system as a key driver, among other strategic factors, to the 13% growth recorded by SriLankan Airlines during the first three quarters of the 2025-2026 financial year.
This initiative has not only enhanced SriLankan Airlines’ agility, scalability, and competitiveness in a dynamic global aviation market, but also strengthened collaboration between pricing, demand and flight analyst teams, earning two awards in the process. It was recognised with the Growth Catalyst Award at the Outperformer Customer Awards 2025 in Las Vegas by PROS, as well as the Silver Award in the AI and Data Science category at the National Project Management Excellence Awards 2025 in Colombo by the Project Management Institute Sri Lanka Chapter.
As SriLankan Airlines continues its modernisation journey, the new integrated revenue management platform will significantly improve SriLankan Airlines’ global market position, its ability to attract and retain high value connecting passengers, and competitiveness in the global aviation landscape.(SriLankan Airlines)
Business
CCC delegation completes prestigious International Trade Facilitation Programme
A delegation of 30 professionals from the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce recently completed a specialised residential training programme on International Trade Facilitation at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) in New Delhi.
Hosted by the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, a premier institution established under India’s Ministry of Commerce and widely regarded as a leading centre of excellence in international trade education and research, the programme also included engagements with several of India’s most prominent trade and diplomacy institutions. These included the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), the government authority responsible for shaping and implementing India’s foreign trade policy; the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service, the country’s premier training institution for diplomats; the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), the apex body representing India’s exporting community; and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), one of India’s most influential industry associations. Together, these engagements offered participants valuable insights into how policy, diplomacy, and industry interact in a robust manner to facilitate trade and economic progress.
Over nine days, participants explored key aspects of global commerce, including the international trading system, trade negotiations, economic intelligence, trade finance, and emerging issues such as AI, cyber risk, and digital transformation.
The programme offered valuable insights into the evolving dynamics of international trade and the systems that support it, while highlighting ways in which chambers of commerce can further leverage their existing role in supporting businesses navigate global markets, contributing to policy discussions, and strengthen the broader trade ecosystem.
The programme was designed and overseen by Dr. Rohit Mehtani, Dean at IIFT and a widely respected expert in international trade diplomacy and negotiations, whose academic work and advisory experience have contributed to international trade discourse.
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