Business
No government kept commitment on SriLankan Airlines, says industry veteran
by Sanath Nanayakkare
The situation in SriLankan Airlines has deteriorated to its present level as successive governments failed to keep the commitment they had stated publicly, to turn around the struggling airline with necessary reforms, veteran aviator Capt. Milinda Ratnayake said.
He made this remark at a webinar hosted by Advocata Institute recently, with a view to promoting sound policy ideas for Sri Lanka.
Capt. Ratnayake’s illustrious career has spanned over 40 years in Air Ceylon, Air Lanka and SriLankan Airlines, and he has clocked over 15,000 hours of flying passenger aircraft, Besides his flying career, he possesses a wealth of managerial experience in the aviation industry.
“We are an island nation. So we do need an airline because we can’t always ask for help from neighbouring countries in emergency times or for other vital aviation needs. And we do need an airline for Sri Lanka Tourism too. But the question is how do we run our airline without making it a burden on the national economy, or at least at a breakeven if profits can’t be made. I know that all the governments in the last few decades came to power with an avowed commitment to turning SriLankan Airlines into a profitable organisation. A new government would come and appoint a new chairman, a new CEO, a new marketing team etc and they get the ball rolling to run things efficiently and productively. And then after sometime the government would come and say that they want the Airline to go to a new destination, and the Airline’s management team is back to the drawing board because they can’t refuse a request made by the government even though it is not a sound request in terms of business. This sort of government interventions have been the main and constant source of discontinuity in prudent operational management of the Airline.”
Responding to a question whether Tim Clark, the legendary managing director of Sri Lankan Airlines (when a 40% stake in SriLankan Airlines was owned by Emirates) knew a secret or two to run an airline profitably, Capt. Ratnayake replied, “During that time the board had appointed qualified personnel who could find employment anywhere in the world. Tim Clark would personally oversee the purchase of a new plane for the fleet. SriLankan Airline Board once decided to purchase four or five A350 aircraft without seeking the views of Finance, Engineering, Flight Operations, Sales, Cabin Crew etc. to ascertain all aspects of the viability of the purchase. When a TriStar was purchased during Capt Rakitha Wickramanayake\s time, the decision went through five committees to study whether the specifications of the plane would align with the purpose of purchasing it.”
“Four years ago, we decided to start flights to England, Germany, France and several other European destinations and each of these flights incurred a loss of USD 10,000. How can we run an airline sustainably on such an ad hoc model?
“An airline can’t be run on one’s whims and fancies. It has to have a proper a return on investment (ROI) plan. Even a men’s barbershop has one,” he said.
Business
Aitken Spence continues its strong performance by recording 42% growth in PBT for first half of FY 2025/26
Aitken Spence PLC, a leading conglomerate, with an extensive presence across the region, recorded revenue of Rs. 40.7 billion for the six months, ending 30th September 2025, reflecting operational resilience across its diversified businesses. The Tourism sector accounted for 64.3% of Group revenue, while the Maritime & Freight Logistics sector and Strategic Investments sector contributed 19.4% and 13.9% respectively.
Sectoral Performance.
The Group’s Maritime & Freight Logistics sector reported profit from operations (including the share of profits from equity-accounted investees) of Rs. 2.2 billion, making it the largest contributor towards the Group profits in the first half of 2025/26. However, the sector recorded a marginal dip in its operational profits, mainly due to lower contributions from its equity accounted investees in the South Asian region.
The profit from operations recorded by the Group’s Tourism sector for the first half of the year was Rs. 686.1 million, an 86.5% growth over that of the previous year. Strong occupancy recorded throughout the resorts in Sri Lanka coupled with increases in rates were the main driving force towards this growth in performance. Hotels in the international markets, including the Maldives, also delivered a steady performance, although pressure from intensifying competition has somewhat affected the growth in occupancy.
The Group’s Strategic Investments sector recorded profits from operations (including the share of profits from equity-accounted investees) of Rs. 352.6 million. Within this sector, the printing segment delivered a robust performance with a two-fold increase in profits, reflecting the segment’s operational strength and market resilience. Conversely, the garments segment continued to face challenges due to ongoing global economic pressures affecting the industry. Despite these headwinds, the sector as a whole remains a vital component of the Group’s overall portfolio, encompassing the renewable energy and plantations segments and plays a significant role in the Group’s strategic objectives and future growth initiatives.
The Group’s Services sector achieved a profit from operations (including the share of profits from equity-accounted investees) of Rs. 577.0 million, primarily driven by the recently commenced BPO operations in Port City Colombo.
(Aitken Spence)
Business
SLT-MOBITEL becomes first in Sri Lanka to achieve fastest 5G speeds exceeding 10Gbps
SLT-MOBITEL Mobile has set a new benchmark in Sri Lanka’s digital journey achieving the highest-ever 5G speeds in the country, exceeding 10Gbps recently, on its advanced 5G Standalone (SA) ready network, under TRCSL 5G trial approval.
The milestone surpasses previous records and demonstrates SLT-MOBITEL’s commitment to driving Sri Lanka’s digital evolution with cutting-edge technology and future-ready connectivity.
The trial showcased 5G Advanced technologies such as Massive MIMO, 5CC carrier aggregation in C band and mmWave spectrum, setting a new standard for mobile connectivity in Sri Lanka.
In addition to this record-breaking achievement, SLT-MOBITEL has expanded the 5G trial network to 18 districts islandwide, positioning a wider presence 5G network for commercial launch.
As the National ICT Solutions Provider, SLT-MOBITEL is leading the way, advancing Sri Lanka’s digital future, ensuring that every citizen, regardless of location, can benefit from world-class connectivity through its superior network. The inclusivity also supports the country’s digital transformation agenda, enabling advancements in healthcare, education, enterprise, and daily lifestyles.
In 2019, SLT-MOBITEL showcased South Asia’s first 5G trial deployment over a mobile network, connecting a mobile smartphone to its 5G trial network with record speeds. SLT-MOBITEL was also the first to demonstrate 5G SA & NSA hybrid trial deployment in Sri Lanka indicating advancements in 5G technology.
Business
Nations Trust Bank delivers PAT of LKR 14.9Bn for 9 months
Nations Trust Bank PLC reported strong financial results for the 9 months ending 30th September 2025, reporting a Profit After Tax (PAT) of LKR 14.9Bn, up 23% YoY. The Bank’s performance is underpinned by strong asset growth, steady Net Interest Margins (NIMs) and asset quality with a Net Stage 3 Ratio of 1.03%. A strong capital base continued to be the foundation of the Bank’s growth story with a Return on Equity (ROE) of 23.20%, highlighting the Bank’s success in implementing a well-structured strategy.
Nations Trust Bank, Director & Chief Executive Officer, Hemantha D Gunetilleke, stated, “The Bank’s performance in 3Q 2025 demonstrates NTB’s financial strength and the successful execution of a clearly defined strategy. Customer lending grew by LKR 131Bn, a 45% increase over the first nine months, significantly contributing to the growth of businesses and economic revival across customer segments. This demonstrates our focus on service excellence, digital empowerment and strategic planning that places our customers at the centre of everything we do. Our robust capital position and strong liquidity buffers continue to highlight our strength and readiness for sustained growth.”
As a result of efficient asset-liability management and prudent pricing strategies, the Bank was able to sustain a NIM of 6.15%. The Bank’s Earnings Per Share for the nine months ending 30th September 2025 increased to LKR 45.10, against LKR 36.80 recorded during the same period last year. Asset quality remained sound, with the Net Stage 3 Ratio contained at 1.03%, underscoring effective credit risk management.
Strong financial performance continues to bolster NTB’s capital base with a Tier 1 Capital Ratio of 18.90% and a Total Capital Adequacy Ratio of 20.03%, well above the regulatory requirements of 8.5% and 12.5%, respectively.
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