Business
PGC announces Q4 & FY 21 results

Piramal Glass Ceylon PLC (the “Company”) reported its annual results as at 31st March 2021, with a turnover of Rs. 8,532 Million and PAT of 1,096 Million as against Rs. 7,531 Million & Rs. 389 Million in the previous year, reflecting a y-o-y growth of 13% in revenue and a y-o-y growth of 181% in PAT. The domestic sales during the year grew by 13.4% from Rs. 5,240 Million to 5,944 Million and the Export market grew by 13% from Rs. 2,291 Million in F20 to Rs. 2,588 Million in F21.
During the quarter (Q4) under review, revenue of Rs. 2,571 Million was achieved as compared to Rs. 1,699 Million in the corresponding period in the previous year, reflecting a growth of 51%. The Company reported a profit after tax of Rs. 401 Million for the quarter as compared to Rs. 59 Million in the corresponding quarter in the previous year. The company achieved a domestic sales growth of 40% to Rs. 1,767 million as against Rs. 1,258 million in the similar period in the previous year. In the export segment, the sales grew by 82% from Rs. 441 million in the previous year to Rs. 804 Million during the quarter under review.
The gross margin for the quarter increased from 16% to 24% as compared to the similar period of the previous year. For the full year ended 31st March 2021, the company achieved a gross profit margin of 22%.
The earning per share stands at Rs.1.15 in F’21 as against Rs. 0.41 in F’20. The Board of Directors has proposed a dividend of Rs.0.58 per share, which is 50% of FY21 PAT.
Sanjay Jain, ED & COO, said: “The Company continues to make inroads in new international markets and has successfully completed multiple product launches. The strategy to innovate in new product design and development, with increased global footprint has helped the Company effectively mitigate demand fluctuations in its existing markets due to the pandemic situation.”
Piramal Glass Private Limited, the controlling shareholder of the Company, entered into a Share Sale and Purchase Agreement dated the 10th of December 2020 for the sale of its entire shareholding in the Company to PGP Glass Private Limited (the “Share Transaction”). Accordingly, the Share Transaction was executed on the Colombo Stock Exchange on the 30th of March 2021 at a price per share of Rs. 11.60/-. PGP Glass Private Limited thereafter made a mandatory offer to the remaining shareholders of the Company as required under and in terms of the Company Takeovers and Mergers Code, 1995 (the “Code”) by its Offer Document dated the 31st of March 2021 at the same price, which was subsequently revised upwards to Rs. 11.86/- on the 20th of April 2021. The said mandatory offer has since been completed as per the provisions of the Code.
PGP Glass Private Limited (formerly known as “Pristine Glass Private Limited”) is a private limited company incorporated under the laws of the Republic of India.
Business
Cabinet nod to celebrate centenary of Tea Research Institute from 9th November to 14th November 2025

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure Facilities to hold the 26th Session of the Intergovernmental Group on Tea of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the 4th Annual Meeting of the Asian Tea Alliance to commemorate the Centenary Anniversary of the Tea Research Institute in Colombo from 9th November to 14th November in 2025 and to take necessary steps in that respect.
Business
‘This must be your last IMF Programme; lapses cannot be repeated’

IMF First Deputy Managing Director tells Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s long and difficult journey from economic collapse to cautious recovery reached a critical milestone as President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, IMF First Deputy Managing Director, Dr. Gita Gopinath, and Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe addressed the high-profile “Sri Lanka’s Road to Recovery: Debt and Governance” conference yesterday in Colombo.
The event, jointly organized by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), the Ministry of Finance and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), underscored the urgency of sustaining reform momentum while opening a new chapter in the country’s 75-year partnership with the IMF.
With macroeconomic stability returning but fragility still looming, the message from all three leaders was clear: Sri Lanka cannot afford to backslide.
“This must be the last IMF programme for Sri Lanka, Dr. Gopinath stated firmly in her keynote speech. “We’ve had 16 before this—about half ended prematurely. Reform fatigue, policy reversals and lost discipline cannot be repeated. This time must be different.”
While the conference primarily focused on public financial management, debt sustainability, and governance, the implications for Sri Lanka’s business environment were unmistakable. According to Gopinath, structural reforms, transparent fiscal management and improved governance are not abstract policy ideals — they are the essential foundations for restoring investor confidence, revitalizing private enterprise and building a resilient economy.
“Comprehensive governance reform can raise GDP by over 7% and reduce debt-to-GDP by more than six percentage points over the next decade, Gopinath noted, citing IMF internal analysis. “These are not just theoretical benefits — they are real, measurable returns for the private sector, job creation, and inclusive growth.”
Dr. Weerasinghe echoed this sentiment, stating that the IMF-supported programme “has laid the groundwork for macroeconomic fundamentals essential for sustained growth. He emphasized that Sri Lanka’s financial institutions and monetary authorities are now better equipped to support private sector-led recovery, pointing to a stabilizing rupee, single-digit inflation and restored investor interest.
“With improved credit ratings and Sri Lankan bonds being re-included in global indices, capital markets are beginning to show signs of life, said Dr. Weerasinghe. “This creates a platform for increased foreign direct investment (FDI), trade expansion, and domestic entrepreneurial activity.”
President Dissanayake opened the conference with a stark reminder of the human cost of Sri Lanka’s economic collapse. He called for economic leadership that not only addresses balance sheets but also rights wrongs of the past.
“We lost three critical things — one in our economy, two in our country, and three in our people, he said. “We must recover what was lost. And we can only do that through trust, transparency and inclusive policies.”
Dissanayake acknowledged the sacrifices made by the public — especially the most vulnerable — and emphasized that public buy-in is essential to the success of reform. “The people of this country have already shown their willingness to endure hardship in service of recovery. It is now the responsibility of government and institutions to ensure that their sacrifices are not in vain.”
His words carried weight in a country where memories of fuel queues, food shortages and economic despair remain fresh. The President signaled his administration’s commitment to a social contract grounded in accountability and economic fairness.
Gopinath noted that:
USD 3 billion in external debt was forgiven.
USD 25 billion was restructured with longer maturities and lower interest rates.
External debt servicing was reduced by half over the next decade.
Debt-to-GDP ratios are expected to fall by 27 to 34 percentage points.
“Sri Lanka’s experience has helped us sharpen how we approach debt sustainability, creditor coordination and domestic financial sector resilience, said Gopinath. “It’s a case study in how complex, painful, but ultimately successful restructuring can be done.”
By Ifham Nizam
Business
Nestlé Golden Chefs’ Hat Competition 2025 recognizes Sri Lanka’s top culinary talent

Nestlé Professional Sri Lanka, in partnership with the Chefs Guild of Lanka, relaunched the Nestlé Golden Chefs’ Hat Competition this year – an island wide culinary competition focused on developing up-and-coming culinary talent in the hospitality industry.
Nestlé Professional also collaborated with the Sri Lanka Hospitality Graduates Association and Chefs Guild of Lanka to launch the Junior Nestlé Golden Chefs’ Hat Competition for the very first time – providing culinary students in the hospitality industry with a platform to showcase their talents and skills, while fostering the next generation of culinary experts.
The regional rounds, held across all nine provinces of the country, brought together 18 finalists from both the Professional category and the newly introduced Junior category, to compete in the Grand Finale at the Culinary Art Food Expo.
The winners of the Nestlé Golden Chefs’ Hat Competition 2025 were awarded at an event held on 15th June at Cinnamon Grand Colombo, with the participation of distinguished guests – Chief Guest, Her Excellency the Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka and Maldives, Dr. Siri Walt; Head of Nestlé Professional Strategic Business Unit, Nestlé S.A., Reinhold Jakobi; Regional Business Head – Nestlé Professional, Nestlé Asia, Oceania and Africa Region, Jeroen Pluijmers; Director – Nestlé Professional, Nestlé South Asia Region, . Saurabh Makhija; Chairman of the Chefs Guild of Lanka, Chef Gerard Mendis and President of the Sri Lanka Hospitality Graduates Association, Patrick Pereira.
Mr. Bernie Stefan, Managing Director of Nestlé Lanka commented “The hospitality industry plays a vital role in supporting the transition from stability to growth in the Sri Lankan economy. Nestlé Lanka is honoured to play a part in uplifting the industry through the Nestlé Golden Chefs’ Hat Competition. This initiative also embodies our Nestlé Needs YOUth initiative, which is dedicated towards empowering and upskilling the youth to excel in their field of expertise and contribute to the community”.
H.E. Dr. Siri Walt, Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka and Maldives mentioned “I congratulate Nestlé Professional, the Chefs Guild of Lanka and the Sri Lanka Hospitality Graduates Association on this wonderful initiative to promote culinary talent.
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