Business
‘Rajarata Rajini train, Air Ceylon’s first jet aircraft, Ceylon’s first taxi services and railway diesel engines were launched by E.L.B. Hurulle’
Edwin Lokubandara Hurulle was born on January 19, 1919. He served as the provincial governor of the Central Province, North Central Province, Minister of Communications in Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake’s government, Minister of Cultural Affairs and Member of Parliament under President Jayewardene’s government
Ilangasinghe Kalukumara Rajakaruna Edwin Loku Bandara Hurulle was born to Tikiri Bandara Hurulle and Alice Bulankulame, the daughter of Lokubandara Bulankulame, the chief custodian of the Atamasthana (the eight sacred places) in Anuradhapura. He was the eldest in the family. His family has established itself as local leaders in the Anuradhapura District. His great-grandfather, Punchi Bandara Hurulle, built a Walawwe adjacent to the Morakewa reservoir at Horowpathana. His grandfather Henarath Banda Hurulle, the rate-mahaththaya of Hurulu-Palatha constructed a two-storey mansion between the Morakewa Wewa and the main road from Anuradhapura to Trincomalee in the year 1865. Henarath Banda Hurulle was married to Weragama Kumarihami of Maningamuwa. This is the building that was burnt and destroyed down during the 1988 JVP uprising.
He was married to Malini Galagoda, the daughter of the former chief custodian of the Natha Devala, Kandy and an officer of the Forest Conservation Department, Maduma Bandara Galagoda of Teldeniya.
E L B Hurulle and his wife Malini had two daughters named Maya and Deepthi and three sons named Themiya, Vajira and Kanishka
Following the death of Horowpothna’s U N P MP, T.B. Poholiyadde, Edwin Hurulle was elected MP by popular vote for the Horowpothana Electorate at the General Election held in 1956.
The train Rajarata-Rajini was introduced to the Railways by him. He introduced jet aircraft to Sri Lanka. In the remote areas of Sri Lanka, he introduced buses to facilitate travel for the people. This distinguished service was provided by him as the Minister of Communications and he expedited the conversion of the Sri Lanka’s railway diesel engines by replacing the earlier used steam engines. He introduced the TRIDENT passenger jet aircraft to Air Ceylon, thus changing it from the era of propeller aircraft to the jet engine era.
He was also the first to introduce motor vehicles exempt from customs duties to commence Taxi Services to Sri Lanka. In the 1970 general elections, he ‘lost’ the Horowpothana seat to a candidate of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party by a margin of 2,572 votes. However, in 1977, E L B Hurulle was re-elected as the Member of Parliament for Horowpothana with a majority of 4,182 votes, having received 13,982 votes. He was re-elected in the 1977 general election and was appointed the Cabinet Minister for Cultural Affairs. As the Minister of Cultural Affairs, he established the Central Cultural Fund and the Cultural Triangle supported by UNESCO.
The initiatives carried out by the J.R. Jayewardene regime under the Minister of Cultural Affairs have been forgotten by many. Let me remind some of them.
1. Providing Dhamma school books free of charge to children in Dhamma schools.
2. Conducting Dhamma school examinations under the Department of Examinations and the Department of Buddhist Affairs.
3. Establishing the Department of Buddhist Affairs.
4. Launching the Cultural Triangle encompassing Kandy, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura.
5. Completing of the translation of the Tripitaka into the Sinhala language.
6. Expediting the completion of the writing of the Official Sinhala Dictionary which was to take a further 20 years then.
7. Bringing the Kapilavastu Sacred Relics to Sri Lanka and displaying them throughout the country to be revered by the people.
8. Re-establishing the remains of the Nalanda ruins, which had been discarded for the construction of the Bowaththana Mahaweli Reservoir at the current location at Nalanda.
Despite these achievements, he could not restore his residence, the 150-year-old house at Morakewa, Horowpothana that was destroyed in 1988 during the JVP insurgency. He did not have the necessary funds for that.
By Tissa Attanayake
Business
Constituent Change in the S&P Sri Lanka 20 Index
The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) announces the following change in S&P Sri Lanka 20 index constituents made by S&P Dow Jones Indices at the 2026 Mid-Year rebalance.
The exclusion and inclusion as announced by S&P Dow Jones Indices, effective from 22nd June 2026 (after the market close of 19th June 2026) are presented below.
The S&P SL 20 index includes the 20 largest companies, by total market capitalization, listed on the CSE that meet minimum size, liquidity and financial viability thresholds. The constituents are weighted by float-adjusted market capitalization, subject to a single stock cap of 15%, which is employed to reduce single stock concentration.
The S&P SL 20 index has been designed in accordance with international practices and standards. All stocks are classified according to the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®), which was co-developed by S&P Dow Jones Indices and MCSI and is widely used by market participants throughout the world.
To be eligible for inclusion, a stock must have a minimum float-adjusted market capitalization of 500 million Sri Lankan rupees (Rs), a six-month median daily value traded of Rs 0.25 million and have positive net income over the 12 months prior to the rebalancing reference date. For information, including the complete methodology, please visit: www.spindices.com
Effective from 22nd June 2026 the stocks in the S&P Sri Lanka 20 in alphabetical order are as above.
Business
Teejay Group navigates industry headwinds with financial strength and strategic focus
The Teejay Group recorded revenue of LKR 60.04 billion during the period, reflecting a 10% year-on-year decline, primarily due to continued softness in global textile demand. This performance was largely impacted by reciprocal tariffs imposed by the United States, intensified pricing pressures across key markets, and the resulting decline in volumes, all of which collectively weighed on topline growth.
Group Gross Profit declined by 36% year-on-year to LKR 5.02 billion, mainly attributable to lower production volumes, underutilization of plant capacity, sustained pricing pressures, and an unfavorable product mix. Together, these factors adversely affected margin performance amid a challenging operating environment.
The Group reported a Profit After Tax (PAT) of LKR 54.7 million, representing a 98% year-on-year decline. This was primarily driven by higher rupee-denominated costs and non-recurring items, provision for doubtful debts, and restructuring costs associated with right-sizing initiatives.
Ajit Gunewardene, Chairman of the Teejay Group said, “The year was marked by persistent global demand softness and pricing pressures, which impacted results. Despite this, we focused on operational efficiency, cost discipline, and strengthening our financial resilience. These actions position the Group to navigate ongoing uncertainty while remaining committed to long-term value creation for our shareholders.”
Despite these near-term challenges, the Teejay Group continues to maintain a strong financial position, supported by disciplined working capital management and a robust liquidity base. As at 31 March 2026, cash and cash equivalents stood at LKR 8.3 billion, while the Group’s net asset base increased by 3% year-on-year to LKR 32.4 billion, reinforcing the resilience of its balance sheet.
Business
Fairfirst celebrates 7 years of supporting the Sri Lanka Police K9 Unit
Fairfirst Insurance has once again partnered with the Sri Lanka Police K9 Unit, continuing its support for the seventh consecutive year. This partnership reflects the company’s long-standing commitment to giving back to the community.
Through this initiative, Fairfirst will provide comprehensive insurance coverage for the highly trained canines attached to the Sri Lanka Police K9 Unit. These dogs play a critical role in supporting police operations across the country, assisting with crime detection, narcotics investigations, search and rescue missions, and public safety efforts.
As a company that believes business should create a meaningful impact beyond insurance, Fairfirst remains committed to initiatives that support communities and recognise the vital contributions of those who help keep society safe. This shared commitment to protection and responsibility continues to drive the company’s long-standing partnership with the Sri Lanka Police K9 Unit.
Commenting on the continued partnership, Ravishankar Wickneswaran, CEO of Fairfirst Insurance, said, “It is a privilege for us to continue supporting the Sri Lanka Police K9 Unit for the seventh consecutive year. These dogs serve the country with incredible discipline and loyalty, often in challenging situations. Supporting their wellbeing is one small way for us to give back, and it reflects the FairfirstWay of standing by those who protect and serve our communities every day.”
Fairfirst looks forward to continuing this partnership and contributing to the wellbeing of the Sri Lanka Police K9 Unit in the years ahead.
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