The artistic genius of Sri Lankans was amply manifest all over again at ‘Kala Pola ‘26’ which was held on February 8th at Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha Colombo 7; the usual, teeming and colourful venue for this annual grand exhibition and celebration of the work of local visual artists.

If there is one thing that has flourished memorably and resplendently in Sri Lanka over the centuries it is the artistic capability or genius of its people. It is something that all Sri Lankans could feel a sense of elation over because from the viewpoint of the arts, Sri Lanka is second to no other nation. With regard to the visual arts a veritable dazzling radiance of this inborn and persisting capability is seen at the annual open air ‘Kala Pola’.

A bird of Sri Lanka created from scraps of iron waste.

All capable visual artists, wherever they hail from in Sri Lanka, enjoy the opportunity of exhibiting their work at the ‘Kala Pola’ and this is a distinctive ‘positive’ of this annual event that draws numberless artists and viewers. There was an abundance of paintings, sketches and sculptures, for instance, and one work was as good as the other. Ample and equal space was afforded each artist. Its widely participatory and open nature enables one to describe the exhibition as exuding a profoundly democratic ethos.

Accordingly, this time around at ‘Kala Pola ‘26’ too Sri Lankans’ creative efforts were there to be viewed, studied and enjoyed in the customary carnival atmosphere where connoisseurs, local and foreign, met in a sprit of camaraderie and good cheer. Many thanks are owed once again to the George Keyt Foundation for the presentation of the event in association with the John Keells Group and the John Keells Foundation, not forgetting the Nations Trust Bank, which was the event’s Official Banking Partner. The exhibition was officially declared open by Chief Guest Marc-Andre Franche, UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka.

By Lynn Ockersz

CSE trading kicked off on a positive note initially yesterday due to favourable profit-earnings by companies but later due to profit-takings the All Share Price Index showed a downward trend and later ended with mixed reactions.

Amid those developments, the All Share Price Index went down by 47.70 points, while the S and P SL20 went up by 2.61 points.

Turnover stood at Rs 6.31 billion with 13 crossings. The top seven crossings were: CIC Holdings’ 25 million shares crossed for Rs 877 million; its shares traded at Rs 35, Lanka Milk Food 6.1 million shares crossed for Rs 430 million; its shares traded at Rs 70.50, Melstacorp 1.95 million shares crossed for Rs 351 million; its shares traded at Rs 188.50, Hemas Holdings 5.9 million shares crossed for Rs 210 million; its shares sold at Rs 34.50, Hayleys 3 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 118 million; its shares sold at Rs 39.40, HNB 200,000 shares crossed for Rs 85.8 million; its shares sold at Rs 429 and Royal Ceramics one million shares crossed for Rs 51.7 million and; its shares traded at Rs 51.60.

In the retail market top seven companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were; Lanka Milk Food Rs 427 million (5.5 million shares traded), TJ Lanka Rs 185.5 million (4.8 million shares traded), Renuka Agri Rs 171 million (124 million shares traded), SMB Finance Rs 131 million (124 million shares traded), Renuka Foods Rs118.7 million (1.6 million shares traded), Sampath Bank Rs 117.2 million (751,900 shares traded) and Seylan Bank Rs 117 million (one million shares traded). During the day 351 million share volumes changed hands in 43861 transactions.

It is said that mixed reactions were noted throughout the day. The banking and manufacturing sector performed well. In the banking sector HNB,Sampath Bank and Seylan Bank performed well. In the manufacturing sector CIC and TJ Lanka performed well.

Yesterday the rupee was quoted at Rs 309.38/42 to the US dollar in the spot market Monday, from 309.35/45 Friday, dealers said, while a bond settled on the 2029 tenors opened lower with the rest of the yield curve intact.

By Hiran H Senewiratne

Sterling Steels Limited has formalized a strategic collaboration with the University of Moratuwa, Department of Civil Engineering through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening academic and industry-based research within Sri Lanka’s Steel Building Construction sectors. The partnership underscores a shared commitment to innovation, knowledge exchange, and the practical application of academic research to address real-world industry challenges.

Under the MoU, the University of Moratuwa will lead and conduct applied research initiatives, while Sterling Steels will provide technical expertise, industry insights, and access to facilities and materials to support research, testing, and industrial exposure. The collaboration is guided by Professor Udeni Nawagamuwa, Head of the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Moratuwa, with Sterling Steels represented by its Chief Operating Officer, Kemantha Perera. Research activities will be supervised by Dr. H. M. S. T. Herath, Senior Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering.

The partnership is designed to create structured opportunities for undergraduate and postgraduate students to engage in industry-relevant research and development activities, while enabling academic staff to work closely with industry practitioners. It also aims to enhance Sterling Steels’ research-driven innovation capabilities by leveraging the University’s academic and technical expertise, fostering joint projects, publications, and knowledge-sharing initiatives that contribute to the long-term advancement of Sri Lanka’s construction and manufacturing industries.

Research under the collaboration will focus on key structural engineering areas, including the design and performance of cold-formed steel sections and connections under complex loading conditions. These studies are expected to generate insights that support improved design practices, material efficiency, and structural resilience, with relevance to both local and regional construction contexts.

Commenting on the collaboration, Kemantha Perera, Chief Operating Officer of Sterling Steels Limited, said, “This partnership reflects our belief that sustainable industry growth must be anchored in rigorous research and close collaboration with academia. By working with the University of Moratuwa, we are not only supporting the next generation of engineers and researchers but also strengthening our own innovation capabilities to deliver safer, more efficient steel solutions for Sri Lanka’s evolving construction landscape.

The MoU forms part of Sterling Steels’ broader corporate responsibility agenda, which prioritizes support for higher education, research excellence, and capacity building within critical national industries. The signing ceremony took place at the University of Moratuwa, with representatives from both institutions in attendance.