Business
‘State sector red tape stifling SMEs’
(L to R) Colin Fernando, Prof. Rohan de Silva, Mohideen Cader and Chaminda Kumarasiri Pic by Kamal Bogoda
By Steve A. Morrell
The SME sector, contributing $ 48 billion to the GDP, is stifled by government red tape. SME entrepreneurs and industrialists who wish to commence ventures have to often be in waiting for years before such projects are approved by relevant government bodies.
Some give up in disgust after suffering irretrievable losses because of being shunted from one desk to the other, to have their projects approved. Additionally, rampant corruption compounds the frustration such entrepreneurs have to endure if and when their projects are approved for implementation.
The above disquieting findings were revealed recently at a press conference convened by the Sri Lanka Chamber of Small and Medium Industries.
The head table included president of the Chamber, Prof. Rohan de Silva, Immediate Past President Mohideen Cader, Management Consultant, Chaminda Kumarasiri and Senior Vice President Colin Fernando.
Prof. de Silva introducing the subject to be discussed said the Chamber was 57 years in existence, having commenced in1953. He said the SME sector contributes 60 percent to the revenue of the country. The Chamber works with any government and cooperates with the state to promote the interests of the SME sector.
De Silva said the Chamber was a non profit organization and adhered to its motto, ‘Be Sri Lankan, Buy Sri Lankan’. He expressed his thanks to Minister Wimal Weerawansa who granted the Chamber an interview within two days of assuming office to discuss matters that require the minister’s intervention.
Management Consultant Chaminda Kumarasiri said there were three serious matters that require official attention. Red tape, cash flow and collateral. Red tape was the most frustrating factor when seeking sanction for a project.
Quite often, because of these frustrations an entrepreneur would abandon a project, often ending in penury. His jeopardized cash flow also obstructed an entrepreneur’s progress. Banks were reluctant to lend, considering the interminable papers that had to be completed before such projects even got started.
Of importance was also the fact that when state personnel changed, policies also changed, resulting in lack of continuity. Such changes caused confusion to small holders who were usually of rural origin.
Vice President Colin Fernando said although the corona pandemic caused restrictions to entrepreneurs, official support was imperative if the sector was to contribute to the economy. He said China’s progress from a backward country to that of a world economic power was instructive. Chinese policies if applied in the Sri Lankan context could prove effective.
Immediate Past President Mohideen Cader confirmed government support was an immediate necessity and said the Chamber was now a fully contributory entity to the government’s export business. The Chamber was responsible for continuous progress of the SME sector and cannot be ignored.
He added that entrepreneurs of the North of the country who were saddled with serious odds also required official support.
By Ifham Nizam
Barista, one of Sri Lanka’s most prominent coffee brands, is on a mission to make coffee a staple in every Sri Lankan’s life, says its CEO Dilupa Pathirana.
In an interview with The Island Financial Review, Pathirana outlined the company’s plans to continue its rapid expansion, bringing the coffee culture to every city across the island.
“We want to make coffee a social, accessible beverage that fits into every part of life, said Pathirana. “Whether you’re studying, working, meeting a friend, or just relaxing, we want coffee to be there. The vision is simple – we aim to make coffee a part of everyday life in Sri Lanka.”
Barista, which has been on a remarkable growth trajectory, currently operates over 75,000 square feet of café space across Sri Lanka and is now expanding its reach beyond Colombo. With outlets popping up in cities like Kandy, Sigiriya and Kurunegala, Barista is determined to bring quality coffee to every corner of the island.
The company’s expansion is not just about serving coffee; it’s about creating a community. “We are not just selling coffee; we are offering a place for people to connect, work, and grow, Pathirana shared; “Every outlet is designed to be a community hub, where people can relax, meet, or get some work done.”
In addition to its cafes, Barista is also leading a cultural shift, helping younger Sri Lankans embrace coffee as a part of their lifestyle. Pathirana credits the company for significantly influencing coffee culture in Sri Lanka over the past several years, saying, “If you talk about coffee culture in Sri Lanka today, it wouldn’t have happened without us. We made coffee cool for young people.”
The company’s mission goes beyond just providing coffee. Barista’s franchising model ensures that each outlet is equipped with the full Barista experience—from high-quality coffee and food offerings to consistent training for staff. “We provide full support to franchisees, from design to operations, and even recruitment, said Pathirana. “Everything is designed to ensure that every Barista outlet provides a consistent, high-quality experience.”
Despite the challenges of operating in Sri Lanka’s fluctuating economy, Barista remains focused on providing affordable and accessible coffee. “Our strategy is clear—make good coffee available to everyone. By keeping prices reasonable and outlets in high-traffic areas, we ensure that our coffee is within reach of the general public.”
Looking to the future, Pathirana remains optimistic about Barista’s growth and the potential to continue building a coffee culture that resonates with people of all ages. “We’re just getting started,” he concluded. “Sri Lanka has embraced coffee, and we want to be there every step of the way.”
For Barista, CSR is not a temporary project nor something to boast about in annual reports; it is embedded in the core philosophy of the business. Pathirana emphasized that even in times of adversity, such as the negative profits in 2017-18 and the global pandemic, the company initiated impactful CSR campaigns like the “Share a Meal” initiative. The campaign, which aimed to support SOS children, was launched when the company was struggling, yet Barista managed to raise Rs. 350,000 despite the lack of profits.
Atlas, the leading learning brand in Sri Lanka, is proud to announce its outstanding achievement at the prestigious Effie Awards 2025, securing both a Gold and a Bronze award for its impactful campaign, ‘Write Fast with Atlas Max.’ The awards ceremony held recently recognised Atlas’s innovative efforts in redefining the writing experience for students and youth. This further solidifies its position as a leader in Sri Lanka’s learning landscape.
Atlas Max’s campaign excelled at the Effie Awards by winning the Gold Award in the Education and Training category for improving the learning experience with its high-performance pens. Additionally, it secured the Bronze Award in the Youth Marketing category by winning over teenagers and establishing itself as the ultimate writing companion for speed and reliability.
Commenting on this achievement, Mr. Randika De Silva, Head of Marketing at Atlas Axillia Co Pvt Ltd., said, “We are deeply honoured to receive this recognition at the Effie Awards 2025. At Atlas, our commitment is to make learning fun & enjoyable for students at every stage of their learning journey, and this accolade stands as a testament to our purpose.”
Further elaborating on this prestigious achievement, Mr. Ashan Wickramasinghe, Senior Brand Manager at Atlas Axillia Co Pvt Ltd., added, “Atlas Max is a product dedicated to supporting schoolchildren by delivering innovative solutions that enhance their learning process. This award reflects our efforts to develop products that simplifies writing and helping students learn more efficiently.”
Kaspersky’s security solutions blocked over 893 million phishing attempts in 2024 – a 26% increase from 2023, when the total stood at nearly 710 million. The surge in attempts between May-July is traditionally tied to the holiday season when fraudsters frequently try to lure travelers with scams involving fake airline and hotel bookings, deceptive tour packages and too-good-to-be-true offers.
Experts observed a range of phishing and scam schemes aimed at stealing data, money and installing malicious software. In 2024, cybercriminals often mimicked the websites of well-known brands like Booking, Airbnb, TikTok, Telegram, and others. One ongoing campaign, for example, has been targeting TikTok Shop users. Cybercriminals created fake login pages designed to steal sellers’ credentials. Additionally, scammers capitalized on trending news, orchestrating fraud schemes involving the hype topics, for example cryptocurrency game Hamster Kombat and TON wallets.
Fraudulent schemes also tended to capitalize on fake celebrity images in 2024, falsely promoting giveaways of valuable prizes to fans that were never delivered. The trend persists in 2025.
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