Business
TCL 20 Pro 5G with awe-inspiring visuals wins CES 2022 Innovation Award

Consumer Electronic Show (CES) the most influential tech event in the world, is a proving ground for breakthrough technologies and global innovators. It’s where the world’s biggest brands do business and meet new partners, and the sharpest innovators hit the stage. TCL’s next-generation smartphone flagship, the TCL 20 Pro 5G offering awe-inspiring visuals with true-to-life color, clarity and contrast across its powerful 6.67-inch AMOLED display has been selected as the CES 2022 Innovation Award Honoree.
TCL 20 Pro 5G comes with the upgrade NXTVISION, advanced display optimization technology which is an exclusive experience showcasing sharper details and greater contrast boosting colour accuracy to enhance the user’s real-life visual experience while offering elevated levels of eye protection to reduce eye strain and it boasts the TÜV Rheinland low blue light certification. It offers revolutionary speeds, faster streaming, quicker downloads, and enhanced AI features with its Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. Both front and back-facing cameras leverage premium Sony IMX sensors, accompanied by Optical Image Stabilization technology and Backlight Selfie mode.
Equipped with a mega 256GB memory and 4500mAh battery, TCL 20 Pro 5G ensures consumer’s that they won’t have to charge up or delete anything from this smartphone any time soon. A dual matte and glossy finish provides a balanced design that’s sleek in the hand. The matte and glossy finish with horizontally oriented features mirrors the duality of the sea meeting the sky in Marine Blue and Moondust Gray, the dual-sided 3D glass and an embedded camera provide complete seamlessness you can feel for a premium in-hand experience that’s as smooth as TCL 20 Pro 5G looks.
CES showcases companies including manufacturers, developers and suppliers of consumer technology hardware, content, technology delivery systems and more. It also includes a conference program where the world’s business leaders and pioneering thinkers address the industry’s most relevant issues.
Singer recently launched the TCL 20 series in the Sri Lankan market and the recognition of the TCL 20 Pro 5G at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) 2022, as the Innovator Award Honoree will enable them to build more trust within their consumers. A range of products including 10 mobile phones and 4 tabs are available now at www.singer.lk , Singer retail showrooms and authorized dealers island wide.
Business
CSE expected to maintain growth momentum in the wake of brighter IMF bailout hopes

By Hiran H.Senewiratne
The CSE will be able to maintain its growth momentum with IMF bailout prospects brightening this week. Consequently, foreign inflows to the CSE will improve in the future, Head-Market Development, CSE, Niroshan Wijesundara said.
“To date the CSE has been able to register a 14 per cent growth and with the IMF bailout approval we could expect more foreign inflows into the market, Wijesundera told the Island Financial Review.
Amidst these developments the market ended on a positive note at the end of yesterday. Initially there were mild profit- takings but this did not negatively impact the overall performance of the market.
Accordingly, shares edged up in mid-day trade yesterday while investors adopted a wait- and -see approach as the country looked forward to IMF approval on the Extended Fund Facility towards the end of this week.
“Investors are on a wait- and- see approach as the IMF is likely to approve the US$ 2.9 billion dollar loan, market analysts said.
“Selling pressures have eased and now buying sentiments are improving, analysts said.
The ASPI went up by 29.54 points, while the most liquid S&P SL20 index rose by 15.7 points. Turnover stood at Rs 1.8 billion with three crossings. Those crossings were reported in Hemas Holdings, which crossed three million shares to the tune of Rs 199 million, its shares were quoted at Rs 65, Hayleys 738,000 shares crossed for Rs 59.8 million, its shares traded at Rs 31 and JKH 290,000 shares crossed for Rs 42 million, and its shares fetched Rs 141.
In the retail market top seven companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were; Browns Investments Rs 209 million (30.8 million shares traded), JKH Rs 84.6 million (584,000 shares traded), Access Engineering Rs 79.5 million (4.9 million shares traded), LOLC Finance Rs 75.4 million (10.9 million shares traded), Union Bank Rs 62.9 million (6.7 million shares traded), Expolanka Holdings Rs 60 million (420,000 shares traded) and SLT Rs 57.5 million (687,000 shares traded). During the day 98.7 million share volumes changed hands in 20000 transactions.
Top gainers during mid- hours were Commercial Bank, Browns Investment and Access Engineering. Access Engineering is an unusual top contributor and this is because interest had been generated in it after assurances had been given on the IMF deal and there is an assumption that multilateral projects are likely to begin with the IMF restructuring process coming to a close, market analysts said.
Sri Lanka’s growth will be contained at a negative 3 per cent in 2023 after a 12.4 per cent shrinkage in the fourth quarter of 2022 and is expected to turn positive from next year, State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said. Siyambalapitiya told reporters on March 18 that Sri Lanka can expect a “positive economy” in 2024.
Yesterday the rupee opened stronger and was quoted at around Rs 330/338 to the US dollar, stronger from Friday’s close of Rs 337/345 to the US dollar, dealers said.
Business
“Surfing Through the Crisis”

EY Sri Lanka, is scheduled to host a discussion ‘Debt Restructuring Implications to the Financial Services Sector’, on March 22, from 08:45 am to 12:30 pm at The Kingsbury Colombo. The session branching under the theme, ‘Surfing through the Crisis’, is designed specifically for CEOs, CFOs, and CRO of the financial sector, as well as the chairpersons of the Audit Committee and the Board Integrated Risk Management Committee. The event hopes to create value for Sri Lanka’s financial sector amidst the prevailing economic challenges. As the largest service providers to the financial sector in terms of audits, tax, consultancy, and strategy & transaction, EY Sri Lanka feels compelled to assist the financial sector as they navigate the challenges of the economic crisis.
Despite the expected positive outcomes of debt restructuring, the process itself can be painful for the country, financial institutions, debtors and creditors. To the financial services sector specifically it could bring several challenges to capital management, financial reporting, Credit Risk and Liquidity Risk management strategies.
This session will explore these implications, under two technical segments, from Risk Management and Accounting lenses, and the mechanisms required for an effective transition. From a Risk Management perspective there will be several simulations on how it affects the financial institution’s capital and profitability whilst the accounting perspective will include discussions relating to how the debt restructuring process shall be accounted for in line with SLFRS 9 Financial Instruments.
The event will be conducted by Manil Jayesinghe, Country Managing Partner of EY Sri Lanka and Maldives, and Rajith Perera, Partner Financial Accounting Advisory Services EY Sri Lanka. To register for the session, or for further inquiries please contact Nurani Rajapaksha (Nurani.Rajapaksha@lk.ey.com)
Business
Participants of Raid Amazones 2023 arrive from Paris on SriLankan Airlines

The participants of the adventure trail ‘Raid Amazones 2023’ arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport on SriLankan Airlines’ flight UL 564 from Paris. SriLankan Airlines is the Presenting Partner of Raid Amazones and extended a warm welcome with a traditional flare to the arriving group.
The group boarded the Udarata Menike train from the Gampaha Railway Station shortly thereafter for a scenic journey to Kandy, where the trail will unfold from 22 – 28 March.
Raid Amazones is the world’s only itinerant women’s adventure race. Nearly 250 female athletes will be participating in the 21st edition of the trail in Kandy.
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