Port City Colombo, a multi-service Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and a regional financial centre and business hub, has made significant progress in capturing key investments, as the project gears up for a tenacious drive to attract prospective land development and business set-up investors from the South Asian, APAC, and Middle Eastern regions before the end of 2024, a Port City Colombo press release said.

The release added: ‘With a strong emphasis on capturing high-value Foreign Direct Investments, Port City Colombo has on-boarded approximately forty-one companies registered as Authorised Persons (AP’s), as approved by the Colombo Port City Economic Commission. Fifty-two percent (52%) of the project’s Marina District, which includes South Asia’s first-ever luxury yacht marina and 5-star hotel, has further already attracted investment. Reputed international and local corporate entities, including Asiri Port City Hospital (Private) Limited, TIQRI, CODEGEN INNOVATIONS, 99x Technology AS, IVIVA PTE Ltd, Echelon Trade (Pvt) Ltd, and Port City BPO (Pvt) Ltd, have been additionally designated as Businesses of Strategic Importance.

‘Approximately more than twenty prospective investors are presently in the pipeline to register as Authorised Persons, demonstrating strengthened confidence in Port City Colombo’s positive outlook as a competitive regional investment hotspot.

‘Positioned within the Colombo Port City Special Economic Zone, Port City Colombo presents a low-risk financial environment that enhances the ease of doing business for global investors in Sri Lanka, whilst being economically ring-fenced against domestic macroeconomic challenges. This visionary FDI investment destination also showcases a thriving commercial ecosystem and liveable master-planned city, enabling a diversity of businesses to set up operations against the backdrop of transactions in 16 different international currencies with no capital or exchange controls, 100% foreign ownership, and fiscal incentives for 25 plus years.

‘Port City Colombo provides investors two primary options of investment: land development investments, which include residential and commercial property development, and business set-up and investments, which encompass a variety of opportunities in IT/ITes, financial services, hospitality/tourism, logistics, and so forth. Commercial entities, who are interested in investing or setting up business operations, are required to become qualified as an Authorised Person, which is defined as any individual or entity permitted by the Colombo Port City Economic Commission (CPCEC) to conduct business within the vicinity and from the area of authority of the Colombo Port City Special Economic Zone.

‘As Port City Colombo progresses forward with its vigorous AP and BSI drive, the project aims to fulfil the ambition of transforming Sri Lanka into an attractive global investment destination, whilst emulating the successful international economic models of Dubai and Singapore. For more information about our investment opportunities, please visit www.portcitycolombo.lk. ‘

A six-a-side soft ball corporate cricket tournament was successfully held at the G H Buddhadasa Ground in Battaramulla recently with the participation of 28 teams representing leading companies in the island. The tournament was organized by the Rainbow Pages Welfare Society. Rainbow Pages is the National Business Directory in Sri Lanka managed by SLT-MOBITEL group.

The teams in the semi-finals were Winners Global, Sonasu Connect, GM Garments, and Salota International. Winners Global won the championship, while GM Garments and Salota International were both named co-runners-up in the Champions League corporate cricket tournament.

By Hiran H.Senewiratne

CSE activities were positive yesterday due to LOLC Group counters dominating the market. But there was an acute increase in Hayleys shares as well due to the company being one of six companies that tendered bids for the Sri Lanka Airlines divestiture, market analysts said.

Both indices moved upwards. The All Share Price Index went up by 77.50 points while S and P SL20 rose by 11.1 points. Turnover stood at Rs 2.5 billion with one crossing. The crossing was reported in Colombo Fort Lands, which crossed 1 million shares to the tune of Rs 30 million; its shares traded at Rs 30.

In the retail market top seven companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were; Browns Investments Rs 400 million (66 million shares traded), LOLC Finance Rs 318 million (44 million shares traded), Capital Alliance Rs 150 million (2.4 million shares traded), CIC Holdings Rs 97.9 million (1.3 million shares traded), Central Industries Rs 93.1 million (716,000 shares traded), Agsta Rs 92.9 million (11 million shares traded) and Dolphin Hotel Rs 91.3 million (2.2 million shares traded). During the day 207 million share volumes changed hands in 26000 transactions.

Yesterday the rupee opened stronger at Rs 300.00/40 to the US dollar in the spot market after closing at Rs 300.50/301.00 on Monday, dealers said. The rupee closed at 302.00/50 to the US dollar on Friday.

Bond yields were flat as buyers awaited the next development in sovereign bond re-structuring, market participants said. There were both positive and negative sentiments among bond investors, dealers said. Meanwhile, a bond maturing on 15.12.2026 was quoted at 11.32/40 percent from 11.30/40 percent on Monday. A bond maturing on 15.09.2027 was quoted at 11.92/12.00 percent, down from 11.95/05 percent. A bond maturing on 15.12.2028 was quoted flat at 12.15/25 percent.