Category: Daily Financial Times

With its commitment to supporting the healthcare needs of the community, Yaden Laboratories Ltd., has donated Rs. 20 million to the ‘Rebuilding

Sri Lanka Fund’ instantly stepping forward to support the nation rebuilding following Cyclone Ditwah.

Yaden Laboratories Ltd., Chairman and Managing Director Shashimal Dissanayake, handed over a cheque to Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President, at the Presidential Secretariat on 9 December 2025. Yaden Laboratories Ltd., Senior officials including CEO Prakash Babu, COO Hirantha Fernando and CFC Gayan Rajapakshe, participated in the event.

‘We are committed to supporting the healthcare needs of our communities, and this donation is a testament to our promise to help Sri Lanka rebuild and recover,’ said Yaden Laboratories Ltd., Chairman and Managing Director Shashimal Dissanayake.

Citizens Development Business Finance PLC (CDB) yesterday said that its total assets had surpassed Rs. 200 billion as of end-November 2025.

This is an increase of 40% or Rs. 56.4 billion since end-December 2024.

The company reported total assets of Rs. 178.2 billion according to its latest published financials for the September 2025 quarter with retained earnings amounting to nearly Rs. 16 billion. It reported a net asset value of Rs. 357.92 per share as of end September.

Which country tries to change its cricket selection committee and its Chairman just two months ahead of a major showpiece like the ICC T20 World Cup, of which Sri Lanka are co-hosts with India?

Maybe the two-year term of the present selection committee headed by Upul Tharanga has expired this month, but if any of those individuals who are looking to make the changes has some common sense, they should allow the present set of selectors to continue until at least till the end of the T20 World Cup, and do whatever changes they deem necessary, afterwards.

The current selection committee has been choosing players for the past two years and have an idea of what the composition for the T20 World Cup would be. A new committee coming in at this crucial stage will only be groping in the dark for answers, and it could be quite detrimental towards Sri Lanka’s chances of advancing in the World Cup.

The name of Pramodya Wickramasinghe has sprung up once more to take charge of the new selection committee. Everyone knows how Sri Lanka fared during his leadership as Chairman of selectors. He controversially sacked senior players from the national white-ball teams with the intention of grooming youngsters, targeting the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup. However, his move backfired with horrendous performances by the national team on the tours to Bangladesh and England. Sri Lanka’s disastrous showing in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, where they failed to make it beyond the group stage, winning just two matches out of nine, and for the first time in their history failing to qualify for an ICC event – the ICC Champions Trophy – was the last straw.

Wickramasinghe’s committee was sacked and replaced by the one headed by Tharanga.

It was the Wickramasinghe committee that appointed Dasun Shanaka as Captain of the white-ball teams (ODIs and T20Is) and he too had to make his exit following the Cricket World Cup debacle. He was replaced in ODIs by Kusal Mendis and in T20Is by Wanindu Hasaranga. Later, Charith Asalanka was given in-charge of both teams and remains Captain till today.

Under Asalanka’s leadership, Sri Lanka made vast strides in ODI cricket, rising from 8th to 4th position in the ICC rankings. It is only in T20Is that the team is still struggling for consistency.

The question that needs to be asked:

Why is Sri Lanka going back to the tested and tried individuals to form the selection committee and its head?

Are we starved of past international cricketers to serve in the panel of selectors?

Is there any reluctance on the part of past players to accept the job of selectors, which is why Sri Lanka Cricket keeps going back to those who have served before and even failed?

Changing the selection committee and its Chairman at this point is not going to win Sri Lanka another World Cup. It is the players who have to rise to the occasion and put things in its proper perspective.

Let saner counsel prevail and decisions be taken with wisdom, not purely for the sake of wanting to make a change and then hoping for the best.

Sri Lanka today stands at a quiet but critical crossroads. While public debate often focuses on policy reform, investment flows, and economic recovery measures, a deeper constraint continues to limit progress, which is the mindset. In particular, it is how we as a society think about youth, careers, risk, regulation, and innovation.

In Sri Lanka, fear, not lack of talent, is the greatest barrier to progress. Parents fear instability. Students fear irreversible failure. Educators fear reputational risk. Regulators fear loss of control. Employers fear ‘unreliable’ graduates. As a result, capable young people either wait too long, take risks blindly, or suppress innovation altogether.

This is not a failure of ambition. It is a failure of confidence in our systems.

Moving beyond a false choice

One of the most damaging narratives we have normalised is the idea that young people must choose either a stable job or entrepreneurship. This is a false choice.

Employment, experimentation, and entrepreneurship are connected stages of value creation, not opposing paths. A good job does not end entrepreneurial ambition. In many cases, it prepares young people for it by building discipline, exposure, and problem awareness.

Sri Lanka does not need every graduate to become a founder. It needs every graduate to become a responsible problem-solver, whether inside an organisation, a startup, or a public institution.

Early dialogue builds trust, improves compliance quality, and strengthens formalisation, something Sri Lanka urgently requires. When institutions act together, innovation becomes sustainable

Designing risk, not avoiding it

Risk itself is not the problem. Blind risk is.

Informed risk, taken with preparation, validation, and institutional support, is how economies evolve. What our youth need is not encouragement to ‘quit jobs and chase ideas’, but the assurance that risk can be designed, staged, and managed.

Universities, regulators, industry, and chambers all have a role to play. Universities must become safe spaces for structured experimentation. Regulators must be seen not only as enforcers, but as early-stage educators and advisors. Industry must open pathways for real problem exposure, not simply offer advice after failure.

In Sri Lanka, fear, not lack of talent, is the greatest barrier to progress. Perhaps the most urgent mindset shift Sri Lanka needs is how we view failure. A failed experiment, done responsibly, produces learning, maturity, and resilience

Rethinking failure

Perhaps the most urgent mindset shift Sri Lanka needs is how we view failure.

In our family-centric culture, a failed attempt is often treated as a failed future. This is neither fair nor economically sensible. A failed experiment, done responsibly, produces learning, maturity, and resilience. It should not close doors permanently to employment or credibility.

Trying, pivoting, and even returning to employment is not weakness. It is judgement.

Regulation as a safety system

Another misconception worth addressing is the belief that regulation kills innovation. In reality, confusion kills innovation, not regulation itself.

Regulation works best when it is understood early and discussed openly, not when it arrives suddenly at the enforcement stage. Early dialogue builds trust, improves compliance quality, and strengthens formalisation, something Sri Lanka urgently requires.

Regulators who engage early do not weaken the system but strengthen it.

One of the most damaging narratives we have normalised is the idea that young people must choose either a stable job or entrepreneurship

A message of reassurance

What Sri Lanka needs now is not simplistic startup glorification narratives or headline-driven hype, but national reassurance to students, parents, educators, employers, and regulators alike.

The message must be clear:

You do not have to decide everything at once

You do not lose your future by trying responsibly

Institutions exist to guide, not punish, informed effort

Careers evolve and are not destroyed by learning

What our youth need is not encouragement to ‘quit jobs and chase ideas’, but the assurance that risk can be designed, staged, and managed

The way forward

Mindset transformation is not a soft issue. It is an economic imperative. At a time when youth anxiety is high, families are financially stretched, and trust in systems remain fragile, confidence-building is as important as policy reform. When fear recedes, talent moves. When dialogue replaces silence, compliance improves. When institutions act together, innovation becomes sustainable. Sri Lanka’s future will not be built by reckless risk-taking or rigid safety. It will be built by informed choice, shared responsibility, and the confidence to try with support.

The recent directive urging doctors to write prescriptions clearly is a welcome step. Legible writing not only helps patients understand what medications they are taking but also ensures that pharmacists can dispense them accurately and safely.

At a public awareness program conducted at the Maligawatte Jummah Mosque on funeral procedures, the Inquirer into Sudden Deaths (ISD) / Coroner, Attorney-at-Law Ashroff Rumy, stressed the importance of keeping personal health records at home. He highlighted that access to these records greatly assists in determining the cause of death and understanding the medical history of the deceased.

In light of this, I am of the strong view that clinics should hand over patients’ health records to the patients themselves, rather than keeping them in the clinic racks. These records are personal documents-just like an identity card-and should be in the custody of the individual, who can then safeguard them responsibly.

Allowing patients to hold their own records would also give them the freedom to seek medical care from another doctor without hesitation or dependency. What purpose does it serve to keep these records under the exclusive control of clinics? Should a patient’s medical history be treated as a trump card held by the doctor?

This practice raises an uncomfortable question: Is this becoming a form of professional monopoly within the medical field?

The Sri Lanka Business Council UAE (SLBC), operating under the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, successfully concluded the Sri Lanka Expo Pavilion 2025 at the Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre, marking a significant milestone in the Council’s 35-year history. The two-day event received an exceptional response from exhibitors and visitors alike, with many participants describing it as one of the most impactful and well-curated Sri Lankan showcases ever held in the UAE. Exhibitors reported strong enquiries, meaningful business leads, and confirmed sales, highlighting the quality and relevance of the visitors who attended.

The Expo Pavilion was officially opened by Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the UAE Prof. Arusha Cooray, together with the Consul General Alexis Gunasekara. They were joined by Special Guests of Honour Farook Kassim and Gamini Kannangara, both eminent senior advisers to the SLBC Board, alongside Rusan Fyroze and Dr. Nishan Silva. Breaking traditional norms, all the ladies present were invited to light the oil lamp at the opening ceremony, symbolising inclusivity and the vital role of women in business and community leadership. The ceremony and program were hosted by well-known Sri Lankan media personality Danu, whose presence added warmth and vibrancy to the event.

SLBC Chairman Suren Swaminathan described the Expo as a new chapter in the Council’s growth story, emphasising the importance of creating curated platforms that bring together relevant industry experts, other country business groups, and potential investors. He thanked the SLBC members who worked tirelessly to support exhibitors, noting that the Council would continue directing serious visitors towards the stalls, but that it was ultimately up to the exhibitors to actively engage potential clients, build relationships, and convert opportunities. He also reminded participants not to judge visitors by their attire, remarking that some of the most valuable deals often come from unexpected conversations.

Ambassador Prof. Arusha Cooray expressed her appreciation to all exhibitors for their confidence and participation, assuring them that the Embassy’s doors were always open to support trade, investment, and commercial engagement. Consul General Alexis Gunasekara reiterated the Government of Sri Lanka’s commitment to strengthening export performance and highlighted that exhibitions of this nature help open new avenues for Sri Lankan products and services in international markets.

One of the distinctive strengths of the Expo was its carefully curated structure, with only one participant representing each industry segment. This unique format ensured exhibitors had complete visibility and no internal competition, creating a focused environment for business engagement. Among the exhibitors were Sergia Holidays, DFCC Bank, Impact IT, Deo International Food and Beverages, Silani Oud, Port City Colombo (China Harbour Engineering), Prime Land Group, and Dilmah Tea.

The Expo’s official hospitality partner, Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre, played a vital role in enhancing the visitor experience by offering authentic Sri Lankan cuisine throughout the event, allowing guests to enjoy the flavours of Sri Lanka while engaging with exhibitors. Siraj Finance supported the Expo as the Platinum Sponsor, contributing significantly to the overall execution and success of the event.

The overwhelming feedback from exhibitors and visitors affirmed the SLBC’s vision of positioning Sri Lankan enterprises at the forefront of opportunity in the UAE. Many exhibitors have already confirmed their intention to participate in the next edition, reflecting the exceptional outcomes and lasting connections formed during the two days. The Sri Lanka Expo Pavilion 2025 has once again underscored the SLBC’s commitment to elevating Sri Lankan business, strengthening bilateral ties, and showcasing the nation’s finest industries on the global stage.

The Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai successfully hosted a high-level breakfast meeting bringing together leading travel trade professionals, media partners, airline representatives, and key influencers to promote Sri Lanka as a premier travel destination under the revitalised ‘Sri Lanka is Ready’ tourism campaign.

The networking event, held at the premises of the Sri Lanka Consulate General office, was organised with the objective of strengthening partnerships within the UAE travel and tourism sector and showcasing Sri Lanka’s readiness to welcome visitors with renewed confidence, enhanced hospitality, and diverse tourism offerings.

Consul General of Sri Lanka to Dubai and Northern Emirates, Alexi Gunasekera, highlighted the remarkable progress made by Sri Lanka’s tourism industry and the country’s growing appeal among travellers from the Middle East.

He noted that Sri Lanka continues to elevate its tourism infrastructure, service standards, and destination experiences ranging from beaches and wellness retreats to heritage sites, adventure activities, and vibrant cultural attractions.

‘Sri Lanka is fully prepared and eager to welcome travellers from the UAE and around the world,’ the Consul General affirmed. ‘With strengthened safety measures, improved accessibility, and an exceptional variety of experiences, we are ready to offer visitors an unforgettable holiday.’

The meeting also provided an opportunity for destination management companies, travel agents, airlines, media and influencers to share their experiences and suggestions in promoting Sri Lanka as a preferred destination among travellers and to outline new marketing initiatives, destination updates, and upcoming collaborations with UAE travel partners.

Participants engaged in productive discussions on

enhancing connectivity, developing tailored travel packages, and expanding promotional campaigns to further boost visitor arrivals.

Attendees expressed strong confidence in the country’s tourism potential and reaffirmed their commitment to working closely with Sri Lankan authorities to promote the destination among UAE-based travellers, families, and holidaymakers.

The Consulate General emphasised that events of this nature strengthen bilateral ties and play a vital role in revitalizing Sri Lanka’s tourism sector; one of the nation’s most dynamic and fast-growing industries.

The country’s manufacturing and services sectors in November have expanded, though at a slower rate compared to the previous month, as per the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), its compiler the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) said.

The Manufacturing PMI registered an index value of 55.5 in November, indicating an expansion in manufacturing activities, although at a slower rate compared to 61 in October 2025.

The CBSL said this increase was broad-based, with all sub-indices contributing positively to this expansion.

The expansion in New Orders was primarily driven by increased activity in the food and beverages, and textiles and apparel manufacturing sectors.

It added that Production remained at a neutral level, reflecting broadly unchanged output relative to the previous month.

Employment and Stocks of Purchases registered month-on-month increases, consistent with the observed improvements in New Orders and Production.

However, Suppliers’ Delivery Time remained lengthened in November relative to the previous month, reflecting the continued demand for inputs.

The notable expansion in the New Orders sub-index was driven by the manufacture of food and beverages sector, with many respondents receiving production orders for the upcoming festive season.

The CBSL said despite recent adverse weather conditions, the outlook for manufacturing activities over the next three months remains positive, owing largely to anticipated seasonal demand.

The Services PMI registered an index value of 50.5 in November, indicating a slower expansion in services activities compared to 66 in October 2025.

Business activities expanded at a slower pace in November 2025, partly reflecting the impact of adverse weather conditions experienced towards the end of the month. The accommodation, food, and beverage services were the primary drivers of expansion.

Additionally, financial services continued to strengthen amidst increased lending, thereby contributing to the overall increase.

The CBSL said New Businesses increased in November 2025, underpinned by increased demand for financial services and improved activity in wholesale and retail trade.

Employment continued to expand in November 2025, as firms increased hiring to meet seasonal operational needs. Backlogs of Work increased, reversing a three-month period of continuous decline.

The Expectations for Business Activities over the next quarter continued to improve, though the pace of strengthening has moderated.

The CBSL said some respondents expressed concerns regarding disruptions to consumer demand caused by adverse weather conditions. Nevertheless, relatively favourable macroeconomic conditions and an expected increase in festive demand supported business expectations.

The 16th meeting of the National Council for Disaster Management was held yesterday morning (15) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

During the meeting, a Cabinet Memorandum was presented on the establishment of a National Integrated Disaster Management Mechanism and on proposed amendments to the Sri Lanka Disaster Management Act, No. 13 of 2005.

Attention was also drawn to reducing landslide risks in plantation areas through a multi-stakeholder approach. In this regard, the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) was tasked with coordinating relevant stakeholders, plantation companies and local authorities to provide recommendations and establish a certification mechanism for activities including the construction and rehabilitation of drainage systems.

The Council further discussed the formulation of a Central Fragile Area Management Plan. This includes the appointment of technical committees, the preparation of an integrated plan by consolidating data from all relevant institutions and the development of a unified digital platform that allows shared access to such data across agencies.

In order to ensure transparency in the coordination of all foreign relief assistance and supplies, approval was granted to establish a Foreign Aid Coordination Committee, along with the delegation of the necessary powers.

The National Council for Disaster Management convened under the President’s leadership on 7 August after a lapse of seven years and met again on the night of 27 November in response to an emergency disaster situation. The Council met again today to take policy decisions and provide institutional guidance aimed at restoring normalcy to public life following Cyclone Ditwah.

The Director General of the Disaster Management Centre informed the Council that approximately 2.2 million people across the island have been affected by Cyclone Ditwah. A total of 6,164 houses have been fully damaged and 112,110 houses partially damaged. As of 14 December 2025, 72,911 people are residing in 796 safe shelters. Extensive discussions were held on the ongoing programs to provide relief, facilitate resettlement and restore livelihoods to normalise daily life.

Under the Government’s program to identify a permanent solution to protect the Central Highlands, the President stated that 15,000 houses currently located in high-risk zones have been identified. He further noted that the Government expects to complete the construction of 8,000 houses for these affected families by the end of 2026.

The meeting also addressed issues related to the disbursement of the Rs. 25,000 allowance provided by the Government for cleaning flood-affected houses. The President instructed officials to resolve the identified issues and complete the payment of the relevant funds within this week.

Special attention was paid to challenges in data collection and updating. Both the President and the leader of the Opposition emphasised the need for a structured and systematic process. The necessity of a legal framework to support data collection and updating was also discussed, with the President stressing the importance of identifying practical solutions to this issue within the next three years.

Referring to the floods in 2016, Finance Ministry Secretary Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma revealed that the Government had paid Rs. 7.51 billion to affected citizens as compensation for damages, while reinsurance recoveries amounted to only Rs. 1.42 billion, resulting in a net loss of Rs. 5.79 billion to the State, as identified by the Finance Ministry.

The President emphasised that if such an insurance scheme is to be continued, it must be structured in a manner that is financially viable for the Government while ensuring maximum protection for beneficiaries. He further stressed that any decision to reintroduce the scheme should be made only after obtaining expert advice and implementing the necessary critical reforms.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath, Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation Minister K.D. Lalkantha, Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananda Wijepala, Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister A.H.M.H. Abhayaratne, Housing, Construction and Water Supply Minister Susil Ranasinghe, Energy Minister Eng. Kumara Jayakody, Transport and Highways Minister Bimal Ratnayake, Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment Minister Upali Pannilage, Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar, Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Minister Sunil Handunnetti, Defence Deputy Minister Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd.), Western Province Governor Hanif Yusuf, North Western Province Governor Tissa Warnasuriya, Central Province Governor Prof. S.B.S. Abeykoon, Sabaragamuwa Province Governor Champa Janaki Rajaratne, Eastern Province Governor Jayantha Lal Chandrasekara, North Central Province Governor Wasantha Kumara Wimalasiri, Northern Province Governor Nagalingam Vethanayahan and Uva Province Governor Kapila Jayasekara, were among those present.

Also in attendance were Opposition Members of Parliament S.M. Marikkar, B. Ariyawansa, Pathmanathan Sathyalingam, Anuradha Jayaratne and Udumalebbe, Defence Ministry Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Sampath Thuyacontha, Finance Ministry Secretary Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Commissioner General of Essential Services and Plantation and Community Infrastructure Ministry Secretary Prabath Chandrakeerthi, Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Ministry Secretary S. Aloka Bandara, Department of Meteorology Director General A.K. Karunanayake, Disaster Management Centre Director General, Major General Sampath Kotuwegoda, along with the Commanders of the Tri-Forces, heads of the security forces and senior Government officials.

Sri Lanka›s recent national disaster has disrupted more than daily life. It has shaken the commercial ecosystem that keeps the country moving. Supply chains faltered, customer patterns shifted, and even the most resilient industries felt the tremor. In this fragile landscape, one truth has become unmistakable: business recovery is a human strategy as much as an operational one.

Traditional KPIs no longer capture reality

Around the world, crises have repeatedly rewritten the rules of organisational resilience. After the 1995 Kobe Earthquake, Japanese companies realised that their traditional KPIs (output, expansion, quarterly performance) no longer captured reality. What mattered was restoring people, stabilising workflows, and reengineering structures for a new operating climate. Uber’s response to regional disruptions offers a more modern blueprint to redeploy skills fast, support teams on the ground, and let workforce intelligence guide business continuity.

Sri Lankan organisations now face a similar crossroads. Not all employees were directly affected, but every business was. And that places Human Resources at the centre of the recovery narrative.

More than well-being programmes

The Human Resources mandate is no longer limited to well-being programs. It is about restoring organisational capacity, strengthening continuity systems, and aligning leaders around crisisready metrics. Humancentric KPIs are not ‘soft measures’ but economic stabilisers.

Key recovery indicators include:

Operational readiness score: Assessing workforce availability, infrastructure safety, and supply chain flow

Critical skill redeployment ratio: Tracking how effectively talent moves to priority roles

Productivity recovery curve: Monitoring the return to sustainable output, not just speed

Continuity training penetration: Ensuring teams can function under pressure

Wellbeing and risk index: Protecting the human energy that drives performance

Community and market restoration impact: Recognising that economic revival depends on social stability

Human Resources at the centre of the recovery narrative

These KPIs shift the postcrisis question from «when can we get back to target?» to «how strong is our foundation to stay there?»

Sri Lanka›s recovery will be written by organization by organisation. Human Resources leaders now have an opportunity to champion a model that blends business urgency with human intelligence. If we measure what truly matters (resilience, adaptability, trust), our companies will not simply rebuild but will regain their competitive strength with more purpose than before.