Category: Daily Financial Times

Wesley College Colombo will host the annual ‘Shelton Wirasinha Oration’ at 5:30 p.m. today at the College Main Hall. The Oration will be delivered by distinguished Old Boy Prashan De Visser, and is open to the public.

For over two decades, Arthur Shelton Wirasinha stood at the helm of Wesley College, guiding it through some of its most formative years. Serving as Principal from 1962 to 1983, his leadership defined an era marked by academic excellence, discipline, and deep humanity.

A product of Richmond College, Galle, where he later served as teacher, headmaster, vice principal and principal, before taking over the leadership of Wesley, he brought with him not only his formidable intellect but also the warmth and sincerity of a true educator.

Those who studied under him remember a man of quiet authority-firm yet compassionate, eloquent yet humble. He believed education was not merely about producing scholars, but nurturing citizens of character and conscience. Generations of Wesleyites, now spread across the world, carry with them the values he instilled: integrity, humility, and service to others.

‘The annual Shelton Wirasinha Oration as a tribute to that legacy-a moment when the Wesley family, past and present, gathers ‘neath the Double Blue to honour a Principal whose influence continues to echo through the halls of the College,’ says Wesley College Colombo Principal Avanka Fernando.

Prashan De Visser brings with him the same spirit of leadership and dedication that Wirasinha so greatly inspired. A respected youth advocate, social entrepreneur, and founder of Sri Lanka Unites, Prashan has spent his career empowering young people to become catalysts for peace and reconciliation.

A proud Old Wesleyite, he has represented Sri Lanka on numerous global platforms, promoting dialogue, democracy, and ethical leadership. His address this year will reflect on ‘Beyond the Boundaries of Self-Ambition.’

Associated Motorways Ltd., (AMW), the authorised distributor for Suzuki in Sri Lanka and a member of the globally respected Al-Futtaim Group, handed over 44 brand-new Suzuki FRONX SUVs to Lion Brewery (Ceylon) PLC, in a partnership facilitated by Central Finance Company PLC (CF).

The handover took place in the presence of senior representatives from AMW, Lion Brewery, and Central Finance. The event marked a significant milestone in strengthening corporate partnerships built on trust, innovation, and shared progress.

AMW Managing Director Jawahar Ganesh emphasised the power of collaboration among leading Sri Lankan corporates. ‘It gives me great pleasure to celebrate this partnership with two of Sri Lanka’s most respected organisations, Lion Brewery and Central Finance. Today’s handover of 44 Suzuki FRONX SUVs is more than a business transaction; it’s a testament to the trust, confidence, and shared vision that unite our companies. At AMW, we remain deeply committed to supporting our partners with reliable and efficient mobility solutions that enable long-term success,’ said Ganesh.

He also extended appreciation to Lion Brewery for their continued confidence in the Suzuki brand and to Central Finance for facilitating yet another successful collaboration.

Ganesh highlighted AMW’s heritage and international strength under the Al-Futtaim Group, a multinational conglomerate operating in over 20 countries across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

‘With over 76 years of service excellence in Sri Lanka, AMW combines deep local expertise with the global standards and innovation of the Al-Futtaim Group. This allows us to deliver not just vehicles, but long-term value built on trust, consistency, and world-class service,’ he noted.

The Suzuki FRONX, a bold, compact SUV, blends modern design, superior performance, and fuel efficiency, making it ideal for dynamic business operations. Its safety features, comfort, and advanced technology ensure reliability for daily use, aligning perfectly with Lion Brewery’s operational excellence.

Reaffirming AMW’s focus on customer satisfaction, Ganesh assured that AMW’s nationwide after-sales network would continue to provide exceptional service support to Lion Brewery’s fleet.

‘Our after-sales network, supported by trained technicians and genuine Suzuki parts, ensures that every vehicle performs at its best. We don’t just hand over vehicles; we deliver peace of mind and long-term value,’ he added.

Ganesh expressed optimism about Sri Lanka’s economic outlook. ‘We at AMW and the Al-Futtaim Group are confident in the direction of Sri Lanka’s economy. The stability of Government policy, the resilience of local industries, and the growing pool of skilled professionals all inspire our continued investment in this country’s growth,’ he said.

The event concluded with the ceremonial handover of the symbolic key to Lion Brewery Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Madhushanka Ranatunga, symbolising the beginning of yet another successful corporate journey powered by Suzuki and AMW.

The Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) has reviewed the financial performance of major revenue-generating agencies under the Finance Ministry for the period up to September 2025. The review was carried out last week when the Committee, chaired by MP Dr. Harsha de Silva, convened in Parliament.

Senior officials from the Inland Revenue Department (IRD), Sri Lanka Excise Department, and Sri Lanka Customs presented updates on the progress of their respective institutions, outlining revenue performance and operational outcomes for the year thus far.

Officials from the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) also briefed the Committee on the Government’s Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy for 2026-2030.

They also outlined the annual borrowing plan for 2026, providing clarifications on projected financing requirements and debt sustainability measures.

The Board of Investment (BOI) presented a progress update on foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows. The BOI reported that Sri Lanka had attracted $ 827 million in FDI from January to September 2025.

The Committee noted that while this reflects positive momentum, the BOI and related agencies must intensify efforts to ensure a consistent and sustainable growth trajectory in foreign investment over the coming years.

In addition, the Committee granted approval for eight reports submitted under the Public Finance Management Act, No. 44 of 2024, all of which require CoPF endorsement as part of the statutory financial oversight process.

For more than a century, Ceylon Tea was not just an export crop. It was the main foreign exchange earner of the nation – a national inheritance left behind by British planters who, whatever one may say of colonial exploitation, built an industrial and managerial system of extraordinary discipline. They also did something rarely acknowledged today: they trained Ceylonese planters and superintendents to run those estates with the same precision and discipline when the British eventually departed.

After independence, and through the early years of nationalisation, these Sri Lankan planters maintained excellent agricultural standards, meticulous field supervision, and efficient manufacturing. Standards remained high even as costs rose through wage hikes, because these managers understood – as their teachers had – that the industry’s success depended on uncompromising discipline from leaf to auction.

Yet today, the same plantation sector that once fed our economy has collapsed to a shadow of its former self. And the most remarkable part is this: Sri Lanka has lost more than half its plantation tea output in thirty years – and as a nation, we barely noticed.

Because the fall in RPC production has been masked by the rise of tea smallholders, who expanded their output and kept Sri Lanka’s total annual production near the 250,000 metric ton mark. (In 1995, the total national output was 246,000 MT.)

The national figure stayed stable, and the illusion of a functioning plantation sector remained intact.

If production has fallen so dramatically, how is it that several plantation companies recorded billion-rupee profits and paid handsome dividends and bonuses?

The uncomfortable answer is this:

These profits were not earned by strengthening the estates – but by extracting value from a dying asset.

To control their Cost of Production (COP), RPCs reduced their resident workforce through golden handshakes and strict no-recruitment policies. The average age of an estate worker today is well above 45, and the sector has no young labour force willing to take up field work.

To compensate, many companies outsourced plucking, resulting in what any old-school planter would call unacceptable harvesting standards. The once-famous ‘two leaves and a bud’ became three, four, or five leaves – often without a bud at all. The raw material deteriorated, and so did the output.

Other consequences followed:

Since its establishment in 2012, Richard Pieris Finance Ltd., has evolved into one of Sri Lanka’s most resilient and forward-looking financial institutions. Emerging from a decade marked by unprecedented challenges, from economic turbulence to the pandemic, the company has demonstrated remarkable agility, turning adversity into opportunity through disciplined management and strategic foresight.

The past few years have been a period of continuous growth, underscored by steady profitability, portfolio diversification, and a clear commitment to modernisation.

With a dynamic Board led by Chairman Nalin Wijekoon, a veteran finance professional with over four decades of experience in the sector, and strengthened by Independent and Non-Executive Directors bringing diverse expertise -Kithsiri Wijeyaratne, an accomplished finance strategist and former senior banker; Rasitha Gunawardana, a seasoned banking leader and former CEO/General Manager of People’s Bank; Rohan Buultjens, a digital transformation expert with global experience across telecom, oil and gas, and financial services; Saman Kalansuriya, a veteran in retail and leasing finance with leadership experience in Sri Lanka and the Maldives; Rohitha Amarapala, a senior administrator and human resources specialist with over 25 years of leadership experience across the financial, insurance, and corporate sectors; and Thushara Perera, a finance professional with over

25 years of expertise in strategic financial management and corporate governance; the organisation has embraced a forward-thinking governance structure that continues to strengthen its market standing.

Built on the enduring trust and heritage of the Richard Pieris Group, the company today offers a wide spectrum of financial solutions extending beyond conventional leasing from savings and fixed deposits to Islamic finance, gold loans, and the newly introduced Sarumaga mortgage solution, designed to ensure faster processing and customer convenience.

A key focus of its current journey is digital transformation. As a member of the CEFTS platform, Richard Pieris Finance said it is enhancing the IT infrastructure to deliver seamless, tech-driven customer experiences while improving operational efficiency. The company’s credit rating of ‘A(lka) Outlook Stable’ by Fitch Ratings, stands as an independent endorsement of its financial stability and prudent risk management.

Chairman Nalin Wijekoon said: ‘Our journey has been one of steady progress through challenging times. The unwavering trust of our customers and the support of the Richard Pieris Group have been instrumental in shaping the company’s strong and stable foundation.’

CEO Lohika Fonseka said: ‘We are committed to driving sustainable growth through innovation, digital empowerment, and customer-centric solutions. Our focus is on ensuring that every product and service we offer adds real value to the lives of our customers.’

With a clear vision for expansion and innovation, Richard Pieris Finance said it continues to chart the path forward, anchored in resilience, powered by technology, and driven by the confidence of its customers.

Richard Pieris Finance is a member of the Richard Pieris Group, one of Sri Lanka’s largest and most diversified conglomerates, whose business interests span sectors such as retail, manufacturing, plantations, financial services, and insurance. The Group’s financial services arm includes Arpico Insurance Ltd., and Richard Pieris Finance Ltd., reflecting a shared commitment to financial inclusion, customer confidence, and sustainable growth.

The 2026 National Budget focuses on growth while advancing development and debt sustainability. This was highlighted at a seminar on ‘Impact of the Budget on the National Economy -Way Forward’ organised by the Organisation of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka. The Keynote Speaker was Secretary to the Treasury and Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, while the panel of expert guest speakers consisted of former Central Bank of Sri Lanka Deputy Governor J.P.R. Karunaratne, Department of Inland Revenue Commissioner of Tax Policy and Legislation S. Iyesha Asanthi, and Verité Research Director Dr. Nishan De Mel.

Vice President Mr. Bhanu Wijayaratne stated that the seminar would focus on the budget’s impact on the national economy. Highlighting several key features of the budget, he observed that it contained ambitious targets, and the seminar explored how these objectives can be achieved.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma observed that Sri Lanka was successfully navigating a challenging period due to the collective efforts of all stakeholders, particularly its citizens and the business community. He stressed that the central objective of the 2026 Budget was to drive growth by focusing on short- and medium-term policies while framing the foundation for future growth. The Budget, he noted, promotes several key strategies, including expert diversification, inclusive growth, debt sustainability, strengthening the production economy, eradicating rural poverty and promoting digitisation. Furthermore, it aims to strengthen the confidence built by the government by ensuring greater consistency in taxation and debt sustainability, enhancing stakeholder consultation, and improving the business environment through trade agreements.

Dr. Suriyapperuma also addressed the widespread misconception that debt repayment would commence only in 2028, clarifying that repayments are already being made on schedule. Since the increase in repayment obligations in 2028 will be marginal, he expressed confidence in Sri Lanka’s ability to meet its commitments-provided the country maintains its trajectory of higher fiscal revenue and disciplined expenditure. He stressed the need for zero tolerance for corruption, comprehensive digitisation, greater transparency and accountability, and focused development of the education, transport and SME sectors.

Dr. Nishan de Mel noted that the country’s fiscal indicators were very positive, with controlled expenditure, stable revenue growth, budget deficit reduction and impressive primary balance. However, he warned that real indicators were troubling, as employment is at a 20-year low, real incomes remain below 2018 levels, and poverty has doubled since 2019. He also pointed to weaknesses in monetary policy, including missed inflation targets for six consecutive quarters, the highest real interest rates in decades, and the world’s highest interest-cost-to-revenue ratio. The build-up of foreign reserves has also stalled. As a result, he argued that monetary shortcomings were eroding fiscal gains.

In assessing the Budget, Dr. de Mel highlighted several positives: revenue exceeded targets in 2024 and 2025, with VAT contributing a 2.8% increase this year, and health spending surpassed defence allocations in 2025 for the first time in decades. He also noted the Budget’s focus on social welfare and infrastructure. However, he raised concerns that over the lack of cost estimates for several proposals, unexplained increases in major allocations, inconsistencies in data, and decrease in publicly available information on GDP, poverty and other indicators.

In the Q and A session that followed and moderated by Vice President Bhanu Wijayaratne, S. Iyesha Asanthi stated that several measures had been introduced to broaden the tax net, including the reduction of the tax threshold, introduction of e-invoicing system as well as a modern tax audit scheme. J.P.R. Karunaratne observed that the Government was currently on a clear path towards debt repayment under the IMF program. He expressed confidence in Sri Lanka’s ability to meet foreign debt repayments following the build-up of foreign reserves. However, he cautioned against taking on additional foreign debt, especially for unproductive purposes, and stressed the need to boost exports to cushion against external vulnerabilities.

Dr. Suriyapperuma noted that the Government sought to increase foreign direct investment by promoting stability and boosting efficiency, including a single window for trade facilitation, which would encourage potential investors. He further observed that government borrowing had reduced due to prudent treasury management. While stating that there was room for further private sector credit, Dr. De Mel proposed the establishment of a bad bank, which would absorb all non-performing assets and initiate a recovery process. He also highlighted the need to boost exports by looking beyond trade facilitation and focusing on new growth areas, product diversification and new markets.

The seminar was attended by OPA President Jayantha Gallehewa, President-Elect Tisara de Silva, General Secretary Ravi Rupasinghe, Treasurer Dharshana Wijemanne, along with other officer bearers and delegates from OPA’s professional membership.

Sri Lanka took part in the prestigious Dubai Airshow 2025, held from 17 to 21 November, at the Dubai World Central (DWC) Airport in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The Dubai Airshow is considered to be the world’s largest and most influential aerospace exhibition and serves as a key platform for countries to showcase their aviation and aerospace capabilities. Blue Skies Aviation, a Sri Lankan Company participated in this globally renowned event showcasing the country’s growing presence in the aviation and aerospace sectors.

The Consul General of Sri Lanka to Dubai and Northern Emirates Alexi Gunasekera accompanied by Head of Chancery of the Sri Lanka Consulate General in Dubai Subhashini Silva visited the Sri Lanka stall at the exhibition venue and met with the representatives of the Blue Skies Aviation and assured the support of the Consulate General Office in future collaborations.

Further, the officials had discussions with the Civil Aviation Director General and CEO of Captain Daminda Rambukwella and Blue Skies Aviation Managing Director Asitha Manage and briefed on the opportunities available for the Sri Lankan aviation sector in the UAE and in the global market.

The Consul General and the Head of Chancery explained the importance of Sri Lanka’s participation at this global event and its positive impact in expanding exports of services sector in realising the country’s target of $ 37 billion by 2030.

The officials highlighted the efforts of the Government of Sri Lanka in strengthening public- private partnership in achieving the said target, with a special reference to the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement signed between Sri Lanka and the UAE.

Further, the officials reiterated the support of the Consulate General office in Dubai in initiatives that foster economic growth and technological advancement in the country to promote Sri Lanka as an attractive destination for business, tourism, and investment, particularly in the fields of aviation and aerospace.

Captain Rambukwella and Asitha Manage also explained the strengths of the country in the aviation sector highlighting a variety of initiatives aimed at promoting Sri Lanka as a strategic hub for aviation, manufacturing, aerospace services and efforts in expanding the domestic aviation in Sri Lanka and promote leisure and recreational aviation in the country.

The Consul General and the officials visited the stall of UUDS Group, which is known as one of the leaders in the aviation industry since 1981. The UUDS Group is providing more than 1000 job opportunities for Sri Lankan migrant workers in the skilled sector at UUDS Dubai.

At the invitation of the organizers of the Dubai Airshow 2025, the Commander of Sri Lanka Air Force, Air Marshal V. B. Edirisinghe also attended the event in Dubai.

Consul General of Sri Lanka to Dubai and Northern Emirates said Sri Lanka’s participation in the Dubai Airshow emphasises the nation’s efforts to enhance its position in the global aerospace and aviation market.

decades, Sri Lankan agriculture has been shaped by a culture of expectation. Successive governments have conditioned farmers to wait for handouts-especially fertiliser subsidies-before a single seed is planted. While politically irresistible, this model has bred dependency, distorted markets, and ultimately failed to lift national productivity.

As the country now attempts a deeper policy reset, we must confront an uncomfortable but crucial question: Should public funds continue to subsidise the act of farming, or should they reward the results?

The answer points squarely toward a shift to Output-Based Aid-a system where incentives are tied to verified production, not inputs, and enabled by robust digital infrastructure.

Input subsidies such as cheap fertiliser artificially suppress the real cost of production. This creates a harmful economic illusion: a lower break-even point that encourages farmers to ‘settle’ rather than maximise yield. For instance, a paddy farmer enjoying subsidised fertiliser might meet their profit target at 1,800 kg per acre. Without the subsidy cushion, they would push toward the land’s true potential-around 2,000 kg.

This model breeds complacency rather than excellence. And it leaks public funds. Fertiliser diverted to black markets or non-food crops is a widely acknowledged problem. Some defend subsidies by arguing that not all production systems are equal. They are right-and that’s precisely why subsidies should help farmers transition from unviable crops to more profitable ones, not enshrine outdated systems. History offers a perfect example: when coffee failed, the British didn’t subsidise its survival-they backed the shift to tea.

Sri Lanka needs a system that pays for performance, not expectations. The proposal is straightforward: stop providing cheap fertiliser upfront and instead reward farmers based on the actual quantity of paddy they sell.

The Backbone: A National ICT Platform tracks paddy production through a QR code system used by all registered buyers (much like the fertiliser pass for tea).

The Transaction: When a farmer sells paddy, the buyer scans the farmer’s QR code. Weight data from IoT-enabled digital scales automatically transfers to the national ICT system.

The Reward: For the Farmer: A direct cash incentive-for example, Rs. 10 per kg-is deposited into their bank account, in addition to the annually determined guaranteed price. Whereas today’s typical Rs. 10,000-per-acre fertiliser subsidy works out to roughly Rs. 5 per kg. A shift to Rs. 10 per kg in output incentives doubles the support for farmers who genuinely produce. Efficient farmers thrive. Inefficient ones are nudged-naturally-either to improve or to exit. For the Buyer: A small handling fee (e.g., Rs. 1 per kg) is paid to the government only if the digital weighing is not been used, encouraging accurate data though automated system entry and supporting field monitoring efforts.

For farmers – The Producers: This is the most farmer-friendly system available. It replaces the stigma of handouts with dignified, performance-based earnings. Farmers who practice Integrated Plant Nutrition Systems (IPNS), manage soil health, and adopt modern methods will see their incomes climb. Productivity leads to farming profitable again.

For the Government – The Planner: Real-time digital data gives the state unprecedented visibility over national food stocks, land use, and production trends. Policymakers can make smart import decisions and detect underutilised land. If a registered paddy plot shows no sales (no QR activity) over time, it signals neglect. The government can then intervene to lease that land to more productive cultivators. No more leaving fertile land idle.

For the economy – Taxpayer money gets released only when food/rice is actually produced. Corruption, leakages, and the bloated logistics of fertiliser distribution shrink dramatically. Fiscal justice is finally built into agricultural support.

Overcoming implementation hurdles: Technology makes the shift practical, even inevitable.

Verification: IoT-enabled digital scales upload weight data directly. Manual certification by Agrarian Officers can function as temporary backup.

Digital literacy: If citizens adapted to the QR Fuel Pass under crisis conditions, they can adapt to a QR Fertiliser Pass for their own economic benefit.

Resistance: Some will resist-not because the system is flawed, but because inefficiency is profitable for them. The narrative must stay clear: this is not a cut; it is a smarter, fairer, more lucrative system for productive farmers.

Farming is a business, and policy must recognise it as one. Sri Lanka’s push for systemic reform presents a rare opportunity to correct long-standing distortions. A digital, output-based incentive system can strengthen food security, honor taxpayers, and transform rural livelihoods from merely ‘surviving’ to truly ‘thriving’.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Saturday reaffirmed that every citizen must have the freedom to live with dignity while respecting all religious and cultural identities, stressing that the Government will not allow the country to fall into any form of racist trap.

He extended an open invitation to all political parties to support the Government’s efforts to strengthen unity and communal harmony.

The President made these remarks during a meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat to brief representatives of Tamil and Muslim Opposition parties on preparations for the upcoming ‘Sri Lanka Day’, scheduled for December.

The President described ‘Sri Lanka Day’ as a national initiative designed to bring together all communities, promote mutual understanding, and build a peaceful and harmonious nation.

Party leaders and representatives welcomed the initiative, commending the effort to create an inclusive national celebration and offering their own proposals for its organisation.

Opposition representatives assured the President of their full support for the national ‘A Nation United’ mission aimed at defeating the drug menace, as well as the broader Government programme to foster inter-religious and inter-ethnic harmony.

They noted that, under President Dissanayake’s leadership, they are prepared to extend unconditional backing for national efforts that safeguard unity and coexistence.

Extensive discussions were held regarding the organisational structure of the ‘Sri Lanka Day’ celebrations, coordinated by the Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Ministry.

Dissanayake instructed officials to organise the event in a manner that ensures participation from all citizens regardless of political affiliation, religious belief or cultural identity.

He stressed that the celebrations must take place on a common platform, reinforcing the message that Sri Lanka’s future lies in collective strength rather than division.

The meeting was attended by Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister

Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, Religious and Cultural Affairs Deputy Minister Muneer Mulaffer, MPs-Elayathamby Srinath, Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran and T. Ravikaran representing the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK); Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan representing the Tamil National Alliance (TNA); Kader Mastan representing the Sri Lanka Labour Party; M.L.A.M. Hizbullah representing the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC); Palani Thigambaram representing the Tamil Progressive Alliance (DPF); Mano Ganesan representing the Democratic People’s Front (DPF); and Rishad Bathiudeen representing the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC), MP Ramanathan Archuna, Religious and Cultural Affairs Ministry Secretary Prince Senadheera and several other officials and representatives.

Sri Lanka’s junior golf story gained a radiant new chapter in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as Kaya Daluwatte produced a performance that felt both fearless and inevitable.

Her victory in the Girls 21 and Under division came with the calm precision of someone who has begun to understand her own power. Three rounds of 68, 67, and 67 formed an elegant arc of consistency, giving her an eight-under-par total of 202 and a title that will resonate far beyond this single week.

Her opening 68 set the tone, steady and unhurried. In the UAE’s testing desert winds, she found rhythm early, blending controlled aggression with a mature patience that belied her age. Each fairway found and each green reached in regulation added a quiet inevitability to her campaign, as though she were sketching the shape of her win one stroke at a time.

The second round’s 67 was where she began to separate from the field. Competitors wavered; Kaya simply sharpened. Her iron play carried a kind of needlepoint accuracy, repeatedly placing her in birdie range. It was the day she declared her intent without theatrics just disciplined golf executed beautifully.

By the final round, another 67 sealed the narrative. There was pressure, of course, but she wore it lightly. The composure she displayed on the closing holes echoed the form she showed just weeks earlier when she won the Thailand Junior Championship.

The UAE victory now sits beside that triumph, forming a compelling portrait of a player rising swiftly through Asia’s amateur ranks. Her recent Bronze medal at the Asian Youth Games 2025 completes an extraordinary month. Three major performances, each in a different country, each demanding a different type of grit, now define her momentum. She was tied on the first two days by Sweden’s Lova Jansson, who dropped down badly on the final day ending as the runner-up.

Reshan Algama’s tied 14th finish added further pride for Sri Lanka. His first two rounds’ 70 and 68 kept him firmly in the mix before a tough final day reshuffled his standing. He was placed tied on fifth place at the end of Day 2. The promise in his game remains unmistakable.

Jevahn Sathasivam’s steady showing in 22nd place rounded off a strong Sri Lankan presence. He had a very good start, but on Day 2 and Day 3, he went through a tough time.

Still, the Sri Lankan golfers ended on a high with over 90 junior golfers teeing off.