Category: Daily Financial Times

LB Finance PLC has appointed Ravi Tissera to its Board as an Executive Director.

Tissera is an inclusive finance, impact investing and green finance and MSME Sector specialist.

He was the founder CEO of LOLC Microcredit Ltd. in 2008, which was later merged with and acquired by LOLC Finance PLC in 2018. He continued as Executive Deputy Chairman/CEO of the merged entity until February 2020.

Tissera played a vital role in expanding microfinance entities outside Sri Lanka for the LOLC group, to Myanmar, Cambodia, Pakistan and Zambia.

After holding many senior positions within the LOLC Group, Tissera resigned in February 2020 to take up office as CEO at Early Dawn Microfinance Myanmar Ltd. As the CEO of Early Dawn Microfinance, he was able to uplift the Company up to Myanmar’s top four microfinance institutions.

During his term, it was also the first MFI in Myanmar to complete long -term debt restructuring. Tissera has strong competencies in Corporate Finance and lead the first USD syndicate debt finance to the Non-Bank Financial Institutions sector in Sri Lanka.

He is professionally qualified as a marketer and has received executive education training at HBS. He is also a panellist and resource person in the inclusive finance, impact investing and green finance space. Tissera has served as an Alternate Director of Seylan Bank PLC.

Prior to his appointment as the Chief Transformation Officer of L B Finance in March 2025, Tissera served as an Independent Non-Executive Director of HNB Finance PLC during the period April 2024 to March 2025.

He counts for over 15 years’ experience as a CEO in the Non-Bank Financial Institutions sector, both in Sri Lanka and Myanmar.

One of the greatest concerns consumers have about choosing an electric vehicle is range anxiety from running out of charge, especially in a deserted area. Carmart provided a solution to this with the Leapmotor C10 REEV (Range Extender EV) – an electric SUV that doesn’t need to be plugged in and charged.

The C10 SUV can be used like a normal EV around town yet has the flexibility of being able to travel up to 1150km, thanks to its built-in generator that recharges the battery while on the move.

Leapmotor is supported in Sri Lanka by Carmart, the exclusive Peugeot importer and authorised repairer for over 75 years, and backed globally by Stellantis, Europe’s second-largest carmaker; and home to 15 brands including Peugeot and Maserati – whose engineers fine-tuned the C10’s suspension to give it a premium feeling drive.

Consumers can experience Leapmotor models alongside their Peugeot counterparts at the newly renovated Stellantis Brand House concept showroom on Union Place, Colombo 2 – the first of its kind in the South Asian region.

The C10 blends sleek design with everyday practicality. A spacious interior offers family-friendly comfort, advanced infotainment, and refined styling. Safety remains paramount, with a 5-star Euro NCAP rating covering adults, children, and pedestrians, supported by cutting-edge driver-assistance systems. Ownership peace of mind comes with an 8-year battery warranty and a 4-year/120,000 km vehicle warranty, with an extended warranty also available.

Carmart CEO Yasendra Amarasinghe gives Managing Director Senaka Amarasinghe an inside look at newly unveiled Leapmotor C10 and its innovations

‘We are at a defining era for EVs in Sri Lanka,’ said Carmart CEO Yasendra Amerasinghe. ‘Trust – of both the brand and the local distributor – is what truly matters. With Stellantis and Carmart behind it, customers can choose Leapmotor with confidence.’ The Leapmotor C10 is now available for viewing and test drives at Carmart, 424 Union Place, Colombo 2, with a limited-time introductory launch offer starting from just Rs. 17.4 million for the full EV, and Rs. 20.95 million for the REEV. Deliveries commence in October for those lucky enough to be on the pre-sales list.

For motorists seeking flexibility, quality, safety, great value, and the assurance of a trusted global-local partnership, the Leapmotor C10 represents the future of premium electric mobility.

Sri Lanka scored a major breakthrough in digital education yesterday with the announcement of a landmark partnership with Google, which will provide free access to advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for students across the country.

Digital Economy Deputy Minister Eng. Eranga Weeraratne revealed the news at the inaugural National AI Expo and Conference 2025, calling it ‘a monumental achievement for the country and AI capacity building development.’

‘After months of collaboration between our Ministry and Google, I am excited to announce the news that I received just this morning. Google has agreed to provide their student offer with Gemini, with advanced features and other benefits, for Sri Lankan students free-of-cost,’ he told a packed audience of industry leaders, academics, students and policymakers.

He described the partnership as a ‘game changer’ that would democratise access to cutting-edge AI resources. ‘Across our nation, every student will soon have free access to powerful world-class AI tools, platforms and learning resources. This will level the playing field and put our students on par with anyone, anywhere in the world,’ he stressed.

The Deputy Minister insisted that the initiative goes beyond mere adoption of AI, aiming instead to nurture mastery among the next generation. ‘We don’t just need to use AI. We want every single one of you to master it,’ he said.

But he also urged caution, underscoring the ethical responsibility that comes with such access. ‘With access to such powerful tools comes great responsibility. Use them to build, to innovate, and to solve the greatest challenges of our time. But always use them wisely, ethically, and for the benefit of all Sri Lankans and the world,’ he emphasised.

Eng. Weeraratne believes the initiative is expected to accelerate the Government’s broader vision of creating a smarter, more prosperous and inclusive digital economy. ‘We must work together with passion and purpose to build a smarter, more prosperous and a more compassionate Sri Lanka,’ he said.