Category: Daily Financial Times

Sri Lanka’s ace spinner Prabath Jayasuriya said that debutant spinner Keshara Nuwantha had a promising future ahead of him provided he can be consistent.

Sri Lanka required an off-spinner to support Jayasuriya, and opted for uncapped Nuwantha for the first Test and the bowler bowled impressively taking the wickets of KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja bowling 39 overs for 175 runs. He proved an ideal foil to Jayasuriya who went onto capture 4/109.

‘Playing your first test against a side like India is not easy because they are ranked high. It is a big challenge for anyone,’ said Jayasuriya.

“Keshara is new. He has not played many first-class matches or matches at international level. If he can focus and improve his consistency, he can go a long way. He has the potential and I think he can go far and do a lot for the country.’

Jayasuriya said that the toss played a vital role in Galle. ‘We did not have much luck with it. It is something that we cannot control. If we had won the toss, it could have been a different scenario.’

‘The wicket is still good for batting. You cannot expect the spinners to get wickets on the first day. The ball is not turning sharply to be dangerous for the batsmen,’ was how Jayasuriya assessed the wicket.

Devdutt Padikkal said that it will take probably another couple of sessions for the wicket to really start breaking up. ‘We know that in Galle, especially, it tends to quicken up pretty fast on the third and fourth day. So we are expecting that to happen again.’

On his maiden Test century Padikkal said, ‘I’ve dreamt of this moment. For the last two years, I’ve been working really hard to try and make sure that when I get that opportunity, I can do something special like this, and I’m really happy to do that.’ – [ST]

The Sri Lanka-China Business Council (SLCBC) recently marked its 25th anniversary with renewed calls to deepen bilateral trade, attract greater Chinese investment, and address the longstanding trade imbalance between the two countries.

The silver jubilee celebration was held grandly at the Shangri-La Colombo, bringing together representatives of the Sri Lankan and Chinese governments, diplomats, private sector leaders, and past presidents of the council to reflect on the 25 years of strengthening commercial ties between Sri Lanka and China.

Government officials and business leaders spoke at the event, highlighted Sri Lanka’s ongoing economic reforms and future investment opportunities.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe underlined that China was one of Sri Lanka’s most significant economic partners and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to creating a stable, transparent and investor-friendly business environment.

Acknowledging the strength of bilateral trade, he said, ‘there is a big difference between import and export between the countries. While benefiting both countries, let’s still look for opportunities and trade partnerships that benefit both countries and its peoples to reduce this gap.’ He further added that the SLCBC was well positioned to identify emerging opportunities in trade, investment, and technology while continuing to serve as a bridge between businesses, policymakers, and investors.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe also spoke at the event, noting that Sri Lanka was entering a period of significant economic reform aimed at improving competitiveness. ‘The biggest transformation that is taking place now is the tariff policy. We are opening our markets by removing our para tariffs, which are CESS and PAL, by 2029.’

The Deputy Minister encouraged Sri Lankan investors to pursue partnerships with established Sri Lankan businesses, particularly in value-added manufacturing, technology, logistics, and export-oriented industries, rather than focusing solely on greenfield investments.

Deputy Chief of Mission Zhu Yanwei reaffirmed China’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Sri Lanka under the Belt and Road Initiative. ‘We are ready to deepen our work with our Sri Lankan friends across infrastructure, the digital economy, green energy, modern agriculture, and the rural economy, tapping into entirely new engines for growth.’

He said China would continue opening its market further to Sri Lankan exports, like tea, gems, rubber, and spices, while encouraging more Chinese companies to invest in Sri Lanka’s manufacturing, tourism, and renewable energy sectors.

‘At the same time, we want to push for the investment and financing cooperation that is both transparent and sustainable, offering genius support for Sri Lankan long-term economic recovery.’

The Deputy Chief of Mission identified three priority areas for future collaboration: restarting negotiations on the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA), supporting Sri Lanka’s economic recovery through greater investment, and strengthening risk management and business facilitation mechanisms for investors. He further highlighted that balancing bilateral trade should remain a priority, adding that closer cooperation between the two countries could help more Sri Lankan businesses gain access to the Chinese market while reducing trade barriers.

SLCBC President Haroun Cader also spoke at the event, noting how the council had evolved into an important bridge connecting the business communities of both countries over the past 25 years. He said that while agreements may have initiated business relationships, trust and sustained engagement had ultimately determined the council’s long-term success. ‘The Council has become a bridge between businesses and institutions. It has helped companies find partners, understand markets, and explore new opportunities.’

He stressed that the next phase of Sri Lanka-China economic relations should focus on creating balanced and sustainable growth by expanding market access for Sri Lankan small and medium-sized enterprises, attracting technology-driven investment and strengthening innovation.

Cader also highlighted that there was a growing importance in digital trade, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing, calling businesses to convert dialogue into tangible commercial outcomes.

The evening concluded with a toast celebrating 25 years of Sri Lanka-China business cooperation and expressing confidence that stronger commercial partnerships would contribute to greater prosperity for both countries in the year ahead.

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) has deferred the suspension of trading in shares of Softlogic Holdings PLC and its subsidiary Odel PLC until 30 June 2027, following going-concern emphasis of matter in their Independent Auditors’ Reports.

The shares had been due for suspension from 31 August 2026. Softlogic Holdings shares ended yesterday up 60 cents at Rs. 10.40 and Odel ended down 10 cents to Rs. 11.30.

Softlogic Holdings securities had previously been transferred to the watch list on 28 November 2023, 25 April 2024, 16 December 2024 and 16 December 2025 due to emphasis of matter on going concern contained in its Independent Auditor’s Reports for the financial years ended 31 March 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively.

Odel’s securities were transferred to the watch list on 6 December 2024 and 15 December 2025 over going-concern emphasis of matter in its Independent Auditor’s Reports for the financial years ended 31 March 2024 and 2025.

The Sri Lanka – France Business Council of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce concluded its 22nd Annual General Meeting recently at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo.

The Annual General Meeting, followed by a cocktail reception, brought together members, government representatives, members of the diplomatic corps, business leaders and council members. Ambassador of France to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Rémi Lambert, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, while officials from the Embassy of Sri Lanka in France joined the proceedings virtually.

The meeting marked the appointment of a new leadership team to steer the Council’s activities for the year ahead. Shaameel Mohideen of Spillburg Holdings was elected President, with Zafir Hashim of John Keells Holdings PLC elected Senior Vice President, Husni Salieh of Noyon Lanka Ltd., elected Vice President and Manura Wickramasinghe of Puritas Ltd., elected Treasurer.

Representatives from A. Baur and Co. Ltd., Aitken Spence Travels, CEVA Logistics Lanka Ltd., Diesel and Motor Engineering PLC and Universal Travel Bureau Ltd., were elected to serve on the Committee.

In recognition of their longstanding contributions to the Council, Past Presidents Senake Amerasinghe, Dilipan Tyagarajah and Dr. Asanka Ratnayake were appointed as Honorary Members. A Subcommittee comprising representatives from International Distillers Ltd, Jayantha Premachandra Foundation, Maliban Healthcare Ltd., Marlbo Trading Company, Propylon One Ltd., and Web Lankan.com Ltd., was also appointed to support the Council’s activities.

In his address, Ambassador Lambert reaffirmed the strong and longstanding relationship between France and Sri Lanka while highlighting the considerable opportunities for expanding bilateral trade and investment. He noted that French investors continue to face challenges relating to market access and cumbersome administrative procedures, emphasising that addressing these barriers would be critical to unlocking greater French investment. He observed that the Council’s priorities for the year ahead closely align with these objectives and would play an important role in strengthening the bilateral economic partnership.

Reflecting on the Council’s achievements over the past year, outgoing President André Fernando of MAC Holdings highlighted several significant initiatives undertaken during his tenure. These included strengthening engagement with key French trade and investment promotion organisations such as the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Business France, while creating new opportunities for collaboration between the business communities of the two countries. He also reflected on the Council’s flagship Annual Wine Evening, which reached new heights in 2025 with the participation of renowned French rugby legend Serge Betsen, further elevating one of the Council’s signature networking events.

Addressing the membership following his election, President Shaameel Mohideen outlined an ambitious five-point agenda that will guide the Council’s work during the coming year. The strategy focuses on strengthening bilateral trade and improving market access, promoting greater French investment into Sri Lanka, supporting sustainability and innovation across industries, expanding tourism and cultural engagement between the two countries, and delivering greater value to members through meaningful networking opportunities, business engagements and advocacy initiatives.

As the Council embarks on a new chapter under its newly elected leadership, it remains committed to further strengthening commercial and economic ties between Sri Lanka and France by facilitating business partnerships, encouraging investment, promoting knowledge exchange and providing a vibrant platform for engagement between the public and private sectors of both countries.

Sri Lanka is better positioned than during its 2022 economic crisis to absorb a fresh energy price shock from the Middle East conflict, although high oil prices continue to pose risks to inflation, reserves, and growth, Moody’s Ratings said.

Moody’s said Sri Lanka, along with Bangladesh and Pakistan, remained among Asia’s most vulnerable economies to higher oil prices due to heavy reliance on imported energy.

However, the rating agency noted that reforms undertaken in recent years, including energy-pricing adjustments, cost-recovery tariffs under International Monetary Fund (IMF) programs, and more flexible exchange rates, had strengthened resilience compared with 2022.

The Middle East conflict is expected to keep energy markets volatile, with Moody’s central scenario projecting oil prices mostly within the $ 90-110 per barrel range during the remainder of 2026, although prices could move outside that range periodically.

High oil prices have already contributed to higher inflation pressures in Sri Lanka, but Moody’s said the impact has been significantly lower than in 2022 when oil prices surged following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, worsening Sri Lanka’s sovereign default crisis.

‘Energy-pricing reforms, cost-recovery tariffs under IMF programs, and more flexible exchange rates have reduced vulnerability to oil shocks,’ Moody’s said.

The rating agency said exchange rates in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan had remained relatively stable despite elevated energy prices, unlike in 2022 when currencies weakened sharply as authorities depleted reserves to defend exchange rates.

For Sri Lanka, the shift towards a more flexible exchange rate regime has reduced the risk of disorderly currency adjustments, although the rupee remains exposed to higher energy import costs.

However, foreign exchange buffers remain a concern. Moody’s said reserves in Bangladesh and Pakistan had remained broadly steady since the escalation of the Middle East conflict, while Sri Lanka’s reserves had declined as weaker tourism earnings combined with higher energy import costs weighed on external balances.

Despite this deterioration, the rating agency said foreign exchange buffers across the three economies were stronger than in 2022, when authorities rapidly depleted reserves to support currencies amid severe external pressures.

Remittances have also remained resilient, providing an important source of foreign currency liquidity. Moody’s noted that around half of remittance inflows to Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka originate from workers in the Middle East, but these flows have held up despite the conflict.

The agency said more market-based exchange rates had also encouraged workers to channel remittances through official banking systems, unlike in 2022 when currency collapses pushed inflows towards informal channels.

Moody’s has nevertheless lowered growth forecasts for Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Bangladesh due to the impact of the Middle East conflict. For Sri Lanka (one basis point) and Pakistan, the revisions are smaller than in 2022, reflecting improved capacity to absorb external shocks.

For Bangladesh, Moody’s said the growth downgrade was larger as higher oil prices are expected to delay a post-election recovery in investment and confidence.

Sri Lanka remains exposed to external energy shocks, but Moody’s assessment indicates that reforms following the 2022 crisis have strengthened the country’s ability to withstand another period of elevated global energy prices.

For Bangladesh and Pakistan, Moody’s highlighted similar vulnerabilities, noting that all three economies remain dependent on imported energy and exposed to higher oil prices. However, unlike 2022, exchange-rate flexibility, improved policy frameworks, and stronger external buffers provide greater capacity to manage the shock.

Amid debate over whether Sri Lanka should lower its 5% inflation target, economists highlighted the competing considerations surrounding monetary policy, with Verité Research Executive Director Dr. Nishan de Mel arguing that the immediate credibility test was whether the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) delivered whatever target it formally committed to, while Advocata Institute Chairman Murtaza Jafferjee stressed the heavy influence of food, energy, and supply-side factors on domestic inflation.

Speaking at a panel discussion on ‘Sri Lanka’s Future: Forecast, Scenarios and Challenges,’ organised by the Sri Lanka – Korea Business Council, Dr. de Mel responded to the proposition that a lower inflation target could be desirable by drawing a distinction between deciding the appropriate target and delivering the one already agreed.

‘Once you get into a gazetted agreement with the Government about inflation, you have to meet that. There is no management discretion here. These are the simple facts of accountability and competence,’ he said.

Dr. de Mel said the CBSL had missed its 5% inflation target by more than 200 basis points (bps) for eight consecutive quarters. The target was established under the post-crisis monetary framework, which granted the CBSL greater autonomy, while Sri Lanka’s debt sustainability projections were also constructed on the assumption that inflation would be managed at around 5%.

He rejected the proposition that undershooting should be regarded as acceptable simply because inflation was low, arguing that repeated misses had implications for the credibility of the target and the anchoring of expectations.

Dr. de Mel said the framework provided for explanations when inflation deviated sufficiently from target, similar to arrangements governing the Bank of England, but argued that Parliamentary scrutiny had not been strong enough.

‘We haven’t been able to get Parliament to ask good enough questions to rectify the problem. So it keeps getting missed and it’s getting a little bit complicated,’ he said.

The cost of missing the target extended beyond accountability, Dr. de Mel said, as the credibility of the CBSL’s commitment influenced how businesses and financial markets formed inflation expectations.

‘When inflation is anchored on the expectations set by society, it just becomes that without having to do very much and without having to raise interest rates too much,’ he said.

Conversely, when markets did not believe the CBSL would deliver its stated inflation objective, subsequent inflation could require a stronger interest-rate response.

‘This is a very, very high cost, the loss of trust,’ Dr. de Mel said.

He argued that market pricing provided a better indication of credibility than expressions of confidence in the CBSL by private sector participants.

‘The high real interest rates that we are asking is a sign that the markets don’t trust that inflation is anchored. That’s the problem we try to solve, but we haven’t solved it yet,’ he said.

Lower real rates were important for business investment, Dr. de Mel said, pointing to India’s combination of lower inflation and lower interest rates as a competitive advantage and arguing that Sri Lanka needed to create conditions for businesses to borrow at lower rates.

The inflation outcome also had implications for Sri Lanka’s post-default debt arithmetic.

Dr. de Mel said the actual Government securities yield curve was around 300 bps above the trajectory envisaged in the debt framework, while inflation had remained substantially below the assumed path.

Low inflation combined with high nominal interest rates had pushed real interest rates to among the highest in the region and increased the effective cost of domestic debt, he said.

‘When we get inflation wrong, when we get the yields wrong, we are in the wrong terrain for debt sustainability,’ Dr. de Mel said. ‘These have real consequences and I don’t think we should take them lightly.’

Not all deviations from the original economic trajectory had been adverse. Growth had exceeded earlier projections and current account outcomes had been substantially stronger than forecast, while exchange rate movements also affected debt dynamics. Higher yields and lower-than-assumed inflation, however, worked in the opposite direction.

Jafferjee brought a different consideration to the discussion, highlighting the composition of Sri Lanka’s inflation and the limits of conventional demand-side monetary policy in addressing some of its largest drivers.

He said inflation was heavily influenced by food prices, where exposure could not easily be reduced without structural changes, and by energy prices.

‘The thing is that our inflation is heavily influenced by food, which we really can’t protect unless we make structural differences, and energy prices. That has a huge impact,’ Jafferjee said.

He said conventional demand-side inflationary pressures also took time to work through the economy.

‘These classical demand-side inflationary pressures, it takes a bit of time to really play out,’ he said.

Jafferjee also cautioned against attributing inflation of around 2% simply to monetary policy, pointing to base effects as well as the influence of food and energy.

His comments highlighted the importance of food, energy, and supply-side factors in assessing Sri Lanka’s inflation performance, alongside conventional demand-side pressures.

For Dr. de Mel, however, the question of what level Sri Lanka ultimately chose as its inflation target remained separate from the accountability attached to delivering that target once agreed.

‘There should be absolutely no debate about whether it’s okay or not. It’s absolutely not. It’s a matter of accountability, it’s a matter of democracy, it’s a matter of responsibility,’ he said.

Dr. de Mel also called for stronger domestic economic analysis and more responsive forecasting, noting that several assumptions in Government-International Monetary Fund (IMF) projections had diverged from actual outcomes.

‘If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. But I think equally, if you’ve planned, when facts change, you must change your mind,’ he said.

He said Sri Lanka needed to build greater public sector capacity to analyse its economic trajectory independently and adjust policy as underlying conditions changed.

Softlogic Life has reported its strongest first-half performance to date for the six months ended 30 June 2026 (1HFY26).

Recording the highest increase in premiums amongst Sri Lankan life insurers, the company’s GWP grew by Rs. 7.2 billion year-on-year, lifting its market share to 20.3% as at Q2 2026, up from 18.4% for FY2025, a statement from the Company said.

Gross Written Premium (GWP) performance for the period reached Rs. 26 billion, a 39% year-on-year increase from Rs. 18.7 billion in 1H2025. Profit After Tax (PAT) stood at Rs. 1.46 billion, growing 20% over the first half of 2025, while Profit Before Tax (PBT) increased by 14% to Rs. 1.98 billion. The company maintained an impressive Return on Equity (ROE) of 39% and a Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) of 245% as at 31 December 2025, more than double the regulatory requirement of 120%, underscoring its financial resilience and long-term stability.

Softlogic Life’s financial position remained robust during the period, with total assets increasing to Rs. 81.6 billion as at 30 June 2026, while total equity reached Rs. 14.6 billion. Financial investments amounted to Rs. 61 billion, accounting for 75% of total assets, reflecting the company’s prudent investment strategy and investment in Government securities were 74% of the portfolio.

Reaffirming its position as Sri Lanka’s largest health and protection claims payer, Softlogic Life paid Rs. 10.4 billion in claims and benefits during the first half of the year, up from Rs. 9.1 billion in the corresponding period last year. Of this, over Rs. 7.2 billion which is more than half of all claims paid went toward health and protection claims alone, underscoring the growing role Softlogic Life plays in safeguarding the health and financial wellbeing of Sri Lankan families. This reflects the company’s core purpose: delivering greater quality of life to Sri Lankans, with meaningful financial protection and long-term peace of mind when it matters most.

Today, Softlogic Life protects more than 1.8 million Sri Lankans through over 870,000 active policies, up from 770,749 policies in 1H2025 making it the country’s largest life insurance provider by customer reach. The company’s sustained growth continues to be driven by a balanced portfolio of protection and long-term savings solutions, supported by an expanding distribution network and ongoing investment in customer experience and operational excellence.

This first-half performance builds on a period of transformative growth for Softlogic Life, including the completion of its acquisition of Allianz Life Insurance Lanka in July 2025 – the first life-insurer-to-life-insurer acquisition in the history of Sri Lanka’s insurance industry and more recently, its acquisition of a 60% controlling stake in Bangladesh’s Diamond Life Insurance in July 2026, marking the first overseas acquisition by a Sri Lankan Life Insurance Company, whilst being the first acquisition by a foreign insurer in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh acquisition marks the next phase of Softlogic Life’s growth strategy, as the company looks to replicate its proven Sri Lankan success, disciplined execution, product innovation, and sustained customer trust in a new regional market.

‘Delivering the industry’s largest absolute GWP growth, while remaining the country’s largest payer of health and protection claims, reflects the strength of our strategy and consistency of execution. We remain focused on sustainable growth, strong financial fundamentals and creating lasting value for our policyholders, shareholders and stakeholders. As the industry evolves, we will continue to strengthen our leadership through innovation, discipline and, above all, customer trust,’ said Softlogic Life Chairman Ashok Pathirage.

The first-half performance comes at a time when Sri Lanka’s insurance landscape is undergoing structural change. An ageing population, rising healthcare costs, and increasing awareness of long-term financial security are driving greater demand for comprehensive protection solutions. Against this backdrop, Softlogic Life continues to invest in strengthening its capabilities, recognising that the future of insurance extends beyond financial protection to supporting healthier, more financially resilient communities. Among these investments is the company’s recent product innovation, Health for Life, a health insurance solution without an expiration date or age.

‘Our first-half results reflect a business built on trust, disciplined execution and innovation. Health for Life is the present that is redefining protection for Sri Lankans, while our expansion into Bangladesh marks an exciting new future. We remain focused on deepening customer trust, expanding access to quality protection in Sri Lanka and taking our innovations and best practices to the region,’ said Softlogic Life Managing Director Iftikar Ahamed.

This strategic direction was reinforced at the company’s recent Investor Forum 2026, further strengthening Softlogic Life’s ability to respond to evolving customer needs while supporting sustainable, long-term growth. The company’s performance and brand strength continue to receive industry-wide recognition, reflected in a series of prestigious accolades, including Overall Silver Excellence in Corporate Reporting, Gold Awards for Insurance Sector Reporting and Digitally Transformative Reporting, and Silver Awards for Integrated Reporting and Sustainability Reporting at the CA Sri Lanka Annual Report Awards. The company also secured a Gold Award for Insurance Overall Excellence in Integrated Reporting, alongside four other main category awards, at the CMA Excellence in Integrated Reporting Awards. Further recognition includes Gold for Service Brand of the Year at the SLIM Brand Excellence Awards 2025 and the distinction of being the only Sri Lankan company to win AI Initiative of the Year at the 29th Insurance Industry Awards 2025.

Sounding the alarm against the recent severe threats on enterprises and Government organisations, Kaspersky recently tackled the visibility gap plaguing the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, and how Security Operations Centre (SOC) in the age of AI can help. It stressed one cannot defend what cannot be seen.

This was the main takeaway of Kaspersky’s annual media conference, APAC Cyber Security Weekend, with the theme ‘When Speed Outpaces Visibility’ held at Guangzhou, China

Headlined by the global cybersecurity company’s Asia Pacific Managing Director Adrian Hia, the event tackled one of today’s biggest cybersecurity challenges: attackers, backed by Artificial Intelligence (AI), are moving faster than organisations can see, understand, and respond.

‘As speed and connectivity reshape modern enterprises and organisations in the region, driven mainly by AI and its applications, security teams face growing blindspots across IT and OT environments. As a result, cybersecurity today is no longer just a race against time. It’s a race against invisibility,’ said Hia.

New era of cybersecurity

Hia tackled key cybersecurity trends Kaspersky is observing: AI-assisted attacks, cyber sabotage targeting infrastructure across IT and OT systems, and more sophisticated cyberespionage.

‘Last year, we detected and blocked half a million unique malicious files daily, which is 7% higher than in 2024. Recent cyberattacks across APAC show that the divide between the online and physical realms is completely gone. Recently, Nichirei Corp suffered a cyberattack that disrupted its logistics network. Meanwhile, India’s manufacturing sector has become an APAC hotspot for industrial ransomware, with groups consistently paralysing factory floors and industrial IT services,’ revealed Hia.

‘AI agents introduce a new supply chain layer-this year alone, Kaspersky has identified over 15,000 malware samples disguised as agentic AI software. Because agents dynamically depend on third-party frameworks, APIs, and plugins, a single compromised upstream dependency can cascade across downstream systems, dramatically expanding the surface for cyber sabotage and cyberespionage. As threats become AI-native and defences AI-powered, APAC organisations must look beyond just stopping attacks and ask whether they actually have visibility into what’s already happening inside their environments,’ he added.

Based on a new report from the Kaspersky Compromise Assessment division, in 31% of incidents that were analysed, malicious activity in organisations had been going on for over three months. Over half (52%) of high-severity compromises were only discovered after 90 days of going undetected, and the oldest incident identified over the last year remained undetected for as long as four years.

The findings point to a broader challenge in security operations. Many organisations have invested in security technologies, but technology alone cannot compensate for gaps in monitoring, detection, and operational readiness.

‘Our recent report highlights why a modern, unified SOC is becoming business-critical. When organisations rely on reactive security practices or lack continuous monitoring, attackers gain valuable time to move laterally, escalate privileges, and compromise critical assets. A mature SOC shortens that window by providing the visibility, expertise, and operational discipline needed to detect threats before they become major incidents,’ Hia said.

SOC built with AI expertise to restore visibility

As cybercriminals increasingly leverage AI to scale and automate attacks, defenders must do the same. Kaspersky has been combining AI with human expertise for the last two decades.

Since 2004, Kaspersky has built and refined advanced Machine Learning (ML) models trained on huge volumes of anonymised global telemetry, collected ethically and responsibly from millions of endpoints worldwide. This reservoir of high-quality data has enabled the company to develop and leverage on AI systems that are not only safe and accurate but also resilient to evolving threats.

‘AI isn’t an add-on at Kaspersky. For the past 20 years, AI has been embedded across our entire technology stack, enabling faster detection, smarter automation, and consistent protection. We have always believed that as cyber threats continue to evolve, the future of cybersecurity lies in the collaboration between AI and human expertise. It is not either or – it is HuMachine Intelligence, as we call it. It is the philosophy that has guided our innovation for years and will continue to shape how we protect organisations against the threats of tomorrow,’ Hia explained.

Companies that manage complex IT infrastructures and handle massive data volumes can leverage the comprehensive solutions from the Kaspersky Next product line, which provide real-time protection, full threat visibility, and robust EDR/XDR investigation and response capabilities. Generative AI models within the platform swiftly transform raw data into structured, actionable intelligence for security teams and decision-makers, enabling them to work more efficiently while reducing manual effort and bridging skill gaps.

Kaspersky also helps organisations restore their visibility through its managed security services such as Kaspersky Compromise Assessment, Kaspersky MDR and Kaspersky Incident Response, which cover the entire incident management cycle – from threat identification to continuous protection and remediation.

To enable a successful SOC deployment and ongoing maintenance, Kaspersky offers early engagement through it Kaspersky SOC Consulting during the initial setup or when enhancing your existing security operations. This comprehensive consulting service is designed to help companies build a robust SOC and streamline its processes.

Kaspersky ensures Cybersecurity True to Business, focusing on providing clear outcomes, protecting revenue, easing workloads and preventing downtime. Kaspersky’s deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into innovative solutions and services for organisations of every size, from small businesses to large enterprises, combining proven AI-driven protection technologies with simple management and expert support.

Recognised in independent tests and trusted by millions of individuals worldwide and nearly 200,000 organisations, Kaspersky helps detect threats earlier, respond faster and operate with greater confidence and freedom, protecting what matters most.

On a track that is beginning to assist the spinners gradually India placed themselves in a commanding position in the first cricket Test against Sri Lanka ending a truncated second day at 460-9 at the Galle Cricket International Stadium yesterday.

Play was not possible till 2.35 pm due to persistent rain and in the 43 overs that was possible for the day India added 172 runs for the loss of seven wickets to their overnight score of 288-2. Sri Lanka bowled a lot better, with their spinners being consistent with their lengths and the wickets column was a testament to that.

Debutant Keshara Nuwantha, trusted with the second new ball, removed Rishabh Pant for 39 for his maiden Test wicket and followed it up with Lokesh Rahul’s wicket. Rahul came to resume his innings after retiring hurt on the first day but was out for 82 (175 balls, 10 fours 1 six). Devdutt Padikkal continuing from where he left on the first day reached the 150-run mark before being deceived by a superb delivery from Prabath Jayasuriya to get out stumped for 167. He batted 339 minutes and hit 15 fours and one six in the 230 balls he faced.

At the tea break India had lost half the side for 364. Ravindra Jadeja became Nuwantha’s third victim after the break which brought Dhruv Jurel and Manav Suthar together. The duo forged a 55-run stand to take India’s total past 400. Jurel who got a reprieve on 29 from the Sri Lankan Captain Dhananjaya de Silva at slip went on to notch up a fifty (51 off 68 balls, 4 fours, 1 six) before de Silva made up for his early lapse by pulling of a stunning catch to end his knock.

Mohamed Siraj tried to be aggressive but perished for 11 to Asitha Fernando who bowled splendidly without much luck. Manav Suthar fell to Jayasuriya off the very next ball, but Sri Lanka couldn’t finish off the Indian innings as the final pair survived the last 17 balls of the day to take their team’s total to 460. Jayasuriya ended up as the most successful bowler with 4/109 off 36 overs. Batting is expected to get tougher as the Test progresses and Sri Lanka will face an uphill task to stage a comeback in this game.

The match resumes on the third day today at 9.45 am with a minimum of 98 overs to be bowled weather permitting.

Sri Lankan engineering and technology company ISF, with bold ambitions in manufacturing artificial intelligence (AI), last week launched the world’s first fully automated coconut de-watering system.

The system improves productivity, reduces labour dependency, and addresses operational inefficiencies across the coconut processing industry, while improving return on investment.

Designed and manufactured in Sri Lanka by local engineers, the system automates a process that has traditionally relied on manual handling.

The system was unveiled through a live demonstration attended by Science and Technology Minister Prof. Chrishantha Abeysena, diplomats representing ISF’s key international markets, industry leaders, and members of the media. Participants were given the opportunity to observe the technology in operation and understand the key benefits it offers to coconut processors.

ISF Director Anjula Sivakumaran said: ‘I am proud to have designed, tested and launched this automated coconut de-watering system. My clients in Indonesia and the Philippines are delighted with this innovation, and this particular machine will be shipped to the Philippines in a few weeks. My team of engineers will be travelling there to oversee the installation and provide after-sales support.’

‘This forms part of my vision to help regional and local firms to automate their operations so that they can compete globally. I also want to realise this vision by leveraging Sri Lanka’s outstanding engineering talent. In doing so, we will help customers achieve their commercial goals through a very short return on investment. What ISF does extends beyond coconut de-watering,’ Sivakumaran added.

‘We continue to develop technologies across the entire coconut processing value chain, including dehusking, deshelling, and paring. By combining engineering expertise, automation, and AI, I aim to create solutions that solve difficult business problems. I am proud that we continue to invest in pioneering technologies through extensive research and development, while working closely with our global partners,’ she said.

Established in 1977, ISF has evolved from a manufacturing company into a provider of complete technology, engineering, automation, and process solutions serving the dairy, coconut, food, pharmaceutical, chemical, and fast-moving consumer good (FMCG) industries.

‘It’s a new world,’ Sivakumaran said. ‘My goal is to help transform companies in Sri Lanka and across the region to global standards at a fraction of the cost charged by Western technology companies.’