DOF priority tax reforms expected to raise ?170B, DBCC figures bare

THE government expects to generate P170.9 billion in the next five years from the priority tax reforms of the Department of Finance (DOF), based on figures in the 2025 Mid-Year Report of the Development Budget Coordinating Council (DBCC).

The report estimates about P3.8 billion would be raised this year.

According to the DBCC document, the projected incremental revenues will come from the recently-enacted tax measures. These measures are: the value added tax (VAT) on digital service providers; the Create More law; the Capital Market Efficiency Promotion Act (Cmepa); and, the Enhanced Fiscal Regime for Large-Scale Metallic Mining.

With this, the revenue collections-to-GDP ratio is expected to see an increase from 15.9 percent this year to 16.8 percent after five years, read the report.

Among the measures, the VAT on Digital Services law, or Republic Act (RA) 12023, is anticipated to deliver the largest gains with P126.8 billion from 2025 until 2030.

Implemented last July, RA 12023 requires foreign and local platforms to register with the Bureau of Internal Revenue and remit VAT on transactions made within the country.

Meanwhile, the Create More Act (RA 12066) will cost the government about P13.08 billion from 2025 to 2030 due to the impact of the reduced corporate income tax to 25 percent from the previous 30 percent. The law also increased the additional deduction on power expenses from 50 percent to 100 percent to minimize costs for the manufacturing sector.

An additional 50-percent deduction for expenses on trade fairs and tourism reinvestments until 2034 will deduct P601.89 million from the revenue collection.

In an earlier report, the government expected about P5.9 billion losses from 2025 to 2028 due to the Create More; recent records show the same figure.

The DBCC report, nonetheless, expects the Cmepa (RA 2214) contributing P35 billion from 2025 until 2030 as taxes on capital markets are rationalized and excise tax is imposed on pickup trucks. This year, the government expects the revenue to reach P4.520 trillion and climb to P7.132 trillion in 2030.

Furthermore, the DBCC report noted that the Mining Fiscal Regime law (RA 12253), which will take effect only on January 1, 2026, would raise incremental value of P32.1 billion.

The government eyes an annual tax revenue growth of about 10.3 percent until 2030 that will be sustained by the overall impact of these tax measures, according to the report.

The DBCC added that ongoing digitalization initiatives will complement the reforms by improving compliance and collecting efficiency.

Heroes. Heartbreaks. History

THE sports page has always been a mirror of triumphs, tragedies and transformation.

The year 2005 saw the emergence of two world-beaters from Spain: Fernando Alonso, who became the youngest Formula One World Champion at the time, and Rafael Nadal, who clinched his first French Open title in his debut appearance at Roland Garros.

It was a season of seismic shifts in F1, with 24-year-old Alonso ending Michael Schumacher’s reign of five consecutive titles.

Alonso would go on to secure a second consecutive Drivers’ Championship with Renault in 2006, but a mix of team politics, strategic missteps, and shifting alliances kept him from sustaining dominance. The following two decades in F1 saw a carousel of drivers and manufacturers rise to prominence.

In that span, Schumacher retired, made a comeback with Mercedes, and tragically suffered a life-altering skiing accident in France in 2013.

The sport also weathered scandals: the espionage saga dubbed ‘Spygate,’ the ‘Crashgate’ controversy involving Nelson Piquet Jr.’s deliberate crash under Renault’s orders, and the Abu Dhabi finale in 2021, which sparked global debate over race direction and fairness.

The seven-time world champion’s condition has remained a closely guarded secret, with his family maintaining strict privacy to this day.

McLaren had a tumultuous 2007 season with Alonso and rookie Lewis Hamilton at the helm. Despite their on-track brilliance, the team was found to have benefited from leaked Ferrari data and was excluded from the Constructors’ Championship. Kimi Räikkönen ultimately won the Drivers’ title, and Ferrari reclaimed its place atop the sport.

Big Four Era

RAFAEL NADAL’s breakout in 2005 was the launchpad for a two-decade reign of excellence, particularly on clay. While not dominant in every season, his sustained brilliance earned him 92 ATP titles-including 22 Grand Slams-and the enduring nickname ‘King of Clay.’

The year BusinessMirror was born, Nadal captured 11 titles, including his first major at 19 years old. He later showcased his versatility by completing the career Grand Slam at age 24, winning the US Open in 2010. He also led Spain to five Davis Cup victories and won Olympic gold in singles at the Beijing 2008 Games.

But the past two decades weren’t a solo act.

Tennis was reshaped by the rise of the Big Four-Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, and Nadal-each of whom held the world No. 1 ranking and elevated the sport to new heights.

The Big Four era was defined by rivalry and respect.

Federer added to his legacy before retiring in 2022. Murray claimed back-to-back Olympic golds in London 2012 and Rio 2016, while Djokovic won the Paris 2024 Olympics and remains the only active member of the quartet. Nadal made his final Grand Slam appearance at Roland Garros 2024, and Murray bowed out at the Paris Games.

3-point revolution

THE NBA has undergone a seismic shift over the past two decades, evolving into a league increasingly dominated by the three-point shot. What was once a strategic afterthought has become the centerpiece of modern offenses.

Arguably, it was the Phoenix Suns who laid the foundation for this transformation. Under head coach Mike D’Antoni, the team embraced a radical philosophy known as the ‘Seven Seconds or Less’ offense, which prioritized pace, spacing, and quick decision-making. This approach paved the way for the trey to become a weapon of choice rather than a luxury.

D’Antoni had the perfect floor general in Steve Nash, a two-time MVP whose precision passing and reliable shooting made the system hum. While the Suns didn’t win a championship during that era, they redefined offensive basketball and planted the seeds of the revolution.

It wasn’t until the rise of the Golden State Warriors that the three-point revolution translated into titles. Led by the Splash Brothers, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, the Warriors captured championships in 2015, 2017, and 2018, with Curry’s deep shooting range and Thompson’s catch-and-shoot mastery stretching defenses to their breaking point.

Ray Allen’s clutch perimeter shooting was pivotal in the Miami Heat’s 2012-13 title run, complementing the all-around brilliance of LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade. Allen’s iconic corner triple in Game 6 of the Finals remains one of the most memorable shots in NBA history.

In 2014, the San Antonio Spurs showcased the power of team-oriented ball movement and perimeter accuracy.

With Patty Mills, Danny Green, and Marco Belinelli as threats from beyond the arc, and legends like Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Kawhi Leonard leading the charge, the Spurs shot a blistering 46.6percent from three in their 4-1 Finals win over the Heat.

The revolution keeps on rolling, and teams have increasingly focused on high-volume, perimeter-oriented offense.

The Boston Celtics now launch threes one after the other, and after clinching the 2024 NBA title, they went on to set records for most three-point attempts per game (48.2) and most in a season (3,955)- redefining what modern offense looks like.

This three-point renaissance has spilled into the international game, with national teams in the FIBA World Cup and Olympics-often featuring NBA stars-embracing the long-range strategy. Even traditional big men are stepping out to hit deep shots, transforming the global basketball landscape into a space-and-pace battlefield.

Giant losses

THE sports world bid farewell to many legendary figures whose impact transcended their disciplines.

Football greats Pelé and Diego Maradona, whose artistry and grit on the pitch left an indelible mark on the global game, passed away two years apart-Maradona at 60 in 2020 due to a heart attack following brain surgery, and Pelé at 82 in 2022 after a battle with colon cancer.

But one of the biggest shockers came in 2020, with the tragic loss of basketball icon Kobe Bryant, a five-time NBA champion, who at 41 died in a helicopter crash alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna.

After a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, Muhammad Ali-widely regarded as the greatest boxer of all time-passed away in 2016. The 74-year-old Ali’s legacy as a fighter, activist, and humanitarian remains unmatched.

Bill Russell, an 11-time NBA champion and towering figure in the fight for civil rights, passed away at 88 in 2022 due to natural causes.

Symbol of resilience

OLYMPIC centerpiece sports-athletics and swimming-had their superstars shine brightest, with Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt dominating across three consecutive Games: Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Rio 2016.

Their performances became the gold standard of Olympic excellence.

Bolt bagged the sprint double (100m and 200m) in each edition, and including relay victories, he amassed a total of eight Olympic gold medals. Phelps’ record haul of eight gold medals in a single Olympics (Beijing 2008) still stands. He added four more in London and five in Rio before retiring as the most decorated Olympian of all time.

Not only did the Tokyo Olympics survive the trials of the Covid-19 pandemic, it emerged even grander to become a symbol of resilience.

Postponed by a year, the Tokyo Games finally unfolded in 2021, featuring a record 339 medal events across 33 sports. The expanded program welcomed new disciplines: skateboarding, sport climbing, surfing, karate, and the return of baseball/softball.

It was also the year the Philippines broke through to the winners’ circle, with weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz finally clinching gold, after earning bronze in Beijing 2008 and silver in Rio 2016.

Three years later in Paris, the Philippines celebrated two more gold medals, as gymnast Carlos Yulo triumphed in the floor exercise and vault events.

Men’s champ to get P300K in P2M Bulacan netfest

A BREAKTHROUGH P2 million purse-the richest in Philippine tennis history-will be up for grabs in the Gentry National Tennis Championships that start Thursday at the Colegio San Agustin courts in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.

The landmark tournament not only raises the bar in terms of prize money and prestige, but also signals a major leap in support for Philippine tennis, drawing a full 64-player draw in the men’s Open singles division alone.

Headlining the star-studded field are the country’s top two players, AJ Lim and Eric Jed Olivarez, who are set to lead a power-packed mix of veteran campaigners, rising stars and fearless young guns.

The men’s singles champion will take home a whopping P300,000, while the runner-up receives P150,000.

The women’s singles draw is equally competitive with rising stars Mikaela Vicencio and Tiffany Nocos leading the charge for the P100,000 top prize with the runner-up banking P50,000.

‘This is a major milestone for Philippine tennis,’ said tournament organizer Bobby Mangunay, who also serves as Sports Program and Development Director of the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala. ‘The response from players has been overwhelming, and the level of competition we’re expecting truly reflects the importance and magnitude of this tournament.’

The two-week tennis showcase, presented by Great Wall Motor Philippines, will also feature men’s and women’s doubles events, collegiate and inter-school divisions, Legends play, team competitions and Classified club-level classes.

The men’s doubles winners will pocket P100,000, with the women’s doubles champions earning P50,000-doubles runners-up will take home P50,000 (men) and P25,000 (women).

The event is also part of a broader effort to uplift local tennis through the Palawan Pawnshop junior tennis circuit, providing year-round opportunities for emerging talents inspired by the meteoric rise of Filipino tennis sensation Alex Eala.

Among the other top contenders expected to challenge Lim and Olivarez for the men’s crown are Vicente Anasta, John Benedict Aguilar, John Kendrick Bona, Ronard Joven, Nilo Ledama, and Loucas Fernandez, along with a host of potential upset-makers including Charles Kinaadman, Eric Jay Tangub, Elvin Geluz, Kenzo Brodeth, Vince Serna, Austin delos Santos, Mark Alcoseba and Alexis Acabo.

In the women’s side, the battle is equally fierce, with names like Elizabeth Abarquez, Victoria Pena, Niña Alcala, Tennielle Madis, Stefi Aludo, and Rachel Velez looking to make their mark.

Certified program to empower public sector officers to build globally recognised brands

The National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA), in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM), has officially launched the Certified Brand Analyst Program 2025.

The program, a joint effort with the Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Ministry, is designed to enhance the skills of Enterprise Development Officers (EDOs), enabling them to guide small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in creating globally recognised brands. The initiative’s goal is to foster a new generation of brand creators within the Government.

Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Ministry Secretary Thilaka Jayasundara introduced the strategic concept of ‘branding the Industry Family.’ She emphasised that all key partners and entities under the ministry’s umbrella must work together, asserting that a unified vision and a collective effort are crucial for success, as no organisation can reach its full potential alone.

Using ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ as a national initiative, Jayasundara stated that its primary objective goes beyond merely cleaning streets; it’s about cleansing the mind-sets of the Sri Lankan people. She detailed the initiative’s three pillars as economic, social, and environmental. She emphasised that a clean environment is a direct result of building a strong economy and social structure.

She explained these pillars, support several key national targets set for 2030, all focused on building a manufacturing-led economy. Jayasundara said the first goal is to boost the manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP from its current 16.2% to 20% by 2030. She said it is essential for reaching the broader national target of increasing the country’s overall GDP from 26.7% to 28% by 2030, which would pave the way for a ‘rich country and a beautiful life for all’ by 2028.

She shared the second goal as boosting entrepreneurship. Jayasundara noted that only 3.2% of the national labour force are entrepreneurs. To increase this contribution to at least 10% by 2030 is a challenging but necessary task. To ensure stability, she also outlined a series of ambitious financial targets. The ministry is aiming for a foreign income of $ 15 billion and a total import and export income of $ 28 billion by 2028, with a further national target of $ 36 billion by 2030. A failure to meet these goals, she warned could lead to economic instability due to the country’s debt obligations.

Jayasundara also highlighted the remarkable resilience of Sri Lanka’s apparel sector. She noted that despite global trade challenges, total exports for the first seven months of 2025 reached an impressive $ 9,992.53 million, marking a robust 7.79% growth over the previous year. To sustain this drive, she urged the industry to proactively identify and target new global markets, specifically pointing to South Africa and the Gulf countries as untapped and massive opportunities.

She outlined that a key objective of the ministry is to develop high-potential, export-led industries, diversifying the export basket, and increasing the number of export countries. Addressing the motivation behind the new specialised initiative, Jayasundara explained that the ultimate goal is to create a powerful export brand for Sri Lanka. She assured that the new program will enhance the quality of officers and that the ministry plans to introduce a KPI-based incentive system to drive results.

Jayasundara then outlined three crucial elements for this initiative: ‘Brand,’ ‘Certificate,’ and ‘Communication.’ She argued that both entrepreneurs and public officers must build their own personal brands to be effective; the certificate is designed to enhance the quality of participants and provide a formal qualification; and communication is vital for an initiative to succeed.

She also spoke of a long-term vision to unify the industry by merging NEDA, SED, and IDB, a plan first conceived in 2016. She expressed her belief that the SLIM institute would eventually join this collaborative framework, suggesting that these partnerships are essential for creating a national industrial brand.

SLIM President Prof. Dewasiri N. Jayantha then reflected on Sri Lanka’s economic history, noting that the country once had its own global brands, citing the Upali Group and its ventures as prime examples. He argued that a shift from an export-oriented model to import-driven consumption led to the significant depreciation of the Sri Lankan rupee and consistently negative balance of trade, which he identified as the beginning of the nation’s economic challenges.

He asserted that the 2022 national crisis finally ‘opened the eyes’ of the Government and private sector to the failure of this economic model. Despite being a 55-year-old institution, he acknowledge that SLIM couldn’t fully achieve its vision ‘to drive the nation towards economic prosperity.’ To rectify this, the organisation has identified entrepreneurship and the development of SMEs as its core pillars and has decided to invest heavily in a multi-tiered series of programs, with an initial estimate of 300 million Sri Lankan rupees to train 1,800 individuals. He clarified that this is not a profit-based venture for SLIM, but a fulfilment of its social and institutional responsibility.

He detailed the new training program, designed to create a ‘supportive arm’ of skilled professionals. The program starts with the Relationship Officers (RO) Program, training 700 individuals, 500 of whom will become Relationship Specialists. The Brand Analyst Program, a 10-week program, will train 100 individuals. From there, the top 50 will advance to become Certified Brand Strategists, and finally, a Business Consultant Program will train 350 individuals with the goal of creating 100 professional Business Consultants who could potentially earn in ‘millions.’ He also revealed that SLIM is in discussions to link this program to with the Chartered Management Institute located in UK with their Level 7 program, which would provide a globally recognised qualification.

He laid out the Brand Analyst Program curriculum in detail, first to third week: Introduction to branding, differentiating it from products, understanding its importance for SMEs, and focusing on brand elements, identity, and target audience. Fourth to seventh week: Strategic topics like brand positioning, developing a unique selling proposition (USP), and mastering brand storytelling and communication. Eighth to ninth week: Practical lessons on branding tools and techniques for local and export markets, including learning from mistakes and focusing on reputation management. Tenth week: The final ‘brand camp,’ which includes a practical simulation activity: the digital re-launch of a brand.

In addition to the educational content, the program offers a scholarship fund for the top ten performers, a Vietnam tour for the top student, and a compensation or bonus system for participants who achieve their KPIs.

He expressed gratitude for the Australian High Commission’s Sri Lanka Support Division, which will partially fund the program, noting that its outcome-based nature was highly compelling. He reaffirmed that SLIM’s motivation is not profit-driven but rooted in a sense of national responsibility.

He said the ultimate objective is to create 20 to 30 new global brands from Sri Lanka within the next two years, a significant increase from the current ‘less than a handful.’ He thanked all partners for enabling SLIM to be a key participant in this vital national journey.

Sri Lanka going round in circles over human rights

The UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) on Tuesday issued its findings on Sri Lanka during the ongoing session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

In its report, the Committee said it was concerned about the lack of a comprehensive register of disappeared persons and the limited progress in clarifying their fate and whereabouts, noting that the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) had only traced 23 disappeared persons out of the 16,966 received cases.

It also stated its concern about the high level of impunity, reflected in the lack of progress in the investigation and prosecution of alleged enforced disappearances, including those that occurred during the armed conflict.

The Committee also said it was concerned about the accidental discovery of at least 17 mass graves which underscored the limited forensic capacity among competent authorities and the absence of centralised ante-mortem and post-mortem databases as well as a national genetic database.

It urged Sri Lanka to strengthen the capacity of competent national institutions to locate and identify mass graves, seek and conduct exhumations, and develop a comprehensive strategy for the search for, identification, excavation, and investigation of identified burial sites.

This comes days after the UNHRC adopted a new resolution on Sri Lanka without a vote to extend for two more years the mandate of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). This means the Government will have two years before a comprehensive review of how it addresses human rights issues in the country.

The reality for any party that takes power in the country is that it has to address human rights issues that remain unaddressed for decades. It is not the doing of one government or of a few individuals, this is an issue that the citizens of the country need to collectively come to understand as one that cannot be sidestepped forever, if there is to be genuine interest in reconciliation in the country.

The NPP Government which won overwhelmingly at the Parliamentary election from the North and East of the country promised to address human rights violations/disappearances, etc. but so far not much has changed.

There were promises to replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) but other than appointing an expert committee to review the law, it remains very much in place and people continue to be detained under the PTA.

There was also the pledge to set up an independent prosecutor office which too has made little headway.

The Government, during its submission to the UNHRC was firm that it will only be through the domestic process that human rights violations will be investigated, and those found guilty punished. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath who addressed the meeting said State institutions have already been de-politicised and strengthened and there is more scope for independent and fair investigation in the country than ever before.

The problem with this position is that neither the UN nor the countries that have been calling for international investigations into Sri Lanka are willing to take it seriously. They see a lack of credibility in the domestic process as well a lack of faith in the system by families of victims of alleged war crimes/disappearances.

Hence for the Government both convincing international partners as well as the family members of victims to keep faith in the local system is a challenging task.

Successive Governments have used the UNHRC sessions to buy time, but justice has not been delivered. The NPP, unless it acts with sincerity and firmly, will tell the UNHRC the same story two years down the line with little to show for progress.

Fertiliser subsidy to cost Rs. 5 b more

The fertiliser subsidy program is to cost Rs. 5 billion more, the Government announced yesterday.

It said originally Rs. 33.5 billion was allocated for providing financial subsidy for fertiliser to the farmers cultivating the paddy lands during Maha season 2025/2026 and it has been estimated that an additional allocation of approximately Rs. 5 billion will be required when considering the total extent of lands for paddy and other field crops which has been estimated to be cultivated during the Maha season of 2025/26.

Accordingly, subject to the recommendation of the food policy and security committee, the Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval for the consolidated proposal furnished by the Ministers of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation as well as Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development to obtain additional provisions of Rs. 5 billion to pay off the financial subsidiary for fertiliser.

Hameedia re-launches H Sports Pelawatte outlet

Hameedia, celebrated the grand re-launch of its H Sports outlet in Pelawatte, unveiling a fresh new store concept and exclusive activewear collections. The newly revamped store promises to deliver an elevated shopping experience for sports lovers and fitness enthusiasts, showcasing the latest global trends in activewear, athleisure, and performance gear from world-renowned brands including Adidas, Nike, Campus, and H Active.

Located at 724A, Pannipitiya Road, Battaramulla, H Sports is designed as a one-stop destination for those seeking high-quality sportswear that combines style, comfort, and functionality. The store offers a wide range of world-class products in footwear, apparel, and accessories right here in Sri Lanka.

The official ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in the presence of Amjad Hameed – Director of Signature, together with members of the Hameedia management team. The re-launch event presented an exclusive first look at H Sports’ newest collections, offering fashion-forward pieces ideal for gym workouts, professional training sessions, or athleisure wear. Guests enjoyed an immersive evening featuring curated looks, styling inspiration, and engaging activities. On launch day, customers also took part in Time Challenge Games, including Skipping Rope and Dips competitions. Winners received special gifts, while exclusive in-store offers added to the excitement of the celebration.

Hameedia Managing Director Fouzul Hameed said: ‘H Sports has always been about empowering people to move better and live healthier, more active lives. With this re-launch, we are not just reopening a store, We are reintroducing a space designed to inspire both performance and fashion. Our goal is to inspire Sri Lankans to embrace an active and healthy lifestyle with the very best in global sportswear, while enjoying a world-class retail experience.’

The store’s redesigned layout offers a modern, spacious, and customer-friendly environment, making it easier for shoppers to explore categories ranging from performance wear and running shoes to athleisure staples and accessories. With Hameedia’s commitment to quality and innovation, the upgraded store also aims to serve as a community hub where sports enthusiasts can stay connected to the latest trends and updates in fitness fashion.

In addition to the Pelawatte outlet, H Sports also operates outlets at Racecourse Promenade, Colombo 7, and Kandy City Centre, L/3 – 17, Kandy, continuing its mission to make world-class sportswear and athleisure accessible across Sri Lanka.

Supreme Court to hear Shani Abeysekara’s petitions over 2021 arrest

The Supreme Court yesterday granted leave to proceed with three Fundamental Rights petitions filed by former Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Director Shani Abeysekara and two former CID officers, challenging their arrest by the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) in August 2021.

Abeysekara, along with former CID officers Sugath Mendis and Nawarathne Premarathne, was arrested over allegations of fabricating evidence in the case against former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Vass Gunawardena.

The petitions claim the arrests were politically motivated and followed an allegedly fabricated case connected to a weapons cache uncovered seven years after the 2013 murder of Mohamed Shyam.

The bench comprising Justices Mahinda Samayawardena, Priyantha Fernando, and Sobitha Rajakaruna granted leave to proceed with all three petitions and scheduled the case for argument on 14 May 2026.

Counsel Shantha Jayawardena, Shehan De Silva, and Hafeel Farisz appeared for the Petitioners, while Sanjeewa Wijewickrema represented former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Thennakoon and Neville De Silva. State Counsel Sajith Bandara appeared on behalf of the Attorney General.

DFCC Bank and DIMO partner to expand affordable vehicle ownership

DFCC Bank PLC has partnered with DIMO to make vehicle ownership more affordable and accessible-helping businesses expand, families progress, and communities thrive.

The collaboration combines DFCC Bank’s flexible leasing solutions with DIMO’s portfolio of trusted brands including Mercedes-Benz, Jeep, and Tata. Customers can access competitive, customisable leasing packages with faster approvals, attractive terms, and the assurance of nationwide availability through DFCC Bank’s branch network and DIMO’s dealerships.

DFCC Bank PLC Senior Vice President and Head of Retail and Business Banking Aasiri Iddamalgoda said,

‘At DFCC Bank, we believe mobility is more than transport-it is a driver of progress. By enabling SMEs to scale their operations, entrepreneurs to access new markets, and families to achieve their aspirations, this partnership with DIMO reflects our commitment to creating inclusive growth and a sustainable future for Sri Lanka. We are redefining mobility financing in Sri Lanka-offering not just loans and leases, but a complete ecosystem of trust, speed, and value that fuels national growth.’

DIMO Executive Director Rajeev Pandithages added, ‘At DIMO, we believe that true mobility goes beyond the point of purchase-it is about creating an ownership journey defined by trust, convenience, and value. Through our partnership with DFCC Bank, customers will now enjoy access to attractive leasing options, complemented by DIMO’s unmatched aftersales support with island-wide service network, and 24/7 roadside assistance. Together, we are redefining the customer experience, making vehicle ownership seamless while supporting the evolving aspirations of Sri Lankans.’

Bank of Ceylon expands reach with 50 new ‘BOC Connect’ service centres

The Bank of Ceylon (BOC), the nation’s leading financial institution, further strengthened its customer service network with the launch of 50 new ‘BOC Connect’ Agent banking service centres across the country. The initiative aims to bring everyday banking services closer to customers living in rural and semi-urban areas, making financial access more convenient and inclusive.

Established in 1939, the Bank of Ceylon now operates over 2,400 customer touchpoints, including 660 local branches, a full-service banking subsidiary in London and four overseas branches. The introduction of the ‘BOC Connect’ Agent banking concept marks a key step in the bank’s ongoing service expansion.

Implemented in partnership with the Sri Lanka Postal Department, more than 100 BOC Connect service centres have already been established in selected post offices island-wide. This collaboration has allowed the bank to reach more customers efficiently and meet their growing service needs with ease.

The BOC Connect network enables customers to carry out a wide range of essential banking services, including cash deposits and withdrawals, money transfers, bill payments, and mobile reloads. Powered by BOC’s advanced digital banking technology, all transactions are processed instantly, ensuring a fast and secure customer experience.

Bank of Ceylon Acting General Manager/Chief Executive Officer Y.A. Jayathilaka said: ‘The BOC Connect Agent banking service, which was launched in 2021, has now expanded to 225 service centres and has earned the trust of our customers. Bank of Ceylon has always been at the forefront of digital innovation, and I would like to mention that the BOC Connect service centres, which have been empowered by it, have been designed to make banking easier and more secure for customers.’

Bank of Ceylon Deputy General Manager (Branch Operations) Priyal Silva noted that the initiative represents a major step toward decentralising access to financial services. ‘The BOC Connect Agent banking concept can be introduced as taking the daily banking activities of customers away from the confines of city-bound bank branches to their own villages.’

‘Accordingly, we, as Bank of Ceylon, are constantly committed to creating a more efficient and convenient banking environment for our customers by introducing a wide range of unique bank accounts, and expanding our branch network to make it easily accessible to the public. We have been able to bring banking services to the fingertips of our customers through mobile tools such as BOC Flex,’ he said.

As one of the country’s most trusted financial institutions, the Bank of Ceylon continues to play a leading role in promoting financial inclusion through customer-centric and sustainable initiatives such as BOC Connect. With a legacy spanning over eight decades, the bank remains committed to driving a strong, resilient, and financially empowered society across Sri Lanka.

Central Province

Madushani Traders

Gamnayake Super

Shakeeraas

Benses Super

Idamegama Sub Post Office

Kandapola Post Office

Eastern Province

Kumar Cream House and Guest House

Bandula Stores

North Central Province

New Thulani Stores

N K Super Centre

Osaka Stores

Sampath Stores

Yasasa Govi Sewa

Northern Province

Vinayagar Stores

Analaitivu Post Office

North Western Province

Thisara Trade Center

Sabaragamuwa Province

Dimuthu Hardware

Southern Province

Chandimal Fruitcity

Rathnagiri Stores

Shehan Motors

Maduwa Sub Post Office

Uva Province

Hasitha Mill

Western Province North

Sudara Stores

Sahara Ambarumhala Thoga Saha Sillara Welendasala

Senira Stores

New Preethi Stores

Sasith Communication

Nilmini Stores

Malinda Stores

Dammika Stores

Meethirigala Sub Post Office

Western Province South

P C Electricles

Green City Super

Sandaruwan Hardware

Amarathunga Stores

Munasinghe Super City

Inosh Concrete Works

Morapitiya Sub Post Office

Veyangalla Sub Post Office

Molkawa Sub Post Office

Dombagoda Sub Post Office

Millaniya Sub Post Office

Wellatha Sub Post Office

Dampe Sub Post Office

Handapangoda Sub Post Office

Ittepane Sub Post Office

Gurulana Sub Post Office

Pinnawala Waga Sub Post Office

Thummodara Post Office

Kalotuwawa Sub Post Office