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In a landmark development for Sri Lanka’s organic spice sector, Pussalla Agri Ventures has been awarded both EU Organic and USDA Organic certifications for its premium Ceylon cinnamon products. The certifications were officially conferred at Control Union Sri Lanka, signaling a major milestone in the company’s strategic transformation toward fully certified organic operations.
The recognition strengthens Pussalla Agri Ventures’ position as an emerging exporter of certified organic products, with its flagship offering, organic Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum, also known as Cinnamomum zeylanicum), cultivated in Sri Lanka’s traditional cinnamon-growing regions.
Notably, the dual certification opens doors to some of the world’s most lucrative and compliance-driven organic markets, including the European Union and the United States.
Pussalla Agri Ventures began its structured transition into organic cinnamon cultivation several years ago, building a fully integrated system covering cultivation, processing, and value addition. The company currently manages extensive cinnamon cultivation lands and operates under strict organic agricultural principles, ensuring compliance with global certification standards.
These certifications, issued through Control Union Sri Lanka, validate that the company’s farming and processing systems meet rigorous international requirements, including restrictions on synthetic chemicals, comprehensive traceability controls, and environmental sustainability practices. These certifications add to an existing portfolio that already includes SL GAP, Food GMP, and Cosmetic GMP certifications.
Company representatives described the achievement as a “milestone” in the Pussalla organic journey, one that paves the way for expanded access to premium export markets in Europe and the United States. According to them, the certifications are expected to enhance buyer confidence, particularly among health-conscious consumers and clean-label food brands.
Pussalla Agri Ventures emphasised that its organic cinnamon is sourced entirely from its own cultivated estates.
“This estate-to-exporter integration ensures full control over quality, traceability, and processing integrity. The company’s model allows cinnamon to be harvested, processed, and packed under continuously monitored conditions, maintaining strict alignment with international organic standards,” they noted.
“Sri Lanka supplies the majority of the world’s True Ceylon Cinnamon, a spice prized for its delicate aroma, low coumarin levels, and reputed medicinal properties. The growing global demand for certified organic spices has created new opportunities for local producers who meet international compliance standards. Pussalla Agri Ventures’ certification achievement places it among a select group of Sri Lankan exporters adopting globally recognised organic systems, thereby enhancing the country’s reputation in high-value spice markets.”
“As organic food sales continue to rise in North America and Europe, certifications such as these are becoming essential rather than optional. For Pussalla Agri Ventures, the journey from conventional to certified organic is not merely a compliance exercise but a strategic repositioning aimed at long-term sustainability and premium pricing power.”
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Strong ship repair performance, narrowing shipbuilding losses and lower finance costs drive continued recovery
Colombo Dockyard PLC continued its return to profitability during the second quarter of its 2026/27 financial year, recording its second consecutive profitable quarter and further strengthening the turnaround seen since the beginning of the current financial year.
For the three months ended 30 September 2026, profit attributable to shareholders reached Rs. 164.9 million, compared with a loss of Rs. 563.6 million during the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Earnings per share improved to Rs. 0.42 from a restated loss per share of Rs. 2.44.
The latest performance builds on the profit recorded during the first quarter ended 30 June 2026 and takes profit attributable to shareholders for the first six months of the financial year to Rs. 251.2 million. This compares with a loss of Rs. 1.37 billion during the corresponding six-month period last year.
The improvement reflects continued progress across several areas of the business, led by a strong performance from ship repairing, reduced losses from shipbuilding and a substantial reduction in finance costs following the Rights Issue and subsequent debt restructuring.
Group revenue for the quarter stood at Rs. 7.49 billion, marginally lower than the corresponding period last year. However, improved margins and better cost performance lifted gross profit by 53.4% to Rs. 1.56 billion, with the gross profit margin improving to 20.8% from 13.2%.
Ship repairing remained the strongest contributor to the Group’s performance. During the first six months, ship repair revenue increased by 32.4% to Rs. 8.85 billion, while gross profit from the segment increased to Rs. 3.28 billion from Rs. 1.87 billion in the corresponding period.
The shipbuilding business also showed encouraging progress despite lower revenue during the period. Shipbuilding revenue stood at Rs. 2.81 billion as recently contracted projects remain at early stages of execution. Importantly, the segment’s gross loss narrowed to Rs. 838.4 million from Rs. 1.31 billion a year earlier, following the completion of several legacy loss-making projects and the commencement of new projects secured more recently.
Net finance expenses for the September quarter declined by 40.7% to Rs. 294.5 million. The reduction reflects the impact of the Rights Issue and the restructuring of the company’s debt profile, which has helped ease the financing burden and establish a more sustainable capital structure.
Commenting on the results, Thimira S. Godakumbura, Managing Director/CEO of Colombo Dockyard PLC, said, “The results for the second quarter are another important step in Colombo Dockyard’s recovery. We have now delivered two consecutive profitable quarters, supported by the strong performance of ship repair business, improved margins and a significant reduction in financing costs. The completion of legacy loss-making shipbuilding projects is also allowing us to move forward with a stronger portfolio of newly contracted work. These projects are still at an early stage of execution and therefore have not yet translated into significant shipbuilding revenue, but we believe they provide a stronger foundation for the periods ahead.”
The Group’s balance sheet also reflects the impact of the financial restructuring undertaken over the past year. Current assets stood at approximately Rs. 33.09 billion against current liabilities of Rs. 23.58 billion as at 30 September 2026, placing the Group’s current ratio at approximately 1.4 times.
Cash and cash equivalents increased to Rs. 17.27 billion. A substantial portion of this balance, approximately Rs. 15.46 billion, comprises interest-earning deposits held under lien as security for bank guarantees and other credit facilities supporting the company’s projects.
Debt restructuring has also changed the maturity profile of the Group’s borrowings, with a greater proportion moved from short-term to longer-term facilities. This has helped strengthen the Group’s liquidity position and provide greater financial flexibility for ongoing operations and new projects.
Administrative expenses increased during the period, reflecting the broader inflationary environment and its impact on operating costs. However, improved operational margins and lower financing expenses enabled the Group to maintain its positive earnings trajectory.
With two consecutive profitable quarters now recorded, Colombo Dockyard remains focused on maintaining the momentum of its ship repair operations, improving the performance of shipbuilding projects and strengthening financial discipline as it works towards sustained long-term profitability.
Pan Asia Banking Corporation PLC reported a strong set of results for the first nine months of 2026, recording a Profit After Tax (PAT) of Rs. 3.59 billion, up 19% from the corresponding period last year, underpinned by solid growth in lending, deposits and fee-based income, alongside further improvements in asset quality.
The Bank’s latest performance highlights its continued business momentum, with total assets expanding by 22% to Rs. 374.45 billion, placing it on the verge of the significant Rs. 375 billion milestone. The results reflect strengthening customer relationships, disciplined execution of growth initiatives and prudent balance sheet management in a gradually improving economic environment.
Growth remained broad-based across the Bank’s core operations. Net Interest Income rose 12% to Rs. 10.68 billion, driven by the expansion of the lending portfolio and higher business volumes. Meanwhile, Net Fee and Commission Income increased 17% to Rs. 2.18 billion, supported by stronger trade finance activity, increased card usage and higher transaction volumes across key customer segments.
Operating Profit before Taxes on Financial Services reached Rs. 6.24 billion, an increase of 9%, while Earnings Per Share improved by 19% to Rs. 8.12, reflecting the Bank’s ability to translate business growth into stronger shareholder returns.
The Bank’s balance sheet continued its upward trajectory during the period. Net loans and advances increased by 17% to Rs. 243.45 billion, supported by healthy demand from corporate, SME and retail customers. Customer deposits grew by a robust 19% to Rs. 274.89 billion, demonstrating the confidence placed in the Bank by its growing customer base and further strengthening its funding franchise.
hSenid Business Solutions PLC (hSenidBiz) announced its financial results for the second quarter of FY2027. The quarter reflected continued progress in the quality of the Company’s recurring revenue base and the strength of the underlying operating performance, even as sequential revenue was modestly softer due to the timing of large project invoicing.
Total revenue for the quarter reached LKR 598.6 million, up 16 percent year-on-year. Recurring revenue accounted for 76 percent of total revenue, and Exit Annualised Recurring Revenue stood at USD 5.7 million, also up 16 percent year-on-year and broadly in line with the prior quarter. Sequential revenue was marginally lower, reflecting softer contributions from OnPrem and payroll outsourcing solutions, partly offset by higher tracking-device sales. The Company views the sequential movement as consistent with the normal variability of a multi-product business that is steadily increasing the weight of its higher-quality recurring SaaS revenue.
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