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KOKO, Sri Lanka’s leading buy now pay later platform, has entered into a landmark partnership with Aitken Spence Hotels, one of the country’s most renowned and sustainable hospitality chains, to make instalment payments available directly within the group’s official, real time booking engine.
The arrangement marks the first time a major hotel chain in Sri Lanka has embedded KOKO’s buy now, pay later capability at the point of reservation, enabling guests to split the cost of a stay into three equal, interest free payments and complete the entire transaction in just under 30 seconds.
This is the first time a major hotel chain in Sri Lanka has integrated a buy now, pay later service directly into a live, real time official booking engine, making the payment option available at the very point of reservation rather than as a separate or offline arrangement.
The partnership covers eight properties across Sri Lanka under both the Heritance Hotels and Aitken Spence Hotels brands, including Heritance Kandalama in Dambulla, Heritance Tea Factory in Kandapola, Heritance Ahungalla, Sentido Heritance Negombo, Earl’s Regency in Kandy, Turyaa Kalutara, Amethyst Resort Passikudah, and The Rainforest Ecolodge in Deniyaya. Guests can book directly at aitkenspencehotels.com, through the central reservations team, or by walking in at any of the participating properties, with KOKO available as a payment option in all three cases.
Susith Jayawickrama, Managing Director of Aitken Spence Hotels mentioned, “At Aitken Spence Hotels, we continue to look for ways to make travel more accessible, convenient, and seamless for our guests. Our partnership with KOKO brings greater payment flexibility into the booking journey, allowing guests to plan their stays with ease across our Sri Lankan portfolio.”
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The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka warmly welcomes the Government’s 2027 Budget and is particularly encouraged that two proposals submitted and consistently advocated by the SEC have been recognized and incorporated into the national budget framework: “A Share for Everyone” and the SME Listing Support Mechanism. These initiatives represent a significant milestone in our collective efforts to deepen Sri Lanka’s capital market, broaden investor participation, and strengthen the link between economic growth and capital formation.
The powers, duties and functions of the Commission include advising the Government on the development of the securities market and assisting in the effective implementation of the policies and programmes of the Government with respect to the securities market. It is in this capacity that the SEC put forward these proposals, and we are pleased to see them taken forward.
The SEC has long emphasized that a vibrant capital market must be accessible to all segments of society. The introduction of “A Share for Everyone”, under the vision of “Let’s Know, Let’s Learn, Let’s Invest,” is a groundbreaking step toward cultivating a new generation of investors. By providing eligible Advanced Level students with an opportunity to enter the capital market and gain firsthand exposure to investing, the programme will enhance financial literacy, promote long-term wealth creation, and foster a culture of informed investment among young Sri Lankans.
Equally important is the introduction of the SME Listing Support Mechanism. Small and Medium Enterprises are the backbone of Sri Lanka’s economy, contributing significantly to employment generation, innovation, and regional economic development. Supporting SMEs to access capital through stock market listings will provide them with new avenues for growth, improve corporate governance standards, enhance transparency, and create a broader range of investment opportunities for the public.
At present, participation in the capital market remains relatively low compared with the country’s full potential. These two initiatives directly address this challenge from both the supply and demand sides. While “A Share for Everyone” aims to expand the investor base and build a stronger investment culture, the SME Listing Support Mechanism will encourage more businesses to enter the market, thereby increasing the diversity and depth of investment opportunities available to Sri Lankan investors.
The SEC is particularly pleased by the Government’s recognition of the important role the capital market can play in Sri Lanka’s economic transformation. A broader investor community and a wider range of listed companies will contribute to improved capital mobilization, increased financial inclusion, enhanced market liquidity, and stronger long-term economic resilience.
We also appreciate the commitment demonstrated through the allocation of resources for these initiatives and the collaborative approach involving the Colombo Stock Exchange and other market stakeholders. This partnership reflects a shared vision of building a more inclusive, dynamic, and accessible capital market ecosystem that benefits students, entrepreneurs, businesses, investors, and the wider economy.
The SEC looks forward to working closely with the Ministry of Finance, the Colombo Stock Exchange, market intermediaries, educational institutions, and industry stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of these programmes. We are confident that the measures announced in Budget 2027 will serve as catalysts for a new era of capital market participation and contribute meaningfully to Sri Lanka’s economic growth and prosperity.
The SEC extends its sincere gratitude to His Excellency Anura Kumara Dissanayake, President and Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development; Hon. Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning; Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development; and Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the Treasury, for their support, guidance, and willingness to consider the SEC’s proposals.
“These are not merely budget proposals. They are investments in Sri Lanka’s future investors, future entrepreneurs, and future economic growth. The SEC is proud that these long-standing proposals have been taken into consideration, and we remain committed to ensuring their successful implementation for the benefit of the nation.”
(Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka)
Continue Reading Business Ceylon Chamber secures new institutional link to Italy’s business network through Unioncamere Agreement Published
Sri Lankan businesses will have new avenues to access the Italian market and establish commercial partnerships following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and Unioncamere, the Italian Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Handicraft and Agriculture. The agreement establishes a framework for direct engagement between the business communities of the two countries, with a focus on trade promotion, investment opportunities and business collaboration.
The signing took place at Unioncamere headquarters in Piazza Sallustio, Italy, with representatives of Unioncamere and the Italian diplomatic mission in attendance. Representatives of the Ceylon Chamber, the Sri Lanka–Italy Business Council (SLITBC) and the Sri Lankan diplomatic mission joined the ceremony virtually from Sri Lanka.
Representing Unioncamere were Andrea Prete, President, and Pietro Infante, Internationalization Manager. The Sri Lankan participants included Satya Rodrigo, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Italy, Dhawood Amanullan, Minister and Head of Chancellery at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Rome, Damiano Francovigh, Ambassador of Italy to Sri Lanka, Shiran Fernando, Secretary General and CEO of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, and Ms. Dushy Jayaweera, President of SLITBC. Daminda Mulgama, Immediate Past President of SLITBC also joined the ceremony virtually, alongside other representatives of both institutions.
The agreement provides a direct institutional link to Italy’s extensive chamber network, creating opportunities for Sri Lankan companies to identify business partners, explore market opportunities and establish commercial relationships. Planned areas of cooperation include business delegations, B2B matchmaking, knowledge exchange and the promotion of trade and investment.
The agreement follows more than a year of engagement initiated by Mr. Daminda Mulgama, Immediate Past President of the Sri Lanka–Italy Business Council, who pursued discussions with Unioncamere over more than a year, including a visit to its headquarters in Italy.
Through the SLITBC, the Ceylon Chamber will work to translate the agreement into greater business engagement, opening further avenues for Sri Lankan companies to connect with Italian counterparts and explore opportunities in the Italian market.
Nations Trust Bank PLC (NTB) recorded a strong financial performance for the nine months ended 30th September 2026, supported by sustained growth across its key business segments and continued earnings momentum. The Bank recorded a Profit After Tax (PAT) of Rs 20 b, while maintaining healthy asset growth and a strong balance sheet during the period.
The Bank continued to build on its performance through a focus on growing its Consumer, Commercial and Corporate Banking businesses, while building service excellence, advancing its digital capabilities and exercising disciplined risk management. This approach enabled NTB to sustain growth while maintaining the quality and resilience of its portfolio.
NTB’s performance was supported by healthy asset growth, stable Net Interest Margins (NIMs) of 5.40%, and disciplined risk management, resulting in a Net Stage 3 Ratio of 0.72%. Return on Equity (ROE) stood at 26.11%, reflecting the Bank’s continued earnings momentum and effective deployment of capital.
Total income grew by 14% during the quarter, partly offset by costs associated with the acquisition of HSBC Sri Lanka’s retail banking portfolio, and Day 1 provisions on the acquired portfolio.
Commenting on the results, Nations Trust Bank Director and Chief Executive Officer, Hemantha Gunetilleke said, “The strong performance that NTB has delivered during the first nine months of 2026 reflects the continued momentum across our businesses and our focus on sustainable growth. We have maintained a clear commitment to strengthening customer relationships and service excellence. As we move into the final quarter of the year, we intend to build on this progress and deliver long-term value for our customers and other stakeholders.”
Nations Trust Bank PLC serves customers across Consumer, Commercial and Corporate Banking segments through an extensive network of physical and digital touchpoints. The Bank remains focused on enabling customers through innovative banking solutions and advanced digital capabilities. NTB is the issuer and sole acquirer of American Express Cards in Sri Lanka and continues to hold a leading position in premium banking.
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