Business
Seylan Bank hosts webinar for SMEs on taxation and benefits
Ranil Dissanayake- Assistant General Manager – Branch Credit – Seylan Bank
Seylan Bank, the Bank with a Heart, recently hosted its latest webinar for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) titled, “Taxation for SMEs and Reliefs Offered during COVID-19 Period”. Always focused on SMEs and with the wellbeing of the ‘backbone of the economy at heart, Seylan Bank continues to add value to the industry with this webinar, with an aim to support growth and provide holistic solutions for these businesses by enhancing their knowledge.
The seminar, conducted by Deepani Herath, Senior Consultant on Tax Services to Price Water House Coopers and former Deputy Commissioner General of the Inland Revenue Department, focused on educating SME customers on the importance of meeting tax obligations and assisting them in ascertaining their tax dues. It explained the provisions for relief within the system, enabling them to make use of tax reductions made possible by the authorities. Participating SMEs were also educated on the concessions provided to businesses in light of COVID-19, enhancing their understanding of tax liabilities and tax assessment, options to extend the period of payment for tax arrears and the extension of bank guarantees and non-refundable deposits. The session also covered maintaining the accuracy of financial statements, VAT compliance and other related areas.
Deepani Herath is a lecturer at the Institute of Chartered Accountants and the University of Colombo and has lectured at Sri Jayawardanapura University, Sri Lanka Institute of Taxation and the Association of Accounting Technicians Sri Lanka. She holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Colombo and a BA in Economics with a First Class from the University of Sri Jayawardanapura. Ms Herath contributed in preparing “Sri Lanka Tax Cases Volume IV”, and “Manual of Income Tax law 2000/2001.2001/2002,2002/2003”.
“As a Bank that expanded to the outskirts of the country from its inception to support the small and medium scale entrepreneurs building businesses from the ground up, Seylan Bank has always been aggressive in its support of SMEs. As the Bank with a Heart, we are driven by a desire to share knowledge and enable businesses to transform. With current market dynamics, we decided to conduct this webinar to help SMEs understand their tax obligations and legitimate ways of reducing their tax liability so that they can succeed and contribute to the success of the nation.” said Ranil Dissanayake, Assistant General Manager – Branch Credit at Seylan Bank, explaining the bank’s commitment to small and medium enterprises.
Small and Medium Enterprises form the largest component of the formal economy and were some of the most affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic fallout from it. However, they have also remained the most resilient and entrepreneurial in the face of adversity. The bank with a gamut of financial services, regional SME Hubs to expedite facility approvals and dedicated ‘SME Relationship Officers’ to support businesses not just in acquiring funds, but in managing and utilising them optimally, is fully geared to support this vital sector of the economy.
Seylan Bank, the Bank with a Heart, operates with a vision to offer the ultimate banking experience to its valued customers through cutting-edge technology, innovative products, and best-in-class service. The Bank has a growing clientele of SMEs, Retail and Corporate Customers and has expanded its footprint with 172 branches across the country, 216 ATM units, 70 Cash Deposit Machines (CDM) and 83 Cheque Deposit Kiosks (CDK). Seylan Bank has been endorsed as a financially stable organisation with performance excellence across the board by Fitch Ratings, with the bank’s national long-term rating revised upward, from ‘A-(lka)’ to ‘A (lka)’. The bank was ranked second among public listed companies for transparency in corporate reporting by Transparency Global. Seylan Bank has also been named the Most Popular Banking Service Provider in Sri Lanka in Customer Experience by LMD consecutively in 2019 and 2020. These achievements are a testament to Seylan Bank’s financial stability and unwavering dedication to ensuring excellence across all endeavours.
The Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) proudly facilitated the first-ever Sri Lankan delegation’s participation at Drupa 2024, the world’s largest trade fair for the printing industry and technology. Held after an eight-year hiatus, Drupa 2024 was a landmark event, marking significant advancements and opportunities in the global printing industry.
AHK Sri Lanka played a pivotal role in organising and supporting the delegation, which comprised 17 members from the Sri Lanka Association for Printers (SLAP), representing eight companies from the commercial, newspaper, stationery printing, and packaging industries. This pioneering effort by AHK Sri Lanka not only showcased the diverse capabilities of Sri Lanka’s printing sector but also facilitated vital bilateral discussions with key stakeholders from the German printing industry.
Business
Unveiling Ayugiri: Browns Hotels & Resorts sets the stage for a new era in luxury Ayurveda Wellness
In a captivating reimagining of luxury wellness tourism, Browns Hotels & Resorts proudly unveiled the exquisite Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya. This momentous occasion, celebrated amidst a vibrant and serene grand opening on the 6th of June, heralds a new chapter in the Ayurveda wellness tourism landscape in Sri Lanka. Nestled amidst 54 acres of unspoiled natural splendour, Ayugiri features 22 exclusive suites and stands out as the only luxury Ayurveda wellness resort in the country offering plunge pools in every room, rendering it truly one-of-a-kind.
The grand opening of Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort was an enchanting event, where guests were captivated by the melodies of flutists and violinists resonating through Sigiriya’s lush landscapes. As traditional drummers and dancers infused the air with vibrant energy, Browns Hotels & Resorts’ CEO, Eksath Wijeratne, Kotaro Katsuki, Acting Ambassador for the Embassy of Japan and General Manager, Buwaneka Bandara, unveiled the resort’s new logo, marking a significant moment witnessed by distinguished guests from the French Embassy, Ayurveda and wellness enthusiasts along with officials from the Sigiriya area, LOLC Holdings and Browns Group.
“Our strategic expansion into wellness tourism with Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya symbolises a significant milestone for Browns Hotels & Resorts. Wellness tourism has consistently outperformed the overall tourism industry for over a decade, reflecting a growing global interest in travel that goes beyond leisure to offer rejuvenation and holistic well-being. By integrating the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda with modern luxury, we aim to set a new standard in luxury wellness tourism in Sri Lanka. Whether your goal is prevention, healing, or a deeper connection to inner harmony, Ayugiri offers a sanctuary for holistic well-being” stated Eksath Wijeratne.
Ayugiri encapsulates the essence of life, inspired by the lotus flower held by the graceful queens of the infamous Sigiriya frescoes. Just as the lotus emerges from the murky depths, untainted and serene,
Ayugiri invites guests on a journey of purity and rejuvenation, harmonised with a balance of mind, body and spirit, the essence of nature, echoes of culture and the wisdom of ancient Ayurvedic healing.
HNB General Insurance, one of Sri Lanka’s leading general insurance providers, has been honored as the Best General Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka 2024 by the prestigious Global Banking and Finance Review – UK.
The esteemed accolade underscores HNB General Insurance’s unwavering commitment to excellence and its outstanding performance in the field of bancassurance. Through dedication and hard work, the HNB General Insurance team has continuously endeavored to deliver innovative insurance solutions, cultivate strong relationships with banking partners, and provide unparalleled service to customers nationwide. This recognition is a testament to the team’s dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence in the bancassurance business.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award, which reflects our team’s tireless efforts and dedication to delivering value-added insurance solutions and exceptional service through our bancassurance partnerships,” said Sithumina Jayasundara, CEO of HNB General Insurance. “This recognition reaffirms our position as a trusted insurance provider in Sri Lanka and motivates us to continue striving for excellence in serving our customers and communities.”
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
