2018 SLT Group profits up 25% to Rs. 4.95 b

Sri Lanka Telecom PLC (SLT) said the Group posted a revenue of Rs. 81.44 billion during the year under review with impressive growth of 7.53%. The growth was reported in all the segments, however it was largely driven by enterprise and carrier-related businesses, FTTH, IP TV and data-related services together with mobile operations. Understanding the worldwide trends, the Group is now more focusing on data-related products.

During the year under review the Group reported Rs. 36.64 billion Gross Profit with 12.66% Year-on-Year growth. Net Profit after Tax of the Group for the year 2018 was reported at Rs. 4.95 billion with an impressive growth of 25.58% compared to the previous year. Owing to the better management of operating costs coupled with decent growth in revenue, the Group has been able to record this strong growth of profit despite the negative impact of Rs. 1.81 billion recorded due to FOREX losses. The Group EBITDA margin was reported at 31.38 % compared to 28.00 % in the previous year.

SLT Group Chairman Kumarasinghe Sirisena said: “It is a testament to the Group’s leading telecommunication service provider status as well as the public’s faith in the Group that despite challenges, Sri Lanka Telecom is able to go from strength to strength each year. I am confident that the coming year too will see a substantial growth as SLT has laid the groundwork for a sustainable future, especially through its strategic transformational journey into a Digital Service Provider.”

At company level, Rs. 47.39 billion revenue was reported during the year under review. As explained above the FTTH, IP TV and data-related services together with carrier-related and enterprise businesses have largely driven revenues to this level. 

The company Gross Profit was reported at Rs. 19.13 billion with year-on-year growth of 6.00%. Exhibiting a year-on-year growth of 33.47 %, company Net Profit after Tax reached to the level of Rs. 1.91 billion. Profit was largely impacted by the Rs. 1.20 billion FOREX losses.

However, the growth of revenue and better management of operating costs have boosted profits. The company has taken initiatives to mitigate any future FOREX losses using hedging strategies. Revenue growth coupled with marginal cost escalations, the company EBITDA margin reached 28.40% from 25.55% from the year before. “As a strong Group of Companies however we need to be ready and knowledgeable to steer through challenging market conditions and managing our resources to maximise our capacity. I am proud that SLT is a resilient Group. Our numbers speaks volumes,” said SLT CEO Kiththi Perera. Chief Operating Officer Priyantha Fernandez said: “Our island-wide reach has been strengthened by restructuring operations. Our digital transformation and IT diversification has enriched digital-based products and services to increase customer experience and customer satisfaction. We strategically focus on operational excellence in all segments with the customer at the forefront.”