📈 Hilton Colombo Owner HDL Records First Profit in Seven Years

State-owned Hotel Developers (Lanka) Ltd (HDL), owner of Hilton Colombo, reported a Profit After Tax (PAT) of Rs. 48.5 Bn (Rs. 48.5 million) for FY2025, marking its first return to profitability since 2017. • Overall Financials: • PAT: Rs. 48.5 million (vs. loss in prior years) • Revenue: Resilient at Rs. 5.38 billion (compared to Rs. 5.39 billion in 2024) • Gross Profit: Rose to Rs. 2.90 billion (up from Rs. 2.68 billion) • EBITDA: Increased 40% YoY to Rs. 1.22 billion (from Rs. 872 million) • Operating Profit: More than doubled to Rs. 746 million (from Rs. 311 million) • Drivers & Tourism Context: • Performance was driven by higher occupancy following late-2024 room refurbishments, restoring full inventory to 368 rooms for the first time since 2015. • Profitability was further bolstered by refinancing initiatives aimed at reducing finance costs (Rs. 623 million in 2025). • Operating backdrop was supported by Sri Lanka's record tourism & hospitality sector performance in 2025, with international arrivals surging 15.1% YoY to 2.36 million. • Growth in leisure demand, along with anticipated recovery in corporate and MICE tourism, positions HDL for sustained long-term performance.