Sri Lanka, March 3 -- The SLT group closed 2025 with a markedly stronger December quarter, as tighter cost controls and easing finance costs lifted the operating profit, despite only a marginal revenue growth.

For the three months ended December 31, the group revenue edged up 1.6 percent year-on-year to Rs.29.5 billion, from Rs.29.1 billion. Direct costs were largely flat at Rs.16.1 billion, enabling gross profit to improve to Rs.13.4 billion, from an implied Rs.12.9 billion a year earlier.

Operating profit surged 66 percent to Rs.4.0 billion, from Rs.2.4 billion in the corresponding quarter, whereas profit before tax rose to Rs.3.1 billion, from Rs.1.9 billion.

Net profit for the quarter stood at Rs.2.35 billion, compared with Rs.3.55...