Business
Talavou conferred with the Duncan White Sports Excellence and Contribution Award
With the view of recognizing those who have contributed to uplifting the sports arena in the country and in honoring their continued and relentless passion, the SILK SPORTS AWARDS held recently for the seventh consecutive year bestowed Talavou Alailima with the Duncan White Sports Excellence and Contribution Award.
This specific award is bestowed on those who have achieved the highest level of sports performances in Sri Lanka and have made a significant contribution to the nation with their socially impactful initiatives. Some of the past recipients included Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Dilantha Malagamuwa, and Roshan Mahanama.
‘‘First, I want to thank God for gracing my life with opportunities, which I know are not of me or any human hand and, my beautiful wife Shehara and my sons Joshua, Jonathan, and Jason, who gave me the wings to soar as eagles do. Life is about what we do for others and what we do for them is indispensable, important, and matters. What I have achieved, would not be possible, without all those who stood with me throughout the years both in my sports life and in all the social initiatives” said Talavou.
‘‘I would like to therefore honor and thank my coaches, even though many are no more with us, Bandara, Lakshman Alwis, Junior Rodrigo, Thiagaraja, Peter Carroll, Wane Geltz, and former record-holder and training partner Col. Ajith Jayakody. Doctors Thureraja, Seevali Jayawickrama, Thushara Matiwalage, Nishantha Gunasekara, Commissioners of Prisons Tissa Jayasinghe, Gamini Jayasinghe, Chandana Ekanayake, Pastor Rodney Periera, General Daya Ratnayake, Amantha Wejesuriya, Bandula Jayamanne, and Maurice Jega.’’
The 7th SILK AWARDS ceremony, was held on the 25th of February at the National Film Corporation under the patronage of Cabinet Minister of Youth and Sports, Namal Rajapaksa.
Talavou Alailima is an NCAA All American Athlete award winner, an Asian Championships Diploma holder, a South Asian Games Medalist, and a Sri Lanka record holder for the Shot Put and Discus throwing events for over 20 years and 14 years respectively. He has bettered the Sri Lanka record more times than any other athlete, in the history of Sri Lanka Track and Field and is the first Thrower to win a medal for Sri Lanka at an International Competition.
He has been the sports nutrition and strength training consultant for many Sri Lanka national teams, clubs, schools, and champion sportsmen for over 25 years and launched the first Track and Field Grand Prix in Sri Lanka, to push athletes to perform at the next level. His pioneering sports initiatives the Lion Warrior sports high-performance program, the SportUnleash sports talent identification algorithm for children, the Edge Sports Nutrition Supplement, and the all-in-one Proxone app ecosystem have been invaluable contributions to Sri Lanka sports. His social initiatives galvanized the residents of Colombo city, with his “Death to Dengue” effort to eradicate Dengue, and the setting up of gyms for the inmates of the Welikada Prison, Mahara Prison, and the Bogambara Prison.
Talavou Alailima is a USA-qualified Strength Training and Sports Nutrition Consultant, educated at Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania USA, and holds a Master of Sports Management degree from the IE Business School in Madrid, Spain. He went on to pioneer the Sri Lankan fitness industry with the Power World Gyms chain, the market leader since 1994 and in 2018, Power World also became the largest chain of gyms in Delhi and Bangalore, India.
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.”
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