Business
14th Cargills Village to Home
The Cargills Village to Home programme supports the country’s small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) by providing them with a platform to engage with a larger network of customers.
As a company which has continuously engaged with and invested in rural agricultural communities across Sri Lanka, Cargills launched this programme, initially in September 2020, in the aftermath of the pandemic, to provide local SMEs, who had lost access to markets, with a platform to showcase their products. In addition, Cargills leverages its vast expertise in product development, marketing, and finance to support local entrepreneurs improve their product offerings. The Cargills Bank provides financing and banking assistance to the SMEs. The programme has been able to open exports markets for certain SMEs while some have become listed suppliers at Cargills Retail outlets due to their popularity.
The 14th Cargills Village to Home was held on the 1st and 2nd of October 2022 at the Bauddaloka Mawatha Cargills Food City premises, with an interesting array of traditional Sri Lankan food and handicrafts.
Among the SMEs featured this week was young Sasindu Thathsara from Bibile, Monaragala. Sasindu is the developer of a water filtering system known as Mannussakama, aimed at providing clean drinking water at a reasonable price to those struggling to find safe drinking water. His innovation is inspired by the challenges faced by people in his hometown to find clean drinking water. Kandy handicrafts by Asanka Priyalal was also featured in this programme. Asanka markets a variety of coconut shell products, as well as Batik fabric-covered notebooks. Saman Dhammika was another entrepreneur who was part of the programme this time, marketing his household cleaning products Derma Care. His products included bathroom cleaners, hand wash, and tile cleaners. Mauli Creations marketed products such as bedsheets, tablecloths, and clothing made from batiks and handlooms. The rural township of Manikhinna Kalasirigama also participated in the 14th Cargills Village to Home programme displaying their handicrafts, made out of Hana plants. including bags, table mats, pouches, wall hangings, mats.
Earth and Fire by Dumindu had several interesting types of pottery and jewellery. Nalin Kumara’s Healyo products included natural bee honey, bottled food items made of kochchi, sesame, and garlic. UNIQ Ayurvedic cosmetic products by Naomi Perera, a young female SME, showcased various types of unique ayurvedic cosmetic items. Sugar Galaxy by Dennis Thushanthani, a business that produces cakes, sweets, and traditional Tamil food items was also present. Rusteaks Wooden Décor by Shehara Fernando showcased wooden decorations made out of scrap wood. Derani plants by Himashi Ranasighe, another young female SME, had several types of flowers and vegetable plants, seeds, and organic fertilizer. Two Cargills Lak Bojun SMEs also participated providing healthy, traditional, Sri Lankan breakfast meals for customers who visited the event.
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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