Business
24 Seafarers trained at the Mahapola Ports & Maritime Academy of SLPA pass out
24 Seafarers including 03 women Seafarers trained at the Mahapola Ports & Maritime Academy (MPMA) of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) passed out on Friday 25th February 2022. The event was held with the initiative of Minister of Ports and Shipping, Rohitha Abeygunawardena and Hon.Minister of Youth & Sports, Minister of Development Co-ordination and Monitoring and State Minister of Digital Technology and Enterprise Development, Namal Rajapaksa. This is the first batch of 100 Seafarers being trained under full patronage of the International Labour Organization (ILO). Opportunities are now available for these Seafarers to join service on board commercial vessels as professionals in the industry.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Ports and Shipping, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, said that the Sri Lankan Merchant Shipping sector should move forward with a new vision. “We are now aiming earn a large amount of foreign exchange by providing trained Seafarers to the international shipping industry, a sector that effectively generates employment opportunities,” he said. The Minister said that necessary instructions had been extended to the Merchant Shipping Secretariat and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority in this regard. In Sri Lanka at present, there are about 16,000 trained Seafarers included in the workforce. The industry specializes in creating a skilled youth workforce to replace young people with no or lesser professional skills, and enabling professional youth to conquer the foreign employment market to generate more foreign exchange on the basis of a smaller number of individual involvement. The Minister also said that the aim of the ministry was to increase the number of trained Seafarers up to 50,000 in the next three years.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Youth & Sports, Minister of Development Co-ordination and Monitoring and State Minister of Digital Technology and Enterprise Development, Namal Rajapaksa said that such training would create an environment in which the youth of Sri Lanka would be able to contribute more to the demand in the international labour market by empowering them with professional skills.
“The patronage extended by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the National Union of Seafarers Sri Lanka (NUSS) to train these 100 Seafarers is a significant contribution to the ongoing programme to eradicate youth unemployment,” the Minister emphasized. He also expressed his gratitude to the programme by the Ministry of Ports and Shipping to train 50,000 Seafarers in the coming years. “In the face of the global Pandemic of Covid-19, many achievements can be made by working together rather than individually,” he said.
Members of the ILO, National Union of Seafarers Sri Lanka (NUSS), Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Shipping – U.D.C.Jayalal, Director General of Merchant shipping – Ajith Seneviratne, Managing Director of SLPA – Upul Jayatissa, Habur Master of SLPA – Capt. Nirmal De Silva, a number of professionals in the merchant shipping industry, management and lecturers of the MPMA of SLPA also joined the occasion.
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.”
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
