Business
SPAR Sri Lanka celebrates “A Starry Night” at their annual excellence awards ceremony
SPAR supermarkets Sri Lanka celebrated the culmination of five years of excellence in service and product standards with an awards night themed ‘A Star is Born’ to appreciate the dedication and spirit of high-performing team members throughout the year. A truly star-studded event was held at the newly opened Courtyard by Mariott on May 4th, 2023, and kicked off with flair and excitement to the beats of a traditional Sri Lankan drumming performance and was later serenaded by the smooth tunes of one of Sri Lanka’s brightest singing sensations.
The CEO of SPAR Sri Lanka, Kumar De Silva, congratulated his team on the valuable growth of the brand, which is currently operating 11 stores across the Western Province. He commented that the ‘stars amongst us’ should be proud of the culture of excellence that they have ignited within their teams at each store and had this to say about how the business has survived the recent turbulent times in Sri Lanka: “When conditions are tough, that is when we have always excelled’. SPAR Sri Lanka Chairman, Rob Philipson, provided perspective on the achievements of the brand and reminisced on how far the company has come in the last 7 years since their humble beginnings in a small office where what we see today as the bold red, white, and green colours of SPAR were still only ideas. He thanked the Ceylon Biscuits Limited Board, who are the joint venture partners of SPAR in Sri Lanka, for their unwavering support and acknowledged Ms. Shea Wickramasingha, Group Managing Director of CBL, who also graced the occasion with a few words of appreciation and congratulations via an online call.
Philipson further stated that the pride, passion, and energy that have been inculcated in the SPAR banner in Sri Lanka are unparalleled among the 13,623 SPAR stores across the world.
He commented that while SPAR is still one of the youngest players in the local supermarket retail industry, the opposition cannot duplicate the essence of the culture being built within the SPAR brand, which is the force that drives their success. He also congratulated all 670 stars that are currently employed by SPAR Sri Lanka and thanked them for their loyalty to the company, saying it was irreplaceable and that they have an obligation to share these values with new team members coming aboard as the brand powers forward with their plans for expansion.
The Leadership Development Programme at SPAR supermarkets was given special attention for not only its strategic purpose in building more confident and well-prepared team members but also for its merit in being able to empower potential leaders for the brand. All the graduates of the Leadership Training Programme were recognised, as were those who had completed a tenure of 5 years at SPAR, essentially being a part of the company’s journey since its inception. The coveted star performer of the year award was won by Lakshitha Dissanayake, whose inspiring words to his colleagues, “Everyone can one day be where I am’, were received with loud cheers and applause. The interdepartmental awards were the highlight of the evening, with the Malabe store receiving the award for the ‘most popular store of the year,” and the highest accolade of the night was given to the Kelaniya store as the ‘store of the year,” while the “Think Retail” award was given to Lakmali Igalahewa and the “Think DC” award was given to Dinusha Yatiwella.
SPAR Sri Lanka General Manager, Hendrik Marais, delivered the vote of thanks and had a special message of thanks for the families in attendance, who were appreciated as the silent stars of the evening, as without their continued support, the success story of SPAR Sri Lanka wouldn’t shine as brightly.
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
