Business
UNESCAP and WCIC open up new vistas of e-commerce for women entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka
UNESCAP South and Southwest Asia Office – the Sustainable Development Council of Sri Lanka and the Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce Sri Lanka jointly organized two-day training in December to incentivize and capacitate women entrepreneurs to become part of the global supply chain through targeted e-commerce trainings.
The training aimed at enhancing the knowledge and capacity of women entrepreneurs in the application of e-commerce platforms to expand their businesses, and markets and participate in local, regional and global supply chains. The training is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5.b on enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women.
The Director General of the Sustainable Development Council, Chamindry Saparamadu highlighted that in the face of the current economic challenges, enabling the entry of SMEs into the export market is a crucial factor for their resilience and growth and that such trainings are important to incentivize, capacitate and equip with the necessary skills the women entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka.
Vice Chairperson of Women’s Chamber of Industry & Commerce (WCIC), Gayani de Alwis stated that, as the world’s first women’s chamber, WCIC is working towards bridging the digital gap among women entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka and that the Sri Lankan economy will grow exponentially by increasing women’s participation in the labor force and the economy.
Dr. Rajan Sudesh Ratna, Deputy Head, ESCAP South and South-West Asia Office highlighted the impacts of the training (that has been rolled out in the South Asian region including in Sri Lanka) in empowering over 3000 women entrepreneurs by enhancing their skills in using digital tools and e-commerce in their business operations.
World Bank’s Country Manager, Maldives and Sri Lanka, Chiyo Kanda stated that the World Bank considers gender, entrepreneurship and digitalization as three things having high transformational potential and as such in the Sri Lanka Country Partnership Framework (2024– 2027) significant emphasis is placed on laying the foundation towards a more inclusive recovery addressing the gender gap in economic participation.
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
