Business
LAUGFS Supermarkets partner Visa to offer discounts on cashless payments during the Avurudu season
Striving to encourage safe and secure payment methods to retail customers, LAUGFS Supermarkets has tied up with Visa to offer 10% discount on the total bill value for Visa contactless transactions on weekends during the Avurudu season. Accordingly, customers can shop up to LKR 5000 to enjoy this offer on Saturday and Sunday during the month of April at any LAUGFS Supermarket outlet. The offer is applicable for both Visa Credit and Debit cards on contactless transactions.
“Contactless payments provide speed, convenience and above all safety during the COVID – 19 era to customers. In August 2020, we carried out a similar initiative with Visa to encourage customers to shift to digital payment methods in a bid to facilitate a safer and hassle-free alternative to cash payments. Following its success, we wish to offer the same incentives to customers during the upcoming festive season,” commented, LAUGFS Supermarkets Senior Marketing Manager, Peshala Wijewardena.
Designed to replace the use of cash in busy retail environments, contactless payments proved to be particularly appealing during the COVID – 19 pandemic, which called for extra precautions and minimal contact to keep the spread of the virus at bay. Contactless payment method helps retail companies such as LAUGFS Supermarkets to improve hygiene protocols and standards.
“World over and in Sri Lanka we have witnessed significant consumer shift towards digital payments, particularly in non-discretionary categories such as groceries. This is even more pronounced in contactless payments with many Sri Lankans now keen to take advantage of the new limits for contactless payments up to LKR 7500. The convenience and security of contactless payments clubbed with the exciting discount on offer for LAUGFS supermarket consumers will prompt more Sri Lankans to use their contactless cards and embrace digital payments this festive season,” commented Anthony Watson, Country Manager, Sri Lanka & Maldives, Visa.
A pioneer brand in the supermarket concept in Sri Lanka, LAUGFS Supermarkets introduced the chain of 24-hour supermarket retailing concept in Sri Lanka. The company currently manages 37 supermarket outlets in Colombo and its suburbs, including Kurunegala and Chilaw. The company’s flagship brands, LAUGFS Super and LAUGFS SuperMart, cater to over 1,000,000 shoppers monthly. The supermarket chain also features its very own Crimson Bakeries and Medz Pharmacies, while catering to a broad spectrum of everyday customer needs such as utility bill payment facilities, providing continued convenience to its customers.
Business
AHK Sri Lanka champions first-ever Sri Lankan delegation at Drupa 2024
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.
Business
HNB General Insurance recognized as Best General Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka 2024
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.”