Business
Kapruka to headway world class platform “Partner Central” for local brick and mortar sellers
Ahead of its upcoming initial public offering (IPO), Kapruka, the pioneering e-commerce platform that has evolved into Sri Lanka’s largest locally owned global e-com platform announced its plans to develop ‘Kapruka Partner Central’ – a premier marketplace platform for well-established brick and mortar shops in Sri Lanka. The platform will connect buyers and sellers and allow sellers to choose multiple order fulfillment options, including fulfillment by Kapruka itself.
The platform will be similar in nature to the highly successful and popular business model implemented by leading international chain, Amazon, known as ‘Fulfilment by Amazon’ (FBA). ‘Kapruka Partner Central’ will differentiate itself from other marketplaces in Sri Lanka by handling the storage at seller’s premises, with picking and packing, island-wide delivery, returns, exchanges, and exceptional customer service, bundled together under one solution.
Kapruka aims to fund its growth plans through share issuance from the upcoming IPO, which will include upgrading existing technology and infrastructure to launching the ‘Kapruka Platform Services’ which will carry its new initiatives. The e-commerce site plans to launch the Partner Central initiative in 2022, which would be one of its kind in Sri Lanka – a timely intervention given the significant increase in public interest moving towards e-commerce platforms throughout and after pandemic.
The Partner Central project will be carried out via Kapruka E-commerce (Pvt) Limited which is a fully owned subsidiary of Kapruka Holdings Limited. The Company looks to invest LKR 200Mn of the IPO proceeds towards this, commencing next year, with development expected to be completed by 2024.
Commenting on Partner Central and the future of Kapruka’s services, Founder and CEO, Dulith Herath, stated, “We look forward to once again transform the local e-commerce industry through the revolutionary Kapruka Partner Central platform, which stands to have a significantly positive impact on Kapruka’s partners and the local economy in general. The platform is part of our long-term investment plan further to the IPO, with the central goal of optimizing partner and customer experience, thereby elevating our ability to create value for all stakeholders alike. Partner Central, based on the leading Amazon FBA solution, has the potential to not only transform local businesses, but contribute towards securing the country’s economic status as well.”
Having launched back in 2002 as a start-up by founder Dulith Herath, with a capital of less than $1,000, Kapruka has transformed into the largest locally-owned ecommerce Company. It is now a multi-billion-rupee enterprise, without any external investors, using a non-marketplace e-commerce model with fully integrated delivery, serving a wide variety of both local and expatriate Sri Lankan clientele. The company has since been benchmarked and recognized by global giants such as Amazon.com. Being the local e-com ‘master-seller’ in Sri Lanka, Kapruka has also enabled an abundance of aspiring local producers and sellers to vend their products on the site. Kapruka stocks over 135,000 products, has partnerships with 500+ renowned brands and serves over 1.1 Mn expat clients. The Company has over 32,000 sqft of warehouse space and 100+ delivery vehicles to support its operations.
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
