Business
Microsoft announces Imagine Cup Southeast Asia New Markets Regional Competition
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka:
Microsoft recently held a virtual launch event for its upcoming Imagine Cup Southeast Asia News Markets Regional Competition, an annual innovation challenge for students and technology enthusiasts. The event featured an eclectic line-up of speakers and a panel discussion designed to inspire students to create innovative solutions that tackle some of the world’s biggest social, environmental, and health challenges.
Commenting on the competition, Pablo Veramendi, Global Director for the Imagine Cup, Microsoft, said, “Imagine Cup is a global competition designed to empower students to apply artificial intelligence and other technologies to solve some of the world’s most critical social and sustainability issues. For the past 20 years, it has served as a platform for students to couple technology with innovative ideas and build something that matters to them, make a difference in their communities, and create societal impact.”
More than two million competitors from 163 countries have signed up for Microsoft’s global student technology competition to build something that matters to them, make a difference in their communities, and innovate for impact. For the Imagine Cup’s 20th anniversary this year, the brightest young minds will build, learn, and compete together to solve global challenges in four categories: Earth, Education, Health, and Lifestyle.
“The Southeast Asia New Markets’ economic development depends on innovations, high-tech jobs, and new-age skills,” said Sook Hoon Cheah, General Manager, Southeast Asia New Markets, Microsoft APAC. “The Imagine Cup emphasizes the importance of skills and learning in achieving inclusive and long-term youth development. Our goal is to provide opportunities and platforms for them to develop their skills in building innovative solutions that solve real world problems.”
A trio of past Imagine Cup winners and finalists — Chathusha Wijenayaka (Consultant – Technology at Virtusa), Melisha Ghimire (Managing Director at Shequal Foundation), and Eeda Rijal (CEO/Product Designer at SochWare & Co-founder at Covid Connect Nepal) — shared their experiences during the panel discussion, which was moderated by Thilanka Abeywardena, CMO Lead for the Southeast Asia New Markets at Microsoft.
The event also featured an esteemed line-up of guest speakers such as Namal Rajapaksa (Sri Lankan Minister of Youth & Sports and State Minister of Digital Technology and Enterprise Development), Zunaid Ahmed Palak (Bangladeshi State Minister of the Information and Communication Technology Division and Ministry of Posts,
Telecommunications and Information Technology), and Prof. Sampath Amaratunge (Chairman of the University Grants Commission, Sri Lanka). At Imagine Cup 2022, students and technology enthusiasts aged 16 or older are invited to build unique technology solutions leveraging Microsoft’s technology to build purpose-driven solutions. The top four teams from the Southeast Asia New Markets Regional Competition will get a guaranteed spot in the world finals and will be mentored by Microsoft experts. The world champion will take home, the Imagine Cup and win an additional USD 100,000 along with a mentorship opportunity with Microsoft Chairman and CEO, Satya Nadella.
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.”
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