Business
First QR enabled payment facility for microfinance loans
L- R: Malintha De Silva – Chief Financial Officer (CFO) – VisionFund Lanka, Arunasiri Gunarathne- Specialist – Mobile Money – Digital Services, Padmanath Muthukumarana- Senior Manager – Mobile Money – Digital Services, Renuka Fernando- Group Chief Digital Services Officer, Dialog Axiata PLC, Dinesh Kanagaratnam – Chief Executive Officer (CEO) , Shalinka Fernando – IT Project Manager , Rizanth Francis – Chief Operating Officer (COO) , Sevvandi Abeysinghe – Human Resource Manager , Priveen Joseph – Risk and Compliance Manager , Lakshan Fernando – Internal Audit Manager- VisionFund Lanka
eZ Cash, the country’s first and largest mobile money and payment service by Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s premier connectivity provider, partnered VisionFund Lanka, a leading socially responsible microfinance institution affiliated with World Vision Lanka and also a subsidiary of VisionFund International, to facilitate customers with a convenient and sustainable QR card repayment facility for their microfinance loans.
A digitally inclusive solution to sustain VisionFund Lanka’s client pool, this strategic partnership has revolutionized the microfinance loan repayment system with the launch of the QR card loan repayment facility. This mechanism empowers all VisionFund Lanka customers to produce and scan their respective QR cards at the nearest eZ cash retail outlet for a quick and efficient way to access their loan details, providing not only financial accessibility to individuals living in rural areas but also acts as a vital step forward in carrying out financial transactions easily, safely, and virtually.
Presently, the card is available to be collected by customers from the nearest VisionFund Lanka offices. As of 2019, VisionFund Lanka has been serving over 30,000 families in rural areas across the island, empowering small and SME businesses with much needed financial support.
As a progressive step in VisionFund Lanka’s digitization journey, Dinesh Kanagaratnam, CEO of VisionFund Lanka said “The timing of this launch is opportune as the need for faster, safer and easier ways of conducting financial transactions is vital, now more than ever – and we are excited to be able to extend this facility to our clients predominantly living in rural settings. We are happy to partner with Dialog on this journey of ours to serve sustainably and will continue to explore innovative solutions to provide easily-accessible financial facilities to the communities we serve”.
Renuka Fernando, Group Chief Digital Services Officer of Dialog Axiata PLC stated “Throughout the years eZ Cash has been at the forefront of providing sustainable, innovative solutions to digitize payments and collections of our partners and customers. This inclusive QR enabled micro-finance loan repayment solution will be one of the many steps taken in our journey of enabling an efficient, seamless and hassle-free collection process”
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
