Business
“One million trees for unity” wins Outstanding Sustainable Project Financing category at Karlsruhe Sustainable Finance Awards 2021
Alliance Finance Co. PLC, (AFC), Sri Lanka’s oldest finance company with over 65 years of expertise in offering affordable and inclusive sustainable finance solutions to empower the nation has clinched yet another international award in sustainability. The Project which helped AFC win this important award was the “One million trees for unity” project.
The Karlsruhe Sustainable Finance Awards 2021, conducted by the European Organisation for Sustainable Development (EOSD), awards projects have created a positive impact in the field of sustainability, globally. This is the third sustainability award, Alliance Finance has bagged in the year 2021.
The “One million trees for unity” project which was initiated by AFC in 2018, aims to plant one-million tress across Sri Lanka by 2025. This project mainly aims to reduce the carbon foot print of Sri Lanka by 120,000 metric tons by the year 2030. It also provides a significant contribution to Sri Lanka’s National Bonn challenge; which aims to increase the forest cover of Sri Lanka to reach 32% by 2030. Under this project, AFC has planted over 380,000 plants to date in partnership with the Road Development Authority (RDA), Lion’s Club, Tri forces of Sri Lanka, various Universities, schools, places of worship, municipal councils and urban councils. These plants are spread across all highways, road networks, the Norochcholai power plant, schools and especially places of worship. This project also has created several social benefits to its stakeholders one of which is empowering the social entrepreneurs and facilitating livelihood development. This is mainly by means of supporting its main supplier of plants for this project, Jayantha Balasinghe. He is a social entrepreneur who emerged from the unique “Ath Pavura” social business platform of which AFC was also a founding social enterprise investor. Balasinghe’s organization “Thuru Viyana” supplies well grown plants to be re-planted, providing a better chance of survival for the plants. By making Thuru Viyana the main supplier for all its projects, AFC has helped this social entrepreneur grow his business as well as provide livelihood support to its many employees. As such, the impact of this project directly contributes towards several UN Sustainable Development Goals.
AFC has also financially sponsored an initiative by the RDA to create a dedicated website and mobile application to track the tree planting programs initiated by RDA. This will help effective record keeping and progress monitoring of their two million tree planting project “maga depasa thuru sevana”. AFC is also a partner in this “maga depasa thuru sevana” project with a pledged contribution of 800,000 plants, to be given over a span of four years.
It was for reasons such as this, that AFC’s ‘one million trees for unity’ project was judged and presented with this prestigious award.
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
