Business
AIA’s national safety endeavour, the Poson Safety Programme, successfully concludes with zero deaths
The AIA Poson Safety Programme, AIA’s flagship CSR commitment to Sri Lanka, successfully ended for 2022, with zero deaths reported due to drowning in and around the sacred city of Anuradhapura in the month of June.
As a result of this programme, the thousands of pilgrims that visited Anuradhapura this Poson were able to bathe safely in the surrounding lakes and reservoirs to cleanse themselves before engaging in their religious rituals.
AIA Insurance’s commitment towards the AIA Poson Safety Programme goes back to 1993 where AIA together with Sri Lanka Lifesaving and Sri Lanka Police facilitated lifeguards across most reservoirs and lakes around Anuradhapura to ensure that pilgrims were safe when they bathe in the bodies of water. In this 27th year, the programme was held across three days, covering Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla and Mihintale and facilitated 500 lifeguards across 22 reservoirs. AIA also marked warning signs around the areas on where it is dangerous and safe to bathe while creating awareness on the dangers of drowning through displays, signboards, hoardings, and pennants across the Anuradhapura District, to encourage pilgrims to be cautious.
Despite the current economic challenges, AIA was determined to continue its societal endeavours. Having saved many lives and achieving zero deaths, indeed highlights the importance of this societal endeavour.
“I am so deeply grateful and indebted to the volunteers who saved mine and my son’s life” said a rescued pilgrim, adding “we come on pilgrimage to Anuradhapura every year, but this was the first time my son visited Anuradhapura for Poson with so many dreams to achieve ahead in life. This initiative organised to ensure the pilgrims’ safety is meritorious because if not for them my family would have lost two lives unnecessarily.”
AIA’s Chief Executive Officer Chathuri Munaweera noted, “As Sri Lankans this is a time that we need to find ways to help each other. Seeing thousands of Sri Lankans gathering to Anuradhapura to celebrate Poson irrespective of the challenges in transportation and being there for them to ensure their safety was such a heartening experience. As always AIA kept our promise of safety in this programme and over the years have helped to save over 200 lives. This year too AIA’s Senior Management was at site in Anuradhapura together with our project team and Wealth Planners showing our commitment to the cause. I am so grateful and thankful to our partners – Sri Lanka Lifesaving, Sri Lanka Police, Sri Lanka Navy and the Civil Security Division who so enthusiastically support AIA’s Poson Safety Programme with their lifeguards each year in this great cause of protecting lives.”
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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