Business
Ceylinco Life donates piped oxygen distribution system to Matale District General Hospital
An uninterrupted supply of life-saving oxygen is now reaching nearly 300 beds at the Matale District General Hospital, thanks to a community initiative of Ceylinco Life, the company announced in a press release.
Sri Lanka’s life insurance market leader has invested Rs 12.3 million to build a pipe network that connects the hospital’s central oxygen concentrator with the wards, eliminating the cumbersome, time-consuming and costly practice of re-filling cylinders and transporting them to wards across the 22-acre compound.
As a result of this project, the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and other wards are now self-sufficient in oxygen, leading to a significant improvement in the quality of treatment, while the hospital’s oxygen concentrator is expected to reach maximum utilization.
Ceylinco Life also presented essential medicines to the value worth over Rs 500,000 at the ceremony at which the new oxygen distribution system was formally handed over to the hospital.
Speaking at a ceremony, Ceylinco Life Chairman Mr R. Renganathan said: “Our company has always shared its success with its stakeholders. The general public is one such stakeholder. Sri Lanka has one of the best healthcare systems in the world, and any citizen can seek medical care free of charge. Naturally, there are cost implications and challenges. We are aware that many hospitals do not have every item of equipment that they need. Ceylinco Life has made numerous contributions over the years to the Government healthcare system as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility programme.”
Thanking Ceylinco Life for its generous contributions to the Matale District General Hospital, the hospital’s Director Dr A. G. M. M. Dharmadasa emphasised the importance of treatment at the “golden hour” for patients, and elaborated on how this initiative will enable the hospital to provide better treatment to patients in a critical condition.
Among Ceylinco Life’s many contributions to the state healthcare sector are the donation of purpose-built and fully-equipped High Dependency Units (HDUs) to the Colombo South Teaching Hospital, Kalubowila, the National Hospital, Colombo, the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital, the Jaffna Teaching Hospital and the Kandy Teaching Hospital. HDUs are needed to upgrade a patient from normal care or as a step down from intensive care, helping release beds in the intensive care units. These units are used for post-surgery care, before transferring patients to the wards, or to treat an intensive disease.
Matale Hospital, one of the oldest hospitals in Sri Lanka, was established in 1847 near Fort McDowell by the British Army for its use. Today, it is the main hospital for Matale’s 530,000 (2021) residents and those in surrounding villages bordering Kandy, Kurunegala and Dambulla. The hospital admits 7,000 patients monthly, and treats about 500 patients at its clinics and provides OPD services to between 900 and 1,000 patients per day.
Adjudged Sri Lanka’s ‘Brand of the Year’ and ‘Service Brand of the Year’ by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) and ‘Best Life Insurer in Sri Lanka’ by World Finance for the ninth consecutive year in 2022, Ceylinco Life was conferred the ‘Peoples Life Insurance Service Provider of the Year’ title at 2023 SLIM Kantar Peoples Awards for the 17th consecutive year, and was recently named one of the 10 Most Admired Companies in Sri Lanka, the release said.
Ceylinco Life has been the country’s leading life insurer for more than half of the 35 years it has been in existence. The Company was also ranked the ‘Most Valuable Insurance Brand in Sri Lanka’ across both life and general insurance categories by Brand Finance in 2023 and certified a ‘Great Workplace’ in Sri Lanka for the third consecutive year in 2022. Ceylinco Life has close to a million lives covered by active policies and provides innovative life insurance solutions which offer protection while de-risking the goals and ambitions of the Company’s policyholders, it added.
Business
AHK Sri Lanka champions first-ever Sri Lankan delegation at Drupa 2024
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.
Business
HNB General Insurance recognized as Best General Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka 2024
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.”


