Business
ComBank places Sri Lanka on global map at UN Climate Change Conference
The Commercial Bank of Ceylon recently had the distinction of being featured to a global audience as one of 25 banks around the world that are working to promote environment consciousness among their customers.
The occasion was the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 27) at which Doconomy AB, the Sweden-based impact-tech solutions company which is a partner of Commercial Bank’s Flash Digital Bank Account App, presented a map showing the geographical spread of the 25 banks that are collaborating with the company to help save the environment by using Doconomy’s environmental impact index to calculate the carbon footprint of each transaction performed via their respective apps.
Incidentally, Commercial Bank’s was one of the first five banks worldwide to integrate the Doconomy Åland Index into the Carbon Footprint Calculator feature on the Bank’s Flash Digital Bank Account App.
Doconomy’s CEO Mr Mathias Wikstrom told the COP 27 summit in Egypt that 25 partner banks were helping educate customers around the world about the importance of tracking the carbon footprint of their transactions, thereby driving climate action globally. Commercial Bank’s partnership with Doconomy resulted in Sri Lanka’s presence on the map of countries engaged in this initiative.
Commercial Bank said it plans to further improve the Flash Digital Bank Account App’s ‘Save the Environment’ feature with the support of Doconomy in the near future. Both parties are also working closely to create awareness about sustainable finance, sustainable businesses and environment conservation.
In 2020, Commercial Bank enhanced its Flash Digital Bank Account App with a revolutionary feature that enabled users to compute the environmental impact of their spending through this ‘Save the Environment’ feature, which was already a first in the Sri Lankan market. This was designed to create awareness about the social carbon footprint of consumption by assessing each transaction a user of the Flash Digital Bank Account App carries out via the app. By partnering with Doconomy a year later, the Bank gained access to the upgraded API of the Åland Index, the world’s first e-Environmental Impact Report, and subsequently updated the Flash Digital Bank Account App and expanded its scope to not just capture the carbon footprint of immediate service providers, but also of the entire value chain of the goods or services purchased by users.
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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