Business
Dialog Axiata launches Game Jam+ to promote local game development
From left to right: Amith Perera, Product Manager – Gaming Services, Content Services, Dialog Axiata PLC, Ashani Senaratne, Head of Marketing, Dialog Axiata PLC, Viranga Seneviratne, General Manager – IdeaMart, IdeaMart, Dialog Axiata PLC, Lahiru Rajapaksha, Chief Organizer, Game Jam Plus Sri Lanka, and Ravihans Wetakepotha, chairman, Le Fantastical Holdings & Executive Director in Asia for Game Jam Plus
Accelerating local game development and gamification while helping to foster the developer community of Sri Lanka, Dialog Axiata PLC, will be powering the Sri Lankan edition of Game Jam+, a global movement by Google promoting entrepreneurship in the creative industry.
Aiming to help transform games into businesses, the 5th edition of this local game development and gamification marathon will feature 100 cities worldwide with more than 50,000 participants, 4,000 projects (100 incubated over 2 months), and 1,000 volunteers, in addition to companies such as Google Games, Epic Games, Sebrae, Nuuvem, Unity and Wild Life.
Dialog Game Jam+ series, spanning four months, is set to kick off on October 9 at 3 locations simultaneously (Trace Expert City, Peradeniya University and Jaffna University) in a 48-hour game development immersion. Developers are invited to register for the first stage via www.gamejamplus.lk. During this first stage, over 200 participants from each city will receive mentorship from 10 industry professionals. In the second stage, two finalist teams per city will be accelerated by renowned international experts and regional professionals. Finalists from the second stage will proceed to meet in 5 major events to compete for continental first place, where two representatives from each continent will get the opportunity to compete in the World Grand Final.
Commenting, Supun Weerasinghe, Group Chief Executive of Dialog Axiata PLC said, “We are pleased to host the local extension of the globally renowned Game Jam+ (Dialog Game Jam+) to bring together creators from all over the country and help build a sustainable local industry by providing access to industry mentors, creating opportunities within the region and enabling global exposure through this programme. This endeavour is in line with our mission of fostering innovation and technology entrepreneurship through the Ideamart platform and its 30,000-strong local developer community, as we strive to be the main agent of change to help advance and transform the highly promising local developer ecosystem while improving the adoption of eSports in Sri Lanka which is being accepted as a mainstream sport.”
“We are delighted to bring a massive international event such as Dialog Game Jam+ to Sri Lankan soil, together with Dialog Axiata. Digital Gaming Industry is the world’s fastest growing sector in technological entertainment and new media and this event will put Sri Lanka firmly on the world map as a destination for game development and esports events. Moreover, this monumental event shall mark Sri Lanka’s first ever global leap and foray into digital gaming and thus we see countless opportunities and new doors for Sri Lankan IT industry and BPO sectors get open in digital gaming.” said Ravihans Wetakepotha, chairman Le Fantastical Holdings and Executive Director in Asia for Dialog Game Jam+.
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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