Business
Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya receives GSMA Chairman’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Global Mobile Industry
Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, Chief Executive Officer of Telecommunications Business and Group Executive Director of Axiata Group Berhad, was honoured with the GSMA Chairman’s Award at the recently concluded Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona, Spain. The Chairman’s Award is the GSMA’s most prestigious award and recognises outstanding contribution by individuals and organisations towards the advancement of mobile communications worldwide.
Dr. Wijayasuriya represents the Axiata Group on the Board of the GSMA, which is the Governing Body of the Global Mobile Industry. Axiata stands as one of Asia’s largest telecommunications groups, with operations across Asia serving over 170 million subscribers. In his capacity as the CEO of Telecommunications Business, Dr Wijayasuriya oversees Axiata’s Digital Telecommunications Operations across Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. His portfolio also encompasses the Group’s Enterprise and International Businesses, as well as Axiata’s multi-country software and digital transformation unit, Axiata Digital Labs (ADL).
Operating companies of the Axiata Group including Dialog, have been consistently at the forefront of advancing the impact and cutting-edge capabilities of mobile communications across Asia. Dr Wijayasuriya alongside Axiata teams from across the Group have been actively involved in numerous strategic initiatives of GSMA in the region and globally. Most recently, Axiata Group has played a lead role in advancing the GSMA’s Open Gateway initiative in the region.
Dr. Wijayasuriya functioned as the Group Chief Executive of Dialog from 1997 to 2016 during which period, Dialog rose from the 4th entrant to the mobile sector, to become Sri Lanka’s largest telecommunications service provider and one of Asia’s most advanced Quad Play connectivity and Digital Services providers, a position the company has consolidated and grown to greater heights to date including leading positions in Sri Lanka’s Fintech and Digital Health sectors. During his tenure at Dialog, in 2016, the GSMA honoured Dr. Wijayasuriya with the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Asian Mobile Industry’ Award – the highest honour at the Asia Mobile Awards. Dr Wijayasuriya is a Past Chair of GSM Asia Pacific, the regional interest group of the Global body. He was also named “Sri Lankan of the Year” by Sri Lanka’s premier Business Journal the LMD in 2008.
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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