Business
Intrepid Colombo ranked one of the 50 Best Workplaces in Lanka for 2023
Intrepid Colombo, part of global travel brand Intrepid Travel, has been named on the prestigious 50 Best Places to Work list by independent analysts at Great Place to Work® in Sri Lanka.
This recognition is based on confidential survey data assessing employee experiences of trust, innovation by all, meaningful organization values, and leadership effectiveness. Organizations are also evaluated on how well they are creating a For All workplace experience, where all employees are welcomed and engaged.
Intrepid Travel is a global tour operator, providing sustainable experience-rich travel on all seven continents. The business was established in Melbourne, Australia in 1989 and has experienced global growth over the past 34 years.
This accolade comes just over one year after Intrepid Colombo received its Great Place to Work certification in 2022 and recognises the company’s success in creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment. The company has also been certified as Best Place to Work for Women, in recognition of its initiatives to support women in the workplace. The majority of Intrepid’s senior leadership team in Colombo comprises female managers.
“Being named as a top workplace in Sri Lanka is testament to our team’s work to create a welcoming, dynamic and supportive workplace. This would not be possible without the incredible people we have working with us in Colombo and the support of our global team,” says Poornaka Delpachitra, Country General Manager of Intrepid Colombo.
“I’m incredibly proud of every team member and we’re excited to continue to grow our office, as well as bring more customers to Sri Lanka to experience everything our country has to offer.”
Intrepid Colombo was started back in October 2012 to provide IT development services to Intrepid. Since then, it has grown fast into a leading centre of excellence, supporting the global business with IT development and support, as well as supporting a range of other functions including finance, HR and customer service. The company also runs a successful travel and tourism business in Colombo, welcoming customers from all over the world on its small-group travel adventures. Intrepid Colombo has grown fast from a handful of staff to now being the largest of Intrepid’s offices with over 260 staff and tour leaders.
Some of the benefits that Intrepid Colombo’s staff enjoy include one free tour per year, plus five additional days leave to use towards this, enabling employees to experience trips for themselves, meet tour leaders and customers and have the opportunity to explore the world; flexible work schedules, ensuring team members can balance their work with other commitments; and twenty hours of volunteer leave each year to use towards causes that are important to them
Earlier in 2023, Intrepid featured on TIME’s 100 Most Influential Companies List. This global endorsement recognised the adventure travel company’s innovation in responsible travel and sustainability.
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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