Business
Korean envoy greets KOICA Scholarship recipients at the embassy
Korean Envoy Santhush Woonjin JEONG greeted the Sri Lankan public sector officials who were selected for the KOICA-AKOFE scholarship programme offered by the Korean government at the Korean Embassy together with the KOICA Country Director Ms. Kim Myung Jin, President of AKOFE Roshan Serasinghe and Vice-President of AKOFE Eng. Kavindra Jayawardena. This year, five Sri Lankan officials were offered scholarships to pursue their higher studies in Korea under the KOICA training and scholarship programme.
Since its foundation in 1991, KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) has offered the training and scholarship programmes to Sri Lankan Government officials and personnel every year by sharing Korea’s capacity building and human resources development experiences. At present, the Alumni Association of KOICA Fellows (AKOFE) has 826 members who received scholarships and trainings. So far, more than 2000 Sri Lankan officials and personnel had been invited to Korea to pursue their post-graduate studies in diverse fields through this programme.
Firstly, Korean Ambassador Santhush offered his congratulations to all the scholarship recipients this year for being selected as fellows from a highly competitive programme held worldwide. He said ‘It is indeed a great pleasure to welcome you all to the Korean Embassy. I am confident that your capabilities and commitment to receive this scholarship will assist you in successfully completing the fellowship in Korea. Among you, there are highly skilled Government officials from various fields, such as Engineering, Finance, Tax Policy, Gender and development. This fellowship provides the opportunity to add value to your field of expertise with the knowledge and experience you receive from Korea. Your role as “civilian diplomats” is very important to foster meaningful relations between Korea and Sri Lanka. Korea has a rich stock of good practices and lessons learned in developing your respective fields of studies, such as tax policies, engineering and gender development policies. As such, the Korean government intends to share the know-how with Sri Lanka so that the knowledge gained from the fellowship will not only help you, but also the national capacity in developing sustainable policies of Sri Lanka. I wish you all the best for your future endeavours.’
The Korean Envoy appreciated KOICA for the immeasurable ODA support and aid provided to uplift the education sector of Sri Lanka. He also highly commended the performances and activities of AKOFE and from now on the Korean Embassy hopes to strengthen the relations with AKOFE and will actively participate in collaborative events in the future.
The scholarship recipients expressed their gratitude to the Korean government for the wonderful opportunity and stated that they are very happy to study in Korea. They also said that they can contribute greatly to Korea-Sri Lanka relations by the knowledge received by this fellowship. President of AKOFE Roshan Serasinghe and Vice-President of AKOFE Eng. Kavindra Jayawardena thanked the Korean Envoy for this opportunity and hoped to closely work in cooperation with the Korean Embassy.
The Korean government is keen to promote cultural and education cooperation with Sri Lanka. Reflecting on the long-standing trajectory of Korea-Sri Lanka relations, Korean Envoy also highlighted the important milestone of the adoption of Korean language to advanced level classes in Sri Lanka from 2021. Sri Lankan students can sit for Korean language at the University entrance examination from next year. The firm resolve and many efforts of the Education Ministry and the Korean Embassy provided an opportunity for Sri Lankan students to engage in Korean language education. This will open new visions for Sri Lankan youth to study in Korea and access the rich and vibrant Korean culture. In addition, Ambassador Santhush also appreciated contribution of KOICA and AKOFE to conduct community development and capacity building programmes nationwide.
The Scholarship recipients for 2022 Arjuna Rathnayake, Gayashan Kulathunga, Ms. Irangi Jayarukshi Silva, Ms. Iresha Udayangani and Ms. Priyanthika Dilrukshi along with KOICA Country Director Ms. Kim Myung Jin, First Secretary of Embassy, Ms. Lim Miyeon, President of AKOFE Roshan Serasinghe and Vice-President of AKOFE Eng. Kavindra Jayawardena participated in the meeting.
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.”
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
